COALITION
JOINT TASK FORCE - SEVEN
NEWS RELEASE
DSN 318.438.2289/COM 99.001.468.2289
May 16, 2003
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coalition Efforts Aid Iraq's Recovery
CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure environment in Iraq. Among recent developments:
MOSUL
Civil affairs personnel accompanied an ORHA Engineering Assessment Team to the Mosul Courthouse to assist in a top-to-bottom assessment of structural needs for the facility.
352d Civil Affairs Command is assisting I Marine Expeditionary Force to develop practical initiatives to expedite Liquid Propane Gas distribution in southern Iraq via railroad.
AL AMARAH
Civil Military Cooperation personnel facilitated a meeting between the Iraqi engineers that resulted in the transportation and replacement of a damaged electrical tower, and restoration of power to the city today. Power is assessed at 40% of requirement, but exceeding pre-war levels.
United Kingdom fuel tankers are now traveling to Basra with support to provide regular supplies of fuel to Amarah residents.
UMM QASR
The Motor Vessel Rise has completely offloaded. Civil Affairs personnel coordinated with the town council for delivery of 1000 lbs of sugar.
Civil Affairs officials coordinated delivery of 500 gallons of machine lubricating oil from the port to the town's electric generators.
Civil Affairs officials met with representative from Institute of Asian Culture and Development to coordinate logistical needs, and arrange for a team of 10 doctors that will see patients for a 5-day period starting May 15.
AD DINWANIYAH
Marine Civil Affairs personnel developed a public service announcement that addresses key issues such as education concerns, police hiring, and salary distribution.
7th Engineer Support Battalion participated in a humanitarian assistance visit to the teaching hospital , and Marine civil affairs representatives assisted 5th Marine Regiment medical staff in a process to identify reliable hospital employees.
1st Marine Division conducted 7 joint Iraqi-Marine police patrols in the last 24 hours
With the assistance of Marine Civil Affairs representatives, the interim and temporary city council met for the first time and began organizing their staffs. Marines identified the key members of the council, developed a public service announcement that addresses key issues such as education concerns, police hiring, and salary distribution, and facilitated the commencement of a payment program for official salaries. The program paid out 540 million Iraqi Dinars during the first day.
AL HABBANIYAH
Soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment me with city council and developed a local policing priority plan, and codified local laws to aid in enforcement activities.
BAGHDAD
Third Infantry Division conducted presence patrols in zone, assisted in humanitarian assistance efforts, continued assessments of medical facilities, and continue to work with locals Iraqis to improve quality of life and return the city to normalcy (utilities, schools, power, water, etc.).
Third Infantry Division has assisted in paying 206,000 Iraqi workers paid to date, with 15,000 paid on May 15.
Third Infantry Division engineers continue to assess and improve Baghdad city power, are working to increase power from the national grid to Baghdad, and report the restoration of some power in most areas.
AL HILLAH
1st Marine Division Marines continued joint Iraqi-Marine police patrols and joint static security sites, which have had a significant stabilizing influence on the local populace.
Stepped up presence of Coalition and military and local police at the Al Hillah General Hospital has effectively eliminated the risk of looting.
KARBALA
Civil Affairs Marines met with the department heads of local hospitals to address security plans to minimize the threat of looting. The security will be addressed in the near term by increased law enforcement patrols at the hospitals, and Marines are working with hospital officials to encourage the hiring of security guards.
Marine Civil Affairs representatives assisted International Committee of the Red Cross officials to coordinate a humanitarian assessment of Karbala.
AS SAMAWAH
The police force continues to expand its operations to replace the local militia in and around the city.
The As Samawah court system began its first trials in the local courthouse.
Marine Civil Affairs representatives began paying the Al Muthanna District government workers their $20 ORHA stipend.
Marine personnel began broadcasting a message which states that the 10,000 Dinar note is a valid currency for all exchanges, has the full backing of the government, and must be accepted.
AL KUT
Marines of the 4thLight Armored Reconnaissance Battalion continued to supervise the training of Al Kut police department at the police academy.
Civil Affairs coordinated the propane distribution in Al Kut and Al Hay. The Army's 194th Military Police Company continued daily joint patrols with the Al Kut PD and assisted civil affairs personnel by providing security for propane distribution.
The 1st Marine Division supported Iraqi requests for transfer of 3 injured Iraqis to other civilian hospitals that can better treat their injuries.
AN NAJAF
We have graduated 345 police officers from our 4 academy classes. We continue to supervise the local police that guard key banks, gas stations, and the new jail. The city received 42 truckloads of wheat flour from the World Food Program, which will be distributed on 1 June.
AL BASRAH
Joint UK-Iraqi patrols are ending, and the police will be rearmed and are expected to take full control of law enforcement activities beginning June first. The British forces will continue to monitor their activities with spot checks of prisons, police stations, and police patrols.
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