Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Release # 03-06-001

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition Forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure environment in Iraq through the following activities.

The Coalition Humanitarian Operations Center (Kuwait) recently:

• Facilitated more than 40 humanitarian missions on Saturday, expanding their efforts to areas north of the Al Basrah governate.
• Assisted the Japanese Cooperation Center for the Middle East to identify missions they can support with Japanese provided air transportation.
• Met with the Umm Qasr Town Council yesterday to consider a proposal from an Iraqi well digger to identify a source of water for reverse osmosis water purification. Also met with UNICEF about funding for well drilling.
• Visited Al Hillah with representatives from humanitarian assistance organizations to coordinate future HA operations.
• Met with the commander, First Marine Expeditionary Force to discuss the humanitarian needs of the governates within his area of operations.
• Continued to work on bank restoration and payments to civil service workers throughout Iraq.

BAGHDAD

Coalition Forces:

• Analyzed bank assessments and planned bank restoration projects.
• Monitored progress of the four Baghdad Neighborhood Advisory Councils.
• Coordinated with police to design a standardized badge for the Baghdad Police.
• Met with the International Federation of the Red Crescent to coordinate a plan for publicizing patient rights issues within Iraq.
• Identified seven potential sites for garbage transfer stations to deal with Baghdad communities with narrow streets, and worked to produce ID badges for Iraqi sanitation workers.

NORTHERN IRAQ

IRBIL / MOSUL / TIKRIT / KIRKUK

Coalition Forces:

• Assisted the Coalition Provisional Authority to disseminate two documents, "Plan for Marketing Wheat and Barley Harvests," and "Announcement of Grain Procurement for the 2003 Wheat and Barley Crop," to 18 governate warehouses. The documents assist farmers by quoting prices, giving specifications for product grades, and by providing instructions for storing grain.
• Facilitated 397 truckloads (over 9,000 metric tons) of World Food Program food consignments from turkey for deliver to Dohuk, Mosul, Erbil and Sulaymaniwah.
• Received 26 truckloads of bulk food shipments at the UN food distribution site for a total of 479 shipments delivered to date.
• Received 69 benzene and 58 propane trucks from Turkey and distributed over 24,000 liters of benzene and nearly 19,000 propane canisters.
• Provided security for major oil production and electrical production facilities, local banks, bridges, schools and food warehouses.
• Delivered school supplies to the girl's high school in Qayyarah.
• Conducted a harvest meeting in Makhmur to hear the complaints and grievances of farmers in the region.
• Reported that UNESCO received a $1 million obligation of a $10 million grant to provide five million math and science textbooks that are free from former regime bias.
• Reported a Prentiss Hall subsidiary company will host an Internet web site to match schools in other countries with schools in Iraq. The purpose is for children to communicate with other children as a class instead of individuals.
• Took estimates from local vendors in Mosul for prison guard uniforms.
• Are working with the hospital staff in Tuz to assist in delivery of medical supplies from the Tikrit General Hospital.
• Continued "Task Force Neighborhood" clean-up operations in Makhmur, and will merge with counter-graffiti task force efforts.
• Completed electrical system repairs at a bulk propane distribution center near Tal Afar.
• Delivered $600 in tools to the computer-center at the University of Mosul.
• Monitored $8,900 in payments to seven school headmasters to pay teachers.
• Are working with civic leaders in the Dahuk/Mosul area to optimize the use of fire truck during the upcoming wheat harvest.

SOUTHERN IRAQ

AL KUT

23rd Marine Regiment recently:

• Worked with Navy Seabees to finish repairs to the As Suwayrah bridge.
• Posted weapons policy posters, and ran a public service announcement on local television that describes weapons turn-in procedures.

AN NAJAF

7th Marine Regiment recently:

• Distributed two shipments of propane to local vendors provide local citizens with cooking fuel.

AD DIWANIYAH

5th Marine Regiment recently:

• Delivered two seven-ton truckloads of supplies to the educational warehouse for distribution to local schools. Supplies included cases of pencils, crayons, rulers, erasers, painting supplies, and other key school needs items. The Marines also accepted 32 new school reconstruction projects.

AS SAMAWAH

5th Marine Regiment recently:

• Distributed approximately 20 tons of propane to local vendors.
• Coordinated the hiring of Iraqi workers to clean up the city as part of a $3 million sewage repair project.

KARBALA

7th Marine Regiment recently:

• Continued efforts to repair the neglected sewage treatment plant by hiring extra labor and is pursuing repair parts of two cycling tanks.

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