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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

July 22, 2003
Release Number: 03-07-66


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQIS TEAM UP FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces and Iraqis have teamed up on a variety of initiatives in areas from higher education to security to improve the quality of life for the people of Iraq.

More than 80 percent of Iraq's university students have returned to class thanks to the efforts of Coalition commanders who have been working with university administrators to let students know the schools are open and ready to accept enrollments.

Also, during the last 48 hours Coalition and Iraqi doctors in Baghdad teamed up to save a young girl's foot. Doctors from the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment's Forward Surgical Team worked with two Iraqi doctors at Al Wasity hospital to repair the foot of an eight-year-old girl who severely injured her foot in a motor vehicle accident.

The team effort came about because the Coalition forward surgical team had the staff, location and equipment necessary to assist in performing the surgery to save the girl's foot. Although the team's primary mission is to treat U.S. soldiers injured in the line of duty, they also give medical care to Iraqi civilians when the needs are beyond the ability of local hospitals.

In Sulaymaniah, soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) completed the training of 327 Iraqi border guards. The training took place at a Kurdish Peshmerga compound.

During the four-day program volunteers from the area received training in conducting customs and security duties at border crossings with Iran. Now that classroom training is complete the border guards will begin on-the-job training under the supervision of soldiers in the 101st AAD.

In Mosul, the 101st AAD has hired nearly 4,000 Iraqis to help with key security and reconstruction programs in northern Iraq. The recent hiring helps restore order and repair infrastructure and also provides jobs for former government employees and former military personnel.

In addition, the injection of money into the local economies helps stimulate commerce and improves the overall quality of life in the region. The money used to pay the workers came from seized Iraqi funds and discretionary funds provided by the Coalition's unit commanders.

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