NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
May 25, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-88
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION EFFORTS AID IRAQ'S RECOVERY (25 MAY)
CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition Forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure environment in Iraq.
BAGHDAD
The Coalition recently:
Facilitated 63 ongoing humanitarian assistance missions yesterday through the Humanitarian Operations Center.
Facilitated delivery of nine tons of food and medical supplies shipment donated by Jordanian International Airlines from the Baghdad International Airport to downtown Baghdad. The Coalition will also facilitate the movement of 189 World Food Program trucks from Jordan to Baghdad today.
Assisted humanitarian organizations deliver supplies to hospitals and clinics. Efforts to repair or replace generators at several hospitals continue to make progress.
Reported that the electrical supply to Baghdad has reached 727 megawatts. Completion of the repair to the 400 kilovolt ring surrounding Baghdad is expected June 1.
Reported continued improvements in Iraqi postal service operations. International mail service by ground through Jordan and Syria began recently.
Removed 95,000 of the estimated 300,000 cubic meters of backlogged trash from the city's streets.
Hosted a meeting of the humanitarian assistance community in which ORHA announced the new salary payment mechanism.
Continue to facilitate the import of large supplies of UN medical aid from Jordan for delivery to various sites in Iraq.
Coordinated with the Korean organization, Food for the Hungry International, for the movement of medical supply located in Basrah to other regions.
Began initial coordination to assist the Greek government in their efforts to distribute 30 truckloads of medicine, medical goods, sheets, blankets and water throughout Iraq.
Facilitated two meetings between the European Union's donor organization and ORHA's water and medical departments to coordinate funding proposals for major infrastructure projects.
3rd Infantry Division recently:
Assisted in consultations with MCI officials to build relay towers to improve communications in Baghdad.
Removed 60 truckloads, or about 58 tons, of captured ammunition out of Baghdad yesterday. They have hauled has hauled 4,874 tons of ammunition to date.
Facilitated the movement of 142 trucks of Benzene and 77 of Liquid Propane Gas from Turkey, and 32 trucks of Benzene from Kuwait.
Received the first increment of Iraqi civil servant payments ($15 million USD) in Baghdad.
Assisted the Red Cross in repairing the generator at the Khayal Hospital in Baghdad.
MOSUL / TIKRIT
Civil Affairs personnel attended meeting to coordinate an initial assessment of the national and local Emergency Medical Service system in the area.
Civil Affairs personnel are delivering humanitarian assistance supplies to 33 clinics within the area that are in desperate need of medications. They also coordinated with the World Health Organization (WHO) for delivery of five tons of medical material donated by the Government of Kuwait.
101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division recently:
Received 144 benzene and 77 propane trucks from Turkey.
Attended a meeting to assist in coordinating the grain harvest in Sinjar. Officials expect the best harvest in 14 years.
Authorized the Central Bank to release three billion Iraqi Dinars to pay 4,000 farmers and 635 workers to start the sugar beet harvest. They also met with the Central Bank Manager and a retired general to discuss pension payments.
Reported that University classes will resume today.
4th Infantry Division recently:
Continued to support elections in Kirkuk, with final elections scheduled for 27 May.
Reported that about 90% of the students are back in school.
Supported ORHA payments to power and grain workers.
Reported the completion of repairs to the air conditioning and electrical systems at the Tikrit Hospital.
AR RUTBAH
Coalition officials met with an international consulting firm to discuss the construction of a highway bypass, and repair of the Highway 10.
Coalition officials are working with officials of World Vision to assess and coordinate plumbing, electrical and structural repair efforts in the city.
SOUTHERN IRAQ
AL KUT
The First Marine Expeditionary Force purchased a photocopier for the city court.
The U.S. Navy Seabees began repairs on a bridge in As Suwayrah.
Trash collection has improved substantially as trash trucks previously used by the military were turned back over to the city and 25 more employees were hired.
The public works department received $1,000 for equipment repairs. The road maintenance division and public gardens department are now both operating at pre-war levels.
The 23rd Marine Regiment is facilitating a request for chemicals required for water purification.
The 23rd Marine Regiment met with Mercy Corps recently to discuss a request by the Department of Transportation for funding transportation.
AD DIWANIYAH
Coalition personnel, from the Humanitarian Operations Center in Kuwait met with representatives from the Japanese government to discuss their plans to refurbish the Ad Diwaniyah Hospital, which was built by Japan in 1980.
The Marine Expeditionary Force began hiring security guards to help improve security in the city.
The U.S. Army delivered 20 tankers of gasoline. Coalition personnel assisted in the delivery of 20,000 pounds of propane.
UMM QASR/AL BASRAH
A U.S. Army railroad team made an assessment of the rails at the port to determine the feasibility of discharging bulk cargo in hopper cars at port berthings.
KARBALA
Marines from Weapons Company, 7th Marine Regiment cleaned up, repaired, and helped the owner reopen his amusement park recently. About 3,000 Iraqis visited the park on opening day.
The local judiciary has been elected and approved by both the acting governor and the military governor. The judiciary has been hearing criminal cases for two weeks and will begin hearing civil cases in the next few days.
Twenty city buses are now running on five lines.
AN NAJAF
The First Marine Division received an additional 15 benzene gasoline fuel trucks for the three government gas stations in the city.
AL HILLAH
Civil Affairs personnel are conducting a public service campaign in local media to keep the population informed of Coalition activities via radio, TV, newspaper, banners, and posters.
Members of the Governance Support Team:
Met with community and religious leaders in the Babylon area, as well as the Governor and his staff. This was to establish a constructive foundation with the influential people in the Governance on which to base future work.
Met with the Iraqi Rail Chief and representatives of the firm that was renovating the train station before the war to discuss what is required to repair damage and complete the renovation.
Met with Coalition engineering officials to coordinate funding for renovation of two water pumping stations.
Met with ORHA to review the new National Payment Plan for the Babylon Province.
AN NASIRIYAH
Civil Affairs personnel escorted an Army maintenance team to inspect and perform maintenance on two diesel engines that power a local pumping station and assess long-term plant needs.
Coalition personnel completed construction of the south police station.
AS SAMAWAH
The Coalition added two more water trucks to assist with the water redistribution, and also escorted water department employees to Baghdad to find sources for repair parts and funding for their department.
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