Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/10-30
A child poses for a photo with his grandmother at their home in the returnee camp outside of Ghazni City.
GHAZNI – Children from the displaced Afghan returnee camp in Ghazni City, gathered around the MRAP vehicle in anticipation of what CF have brought for them. The residents of the camp are returnees from Pakistan and Iran. They're Afghans who fled during the 90’s, a time of the Taliban take-over. Some of them were originally from Ghazni prov. Others are displaced from different districts in the prov., as well as other provs. throughout Afghanistan. Ghazni PRT and Texas HICT traveled to the camp to bring shoes donated by several churches in Austin, Texas.
The 2-year-old camp is now the permanent home for many of those who’ve found their way there. The villagers have only what they could carry with them when they returned from the countries they had escaped to. The fact that they're starting all over again adds to the difficulties and stresses of their daily lives.
The area has approx 100 homes, which hold around 10 family members each.
“In their village, everything they own was either brought with them, or it's bought on the economy,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Chris Bollinger, from the 636 Military Intel Bn., assigned to HCT-10. “They don’t have any agricultural capabilities, so they have no way to grow food for themselves. Some of the most beneficial things we’ve brought out to them were food items that can last through the winter such as rice and beans.”
The team is working with the Roshna-ee Social Service Org., a non-governmental org. (NGO) that offers numerous programs for women, based out of Ghazni City. “We’re using local NGOs instead of int'l NGOs, so that’s a big step. It’s Afghans helping Afghans,” remarked Day. “Once they learn their trade, the women can take what they have made and sell it at the bazaar to earn money for their families,” said Day. “There're a lot of jobs available in Ghazni City for the women who know English, and those who are trained as teachers.” Currently, there are 120 women involved in the program. “I think that someone needs to be involved,” said Day. “It’s good to know that I can have a part in it. If no one helps them, then they'll not progress. The PRT has to take a part, because the returnees don’t have the resources to successfully manage such progressive projects like these by themselves.” The ultimate goal of the program is for the NGOs to successfully manage all the projects without the assistance of CF. “This will help push women’s development in area,” said Day. “I want the women to be independent and treated equally within the workforce.”
Spc. Alexander Best, Human Intel Team member from the 636 Military Bn, (left) and Sgt. Dontrae Wheeler, NG from Savannah, Ga., a SECFOR member of Ghazni PRT (right), pose for a group photo with kids from the returnee camp in Ghazni city after delivering donated shoes.
Sgt. Marcel Ruales, from the 636th shakes hands with one of the kids.
Curious kids from the returnee camp watch as donated shoes are boxed. The camp is located outside Ghazni City.
PAKTYA PROVINCE - Asst Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, coordinating director for Development and Economic Affairs, presents a certificate of appreciation to the Gardez Lincoln Center director during the education center's opening ceremony, Oct. 8. During the ceremony, the audience learned about the services and programs offered by the center, which is sponsored by the U.S. Dept of State, and had an opportunity to peruse through the center's library.
Gov. Hamdard and Asst Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, cut the ribbon signifying the opening of the Gardez Lincoln Center. Shortly after the ribbon was cut, the Afghan public was free to view the new library and all the new educational opportunities in the center.
KHOST PROVINCE (Oct. 24) – ISAF service members paid a visit to several dam construction sites in the Tani district, Oct. 13. Members of the Indiana 1-19th Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) performed inspections of the sites, and educated engrs on the best ways to construct the dams. The dams will help control water flow during the wet months, and the ISAF troops, while offering a few tips, were pleased with the progress the engrs and their crews had made.
GHAZNI PROVINCE (Oct. 24) – Service members with the Texas ADT and reps from the U.S. Agency for Int'l Development paid a visit to grape farmers in Ghazni prov. last week. The group visited to check on newly-built trellises in the vineyards, and noted that the grapes grown on these trellises were healthier, larger, more bountiful, and more likely to sell at a higher price than those not grown on trellises. Due to difficulties among farmers trying to export the grapes, and ISAF service members and USAID members scheduled a meeting with produce exporters and juice companies for later this month.
PRT Kunar SECFOR members from Camp Wright in Asadabad, cross a river bed on their way to the Dangam District Center and the local health clinic to conduct a survey on the conditions and welfare status of the clinic, Oct. 22, 2009. The security team, along with engrs and a Navy medic from the PRT, stopped along the road due to a road obstruction, but crossed the wash to reach the main objectives. Once there, the team was able to meet with locals, the resident clinic director and the owner of a micro hydro dam and corn mill.
Squad leaders were seated around a terrain model of the battle zone they were about to enter for their briefs and specific assignments. When all the orders were given and there were no questions, the IA Soldiers made their way to their vehicles and fighting positions, waiting for the signal to begin their attack.
The mortar crews were the first to strike with their death from above approach. After a few rounds of mortar fire, IA Humvees appeared in the distance, slowly closing on their targets. The vehicles moved in from all directions on the horizon, flanking the simulated enemy using combat assault formations. The suppressing fire from the gunners in the vehicles' turrets made it easier for the foot Soldiers to dismount and engage their targets over a ridge in the hot desert. As the smoke and dust cleared, the Soldiers looked left and right, acknowledging that the simulated enemy had been defeated and victory was theirs.
