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Frozen funds ignite Umm Qasr economy

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 2003423155858
Story by Sgt. Jacques-René Hébert

UMM QASR, Iraq(April 23, 2003) -- In a landmark day for the Iraqi people, citizens in Umm Qasr, Iraq, received their first "paycheck" from the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assitrance, Southern Region, April 23.

The gesture, which is considered by top ORHA officials to be imperative to Iraq's democracy and sense of independence, coincides with the mission of ORHA South - a coalition effort to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq, and work to restore control of Iraq to the Iraqi people.

The money, $130,000, was handed over to Umm Qasr's town council, who were then left to decide how the money was to be distributed, scheduled to be delivered to the citizens at the end of the week. The process, however, was not without its roadblocks.

"We have to remember, this is a fledgling democracy on its first flight," said retired Army Brig. Gen. Buck Walters, ORHA South director, during one of the town council's several budget meetings that morning. "The town council thought they had a plan, but they found out it didn't work. This is what happens when they're not used to making these decisions for themselves."

During Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. seized 1.6 billion dollars from Iraq, which is remained frozen until now. Recently, President George W. Bush allocated this money to go to the "new Iraq" - to the people of Iraq to help them begin their own post-Saddam democracy. Umm Qasr's receipt of the money is one of the first steps in this decision.

In the case of Umm Qasr, the money will go to the approximately 6,500 civil servants that have not received a paycheck in over a month, according to Marc Powe, director, civil administrations, ORHA South. What's revolutionary about the process is that the town council was able to decide for the first time how to distribute the money to the workers.

"The town council came up with the idea to associate each industry - government, dock laborers, etc. - with one of six schools in Umm Qasr," explained Powe. "The schools, as centralized locations, then became the distribution points for the money. An ingenious, organized approach, I believe."

Under the shadow of Saddam Hussein, the citizens' ability to make such decisions was greatly hampered, if allowed at all. Because more than 50 percent of the population is under 15 years old, and close to 60 percent has never lived without the overwhelming shadow of Saddam's rule, few are completely able to understand the freedoms and ramifications of making decisions that effect the whole, according to ORHA South's humanitarian assistance department.

"All of a sudden, the people of Umm Qasr have that god-awful amount of money and now they have to decide how to spend it," Walters explained. "It's a trial-by-fire for them, but this is what it takes. They're beginning to learn what 'freedom' means.

"Few have experienced life without Saddam, and aren't used to the freedoms they're being given now," Walters continued. "The good news is, since the majority of the population is young, they can learn. That's what this is all about."