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Humanitarian projects in northern Iraq continue

Aug-18-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

(TFO Press Release)

MOSUL, IRAQ (August 18, 2004) – Since beginning of July, $3.1 million has been allocated for humanitarian projects through the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) account.

Projects identified by local Iraqi officials are approved by Multinational Forces, in order of importance, and will receive OHDACA money as project approval is awarded. Local contractors handle each project’s labor and management. The contracts are awarded through a bidding process that involves at least two other competitors for each project.

Among the projects currently under construction, 50 percent are schools, 35 percent are water and sanitation systems and 15 percent are health care facilities.

School projects include new schools for rural villages and renovations and additions to existing schools across northern Iraq.

“Through projects that help the community, we are trying to help rebuild the infrastructure for Iraq,” said Maj. Terrence Evans, Multinational Brigade-Northwest OHDACA Program director.

Well construction, water distribution and irrigation projects will ensure that the villages and agricultural communities throughout the area have enough water for all of their daily needs. Another major project is focused on rebuilding the existing water and sewer system in Mosul.

Health care projects throughout the area are designed to make quality health care available to every village in northern Iraq, including building new clinics in rural areas and expanding and re-supplying existing hospitals.

New funds are being added to the account almost weekly, and the list of projects waiting to be approved is long, Evans said.

“It is an ongoing process that has unlimited possibilities when you start talking about end states,” Evans said. “Hopefully there won’t be an end, just a hand over.”

With new quality of life improvement projects starting and finishing weekly, Iraq is on its way to being a successful independent nation.


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