|
Blackanthem Military News
|
Last Updated:
Mar 19, 2010 - 6:16:21 PM |
|
|
 |
| Iraqi Army troops inspect a wall damaged by an explosion during the fighting in Diwaniyah between armed militia members and a joint Iraqi and Coalition Force. The inspection will help the owner file a claim and be reimbursed for damage caused during Operation Black Eagle. In addition to reimbursements, the local government, working with the Iraqi Army and Coalition, has began providing aid, food rations, and other services to the citizens of Diwaniyah who were affected by the fighting. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Yde, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs) |
Blackanthem Military News, DIWANIYAH, Iraq — As the fighting in Diwaniyah came to an end, the local government, Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces began taking on the mission of providing humanitarian assistance to the residents of the city.
“There is no fighting going on in the city at this time,” Governor Hamza, the governor of Qadasiyah province said. “The city is returning to normal, step by step.”
With the end of major combat, Operation Black Eagle shifted its focus to helping the citizens of Diwaniyah recover from the fighting and months of murder and intimidation imposed on them by the armed militia groups which had plagued the city.
According to governor Hamza, the health, water, sewage and other departments in the government are working and providing services.
“Every school and government facility will be open Monday,” Hamza said.
In addition to the government services being open for business, the joint effort between the local government and military has started directly addressing the needs of the people affected during the conflict.
“The local government and Iraqi Army along with Coalition Forces have been able to begin providing aid, food rations, fuel and other services to those who are in need,” he added.
A coalition civil affairs team working in Diwaniyah has developed and implemented a plan to address the needs of the people to address humanitarian aid in the area.
“We were aware of several issues that needed our help before the operation began,” said Sgt. 1st Class Steven Childers, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division’s civil affairs team. “We also developed a plan to address the needs of the people who had been affected by the fighting. As soon as we saw people in need, we began providing aid to them.”
Childers said more than 1,000 meals and 6,000 bottles of water were provided to hospitals and other facilities on the third day of Operation Black Eagle. Electricity has also been restored to four districts in the city which lost power during the fighting.
“The power grid was damaged by the fighting on the fourth day of the operation and 4,000 homes were without electricity,” said Childers. “We were notified that night, and by 5 p.m. the next day, power was back on, thanks to the help of the local government.”
In addition to food, water and electricity, Childers said medical equipment and supplies are essential to providing humanitarian aid to the people most affected by any conflict.
Prior the start of Operation Black Eagle, the hospitals in the city of Diwaniyah had suffered from corruption and coercion forced on them by the militias, he said. Trucks full of medical supplies, equipment and medicine often disappeared and were sold on the black market.
“It was almost impossible for the hospitals to provide any type of proper medical care because of the militias,” Childers said. “Now that the city is secure, we are working to bring in much-needed supplies.”
With security restored in the city and stability returned to the province, the medical supplies are beginning to flow in to Diwaniyah.
According to Lt. Col. Kerry MacNeal, the Multi National Division – Central South Civil Affairs liaison officer, one truck loaded with medical equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals was delivered to the Diwaniyah General Hospital April 11.
“We are now waiting on the regional suppliers to fulfill and deliver our orders,” Childers said. “The Provincial Joint Coordination Center is handling all of the city’s requests and making sure the right supplies reach the clinics that need it most.
“Now that the militias have been removed, the government is working with the Iraqi Army and Coalition to take care of the people,” he added.
Even with the work going on to rebuild the city and take care of the people, there remains a lot of work to be done in Diwaniyah.
“It isn’t to the level we want,” Hamza said. “But, it is a good start and it is getting better all the time.”
Comments
NO Soliciting.
Comments with links to websites or soliciting services will be removed.
Please read our Terms of use for more information.
|
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
