Release # 03-06-011

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

Northern and Central Iraq

Coalition Forces recently

· Conducted the Coalition's 9th Task Force Neighborhood mission in the Al Baaya neighborhood, which:

Ø Removed 22 truckloads (about 440 tons) of trash from around local soccer fields and schools.

Ø Provided dental care to 39 civilians.

Ø Assessed and provided support to local medical facilities.

Ø Verified the clearance of unexploded ordnance at several sites, located three sites for further excavation and removal.

Ø Provided security and helped local police stop a bank robbery nearby.

Ø Repaired an exterior wall of a school

Ø Rewired a local school and are almost finished re-wiring a fire department building.

Ø Established primary electrical power to the school.

Ø Welded three school gates.

Ø Repaired 12 desks and built three shelving units for the Al Baaya school.

Ø Handed out over 100 Beanie Babies to children at a school and to children receiving dental treatment.

Ø Graded two local soccer fields, and filled in two old fighting positions.

· Opened an Iraqi amusement park in Baghdad.

· Hosted an advisory council meeting in Baghdad, and reports a propane facility manager will begin production of 5,000 bottles of LPG per day.

· Received 162 benzene and 45 propane trucks in Northern Iraq from Turkey today; 56 trucks entered Iraq from Syria.

· Task Force Neighborhood personnel met with contractors yesterday in Mosul to pick up bids from local contractors for nine schools, a soccer field, the city park, and the market area.

· Held a governor's town meeting in Ar Ramadi to discuss unemployed military in the area, and plans to provide jobs in the area.

· Cleared four roads and continues to gravel three major dirt roads in Mosul.

· Administered 1200 measles vaccinations to children in Kirkuk.

· Held a governor's town meeting in Ar Ramadi to discuss unemployed military in the area and plans to provide jobs in the area.

· Reported a 247-truck World Food Program convoy (5,800 tons of food) arrived from Turkey to deliver food in Dohuk, Mosul, Erbil and Sulaymaniwah. Also reported a World Food Program convoy of 261 trucks arrived from JORDAN to deliver food to Babil, Diyala, Wasit and Najaf.

· Reported the World Health Organization/World Visions Medical kit was delivered to the Ar Rutbah medical clinic. The second medical kit will be delivered to Al Q'aim this coming week.

· Examined and photographed damaged sections of the perimeter wall of the University of Tikrit to estimate the cost of repairs. The staff of the college is preparing a detailed list of necessary repairs and stolen items to be replaced for project and funding proposals.

SOUTHERN IRAQ

AN NASARIYAH

• Reported that U.S and Republic of Korea preventive medicine units will provide equipment to assist Dhi Qar Health Directorate with sand fly abatement . Spraying will begin in An Nasiriyah early next week, and will include Al Shatra, Chabaish, Suq Al Shuyukh and Al Raffai.

AL KUT

• Reported the acquisition of several former Iraqi trash vehicles, and reported the sanitation system is operating at better than pre-war levels with 56 of 57 sewage pumps in the Wasit province currently operational.

• Met with Al Kut agriculture officials to discuss crop issues, and report status of wheat and barley harvest to ensure it is on track for mid-June completion.

• Met with the Director of Public Works to discuss security of facilities, uniforms for employees, funding and trash collection.

• Reported local power workers continue to work on the reconstruction of the four electrical towers to hold the 400 kilo-volt power lines. Al Kut is currently receiving between 20 and 40 megawatts of power daily.

• Reported good progress in repairs at the former Iraqi Army water treatment plant.

• Worked with U.S. Navy engineers to purchase supplies on the local economy for the local model school project in which locals will assist.

• Coordinated to have the Navy Seabees remove a military berm to increase useable space at the Saif Al Qaed primary school.

AN NAJAF

• Reviewed and finalized the registration process for the upcoming election with the local election committee, established an oversight committee, and is requesting final scheduling of elections for late June.

• Assisted the police and fire department in the recovery of five local men who died in a well from hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning.

AL HILLAH

• Paid salaries to the fire and education departments and bankers.

AL AMARAH

• Reported the World Food Program began their distribution, and have agreed to continue to provide security oversight for convoys.

• Initiated efforts to procure quick impact project funds to refurbish the local drug store.

AL BASRAH

• Worked with a contractor on the plan to refurbish 225 of the local schools.

UMM QASR

• Assessed an ice factory at Umm Qasr, determining it needs ammonia; a generator, pump repair, and a through cleaning. The manager was not available. The factory used to employ about ten people.

• Metwith the Town Council of Umm Qasr and the local education official to discuss a proposal to refurbish and re-equip the schools, coordinate security of construction materials and to evaluate the availability of local labor and materials.

• Reported a small commercial ship was offloaded in the port on Tuesday, which contained tires, beverages, and cooking oils.

AL HILLAH

• With the Governance Support Team, the local mayoral counsel, and select members of the community town council composition and election matters.

• Met with a branch of the Interior Ministry to discuss the National Payment Plan.

AS SAMAWAH

• Reported power has been restored to 60 megawatts, which exceeds pre-war conditions.

• Assessed several more schools, and reported U.S. Navy engineers started another school project by installing lighting and rewiring the building.

• Continued payments to approximately 100 sanitation workers, as part of a step-by-step plan to clean the city and move the landfill away from Highway 8.

• Continued efforts to create a reformed city council stop tribal nepotism and screen out prior regime holdovers.

• Continued coordination efforts to establish water flow from Al Hillah and Ad Diwaniyah to irrigate Muthanna District's rice crop.

• Explored continuing improvements to a concrete bridge over the Euphrates that was destroyed during the Gulf War. The bridge joins the two sides of Al Khidr.

• Reports the Municipality Sanitation Department is fixing critical equipment with seized Iraqi funds,.

• Reports a project is being submitted to temporarily fund the Municipality's operational budget.

• Delivered 15 trucks of benzene to the cities of Samawah, Kadir, and Ramathia

AD DIWANIYAH

• Screened and processed 188 teachers and headmasters with a questionnaire in an effort to determine Ba'ath party affiliantions.

• Met the Grain Board manager at the building supply warehouse to arrange for doors, glass, and sinks to repair Grain Board offices.

• Reported that the World Food Program distribution is going well in the governate.

KARBALA

• Translated Streets Department documents to help acquire funding for municipal vehicle parts.

• Received the initial funding for cleaning the aeration tank at the sewage plant.

• Began construction on the central ventilation system at the Al Hussayn Hospital Pediatric.

• Met with the president of the University to discuss the long-term plan for curriculum, teacher salaries/wages, and overall opportunities to improve schools.

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