Building a better Iraq...
Here is a list of some fo the reconstruction projects going on in Iraq as of Jan 1, 2005. This of course does not include all of them as the small ones done at the local level do not make the list.
More than 1,100 reconstruction projects underway in Iraq. Current projects include the
construction of 364 schools, 67 public health clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil,
93 water and sewage facilities and 69 electrical facilities (a/o 15 Dec).
• Congress has allocated $18.4 billion for reconstruction of Iraq’s infrastructure. More than
1,400 reconstruction projects funded by this allocation have begun. Of the allocation, $9.64
billion has been obligated for reconstruction and $2.2 billion dollars dispersed (a/o 29 Dec).
• As of December 29, more than 108,000 local Iraqis have been hired to work on US-funded
reconstruction projects.
• $78.4 million has been focused on providing reliable electric service, clean water and sewer
services. This money supports more than 3700 projects Iraq wide.
• Throughout the year, an additional $90.1 million was provided to support additional Iraqi
public services. These projects serve to further strengthen Iraq’s infrastructure and ensure a
promising future for the Iraqi people.
• MNF-Iraq has dispersed more than $578 million in Commander’s Emergency Relief Funds
(CERP) reaching more than 34,512 projects to build and improve infrastructure, provide for
the welfare of the citizens and support education -- all in an effort to help Iraq take its first
steps to recovery after Saddam’s rule.
• Baghdad – 345 CERP projects underway, $35.8 million. There are 552 USG-funded
reconstruction projects valued at $1.5 billion currently underway.
• Basra – 23 CERP projects underway, $15.77 million. There are 172 USG-funded
reconstruction projects valued at $181 million currently underway.
• Mosul – 118 CERP projects underway, $8.4 million.
• Fallujah – 6 CERP projects underway - $1.5 million. One of the larger projects, a new water
treatment plant, will begin this year, and is expected to employ 2000 Iraqis. Seven projects are
under construction or will begin shortly with an estimated value of more than $16 million.
• Samarra – 44 CERP projects underway, $2.4 million. Sixty-eight construction and nonconstruction
projects have been started or planned with a total value of $15 million. IIG met
with the 1P STP Infantry Division to plan for the $25 million reconstruction healthcare facilities,
schools, hospitals, police stations, and infrastructure repair.
• Sadr City – 27 CERP projects underway amounting to $2.8 million. One hundred and nineteen
construction and non-construction projects have begun or are under construction with a value
of more than $278 million.
Water
• Baghdad- Expansion of a major water treatment plant serving Baghdad and
surrounding areas is approximately 75% complete. This project will produce about 250
million gallons of potable drinking water per day for Baghdad residents.
• Basrah-All 14 water treatment plants are nearly complete and undergoing inspection.
• Diyala/Salah ad Din Provinces- USAID’s new rural water initiative is underway. Since
construction began in September 2004 until late November, 11 wells were drilled.
• Electricity
• Added 1813 Megawatts to the national power grid.
• Installed 8600 kilometers of 400-kV cables to move power between regions.
• More than 1500 400-kV electrical towers installed.
• More than 13 133-kV substations installed.
• Health Care
• 13 hospitals and 29 public health centers are under renovation as of 7 December
• Up to 80 new public health centers will begin construction by 1 December.
• 59 Primary Health Care Centers are under construction and 110 are being renovated.
• USAID has renovated 19 hospitals and is constructing one hospital.
• The first two series of a total of four of polio vaccinations reached 96% of Iraq’s 4.6
million children under age of 5 in all 18 governorates.
• Education
• USAID has rehabilitated 2,358 schools in Iraq, and printed and distributed 8.7 million
revised math and science textbooks to grades 1-12.
• As of mid-October, about 4.3 million children are currently enrolled in primary
schools, up from 3.6 million in 2000.
• Telecommunications
• Telephone subscribers now number over 2,152,000 (1,192,000 cell phones) 158%
increase from pre-war levels.
• Economic Development
• World Bank agrees to fund $235 million in infrastructure projects.
• ‘Paris Club’ creditors to provide at least 80% debt reduction of $40 billion foreign debt.
• U.S. Government cancels 100% of $4.1 billion Iraqi debt to U.S.
• Commercial airlines are using Baghdad International Airport, averaging 45 flights per
day.
• Independent Media
• 75 radio stations
• 180 newspaper
• 10 television stations
A lot of good information there. Looks like things are looking up. Of course there are those that would say these things are not happening, the same people who say the US Government brought down the the WTC's.