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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 |
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| July 23, 2003 Release Number: 03-07-73 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COALITION FORCES IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MOSUL MOSUL, Iraq - Coalition forces during the past week set up telephone lines, removed solid waste and sewage from city streets and established a youth soccer program in the northern region of Iraq near the city of Mosul. Signal teams from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) identified areas where telephone lines had been cut or damaged and are working to repair connections throughout Nineveh province. Due to looting as well as outdated and neglected telephone equipment only 15 percent of the households in Mosul have working telephones and people in the outlying countryside have no service at all. However, on July 19 due to the efforts of the 101st AAD the area's telephone system has processed more than 37,000 calls. Coalition forces are focusing on the removal of solid waste and sewage from the streets of Mosul. Several waste collection points have been built for citizens to dispose of their garbage. Also, Coalition forces have established a sewage disposal center and are working to clear sewage lines in order to stop the flooding of waste in the streets. Soldiers from the 101st AAD along with the Mosul Olympic Committee have established a youth soccer program for youth males ages 8 to 18. More than 120 teams made up of players from both sides of the Tigris River are in the league, which started July 19. The 103-game season is scheduled to last until the beginning of the school year in September and is a feeder program for the Iraqi Olympic soccer team. Also in Mosul, Coalition forces are continuing to encourage citizens to turn in assault weapons without being arrested. Coalition forces have established an incentive for communities to work together in improving the security of their neighborhoods by funding a community service project that turns in the largest quantity of weapons to their muhktars (tribal leaders). -30- |
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