Don't read if you think everything in Iraq is negative..

This will ruin your illusion of negativity...

Published on July 11, 2005 By ShadowWar In War on Terror

U. S. Unit Helps Bring Water to Iraqi Farmers
YUSUFIYAH, Iraq, July 10, 2005 – The Tigris River is the lifeblood of the Arab J'Bour village and other rural farming communities here.

Water siphoned from the Tigris River pours into a canal channel through efforts of 48th Brigade Combat Team civil affairs soldiers, working with the people of Yusufiyah. The unit's actions allow water to reach thousands of acres of parched farmland. Photo by Spc. Tracy Smith, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

With that in mind, 48th Brigade Combat Team civil affairs soldiers visited Yusufiyah Pumping Station No. 1 on July 4 to follow up on the progress of military engineering efforts to give the people of that region their own independence.

Thousands of families can benefit from the water supplied by the Yusufiyah pumping station. As a predominantly farming region, the need for water factors greatly into the community's ability to survive on its own.

Servicing a vital irrigation reservoir, the pumping station feeds from the only abundant water source, the Tigris River. Maintaining functionality of the pumping station has been challenging.

The 48th's civil affairs team has been working with Iraq's Ministry of Electricity, said Lt. Col. Scott Carter, the combat team's civil affairs officer. "The goal is to have 12 hours of power a day. But because of the necessity for rolling blackouts, the down-time puts significant demands on the pumping system. "

The blackouts are mandatory so the electrical infrastructure can be re-worked to give consistent service throughout Iraq.

An apricot farmer who lives 25 kilometers away from the pumping station and the Tigris, Abou Hamid felt no one had previously taken an interest in the region's situation. He said he appreciates the caring of the military and the 48th BCT Soldiers have shown to the people of Iraq. "We are very proud and very thankful for the U. S. military's help," Hamid said through a translator.

"I see the situation getting better," he added.

Initial requests for blackout exceptions were for 6 a. m. through 6 p. m. This allows farmers to get and store any resources they may need during the day.

Initial surveys indicate 12 pumps are needed to supply the region; however, only eight are operational when full electrical power is available. Generators can supplement the shortfall of power, but the antiquated generators the station currently are hard both to repair and keep running.

Wiring issues do not permit more than eight pumps to operate at one time. A new generator has arrived to the site, and the civil affairs team has arranged for two more to be delivered by mid-July to help supplement existing power.

In the meantime, officials have let some villagers set up private pumping systems.

Adb Allah Umran and his cousin, Hashim Yousif Salah, manage their family's farm, set up such a system. "We do not want to (impede) the pumps' ability to filter to other areas," Umran said. "Because our farming area is large and so close to the river, this does not interfere with our neighbors' ability to appreciate the irrigation waters. "

The region's arid conditions won't let a farm sustain for more than two weeks without water.

Hamid thanks the Americans "for everything. "

"My dream is to one day visit your country and repay you for all of your kindness, God willing," he said.

Comments

Island Dog

on Jul 11, 2005

Impossible again. People like RH told me Iraq was a quagmire and we are killing civilians on purpose. This doesn't make sense. Why would they lie?

Shiggoth

on Jul 11, 2005

Interesting story. Can you lead me to it?

I believe it is a common if not privately-held view that this scale of 'helping the downtrodden' is rare.
Lots of humanitarian efforts go on all the time, but there had better be plenty of publicity and pats
on the back for those organizations. I think the U.N. wouldn't set foot near Yusufiyah unless there
were huge political advantage to be had. (omitting comment about farmer's daughters)

Dr Guy

on Jul 11, 2005

Impossible again. People like RH told me Iraq was a quagmire and we are killing civilians on purpose. This doesn't make sense. Why would they lie?

Better question, can they tell the truth?

Island Dog

on Jul 11, 2005

Better question, can they tell the truth?

Of course they can't. I have been referring them all to my post about the accusations against Bush, and not one has proved any allegations.

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