Following the exercise and in line with Iraqi customs, all participants and guests enjoyed a feast after the victory over the "enemy." The Iraqis plan to continue the partnered training with U.S. eMiTTs throughout Anbar prov. to further enhance their experience and professionalism.
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Special to American Forces Press Service
Among the jundis was Pvt. Wesame Mahmoud, who said he joined the service because he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. His father spoke English and Russian, and was a col. in the Iraqi Navy during the Saddam years. Mahmoud, an administrative specialist, said he found the medical training most beneficial. “The training is very good. We got a lot of info,” said Mahmoud, noting that he used his medical training to help a friend who was injured during a soccer match.
The positive attitude of the jundis made the job simple, said Army Sgt. Darren Macomber, who was placed in charge of weapons training. “They’re real easy to teach. They’re all energetic and they show up on time,” said Macomber, a mechanic with the 308th BSB. “They retained info fast and well, and they’re pretty much able to repeat everything I told them.”
“The most important thing we thought they learned from me was the safety aspect,” Macomber said. “They pick up something, figure it out on their own; it seems like a lot of times. So, I think it’s good they’re learning how to train each other on good habits.”
The third section of the evaluation was the vehicle maintenance station. Army Sgt. Ian Grant, a mechanic with 308th BSB, had been training the jundis on basic vehicle maintenance, “exactly what they’re looking for as far as leaks, and the troubleshooting they can do.”
When the evaluation ended, the eMiTT members were pleased to find that all the jundis passed. “They did excellent today,” Grant said. “They picked up well on the training. In fact, I put out more info to them than I thought I did, and they all retained it really, really well.”
Virgil addressed the graduates and said he now hoped they use their newfound knowledge to teach their peers.
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Multi-National Division - Baghdad
BAGHDAD — Students at the Huda Girls’ School sang, acted and displayed artwork to celebrate the end of a summer performing arts program, Oct. 22, made possible by the U.S. Army and Dept of State.
Officials from the Baghdad ePRT North and Soldiers from the BSTB, 1st BCT, 1st Cav Div, were honored at the program's grand finale, which gave high-school girls the chance to participate in the performing arts for the first time in their lives.
The school was built with Commanders Emergency Relief Program funds, started under the Penn NG's 56th Stryker BCT. The seeds planted by the 56th SBCT were nourished by the 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. to help make the summer program possible.
According to Eric Shutler, a member of the ePRT and a rep from the U.S. Agency for Int'l Development, there was good reason to celebrate the summer program, as a victory over violence and insurgents. "This has been a troubled school," said Shutler, a retired Navy fighter pilot. "When it was constructed, it was built with explosives in the walls."
Insurgents' plans to use a school building as a weapon were discovered 2 years ago, and the building was safely demolished by U.S. forces. Today, the year-old school building stands as a modern facility for girls in grades 7-12.
Mary-Denise Tabar, the public diplomacy advisor for the Camp Taji-based ePRT, worked with local leaders and school officials to start the program. An Iraqi non-governmental agency called Nusku also helped. "We engage the local educators, local councils, key leaders and find out what they need or like," said Tabar.
In the past, girls didn't participate in the performing arts in school, and the ePRT met some resistance in the community for a program that allowed girls to engage in the arts. However, when the girls watched video tapes of performances by girls in other schools in the Baghdad area, they demanded the same opportunity, according to Tabar. "These girls in the beginning were not allowed to do drama, music and plays," said Tabar. "But they agitated for arts education on their own. Never underestimate the power of upset teenage girls."
The themes of the performances were peace, education, exercising the right to vote, honesty and Iraqi unity. Tabar was the guest of honor and was presented with a portrait and a plaque of appreciation. "It was very touching considering 2 years ago, that school was rigged up with explosives," said Tabar. "I think the students were the driving force behind the project."
Tabar said the entire program was not possible without the help of the 1st Cav Div Soldiers. "Their support was transportation and movement, because if we can't get out and meet these officials, we can't do our work," said Tabar. Another way the Soldiers helped was to find female Soldiers to accompany Tabar on trips to the school. The cultural sensitivity of working with an all-girls school meant that the presence of male Soldiers was discouraged, and could have hindered the program.
The 2 months of summer school gave the students the opportunity to explore artistic talents. If future artists, singers or other achievers contribute to Iraq's future, they may be able to trace their roots to a small school in Baghdad.
By Mike Scheck
SADR CITY – In what is considered to be the largest reconstruction effort the U.S. has undertaken since the Marshall Plan following World War II, the USACE Gulf Region Div has completed thousands of reconstruction projects in Iraq including construction of roads, schools, military facilities, and oil production infrastructure. The most essential of these projects are those that provide the basic amenities to the Iraqi people to include water and electricity.
According to the State Dept, only 12.9 million Iraqi people, (less than half of the estimated 28 million population), had access to a safe and stable water supply. In the early post-war period the number of Iraqis with access to potable water dropped to only 5.5 million. Thanks to the reconstructions efforts in the area of water reclamation, as of July 30, 2009, the State Dept estimates that more than 21.2 million Iraqis currently have access to potable water.
One such critical problem area, identified early on in the reconstruction efforts, was the lack of adequate drinking water in Sadr City. Located near Baghdad, it's home to over 2 million Iraqis. The city was built by Saddam Hussein as a massive urban community to house the thousands of rural Iraqis migrating to Baghdad in search of jobs. The city had seen decades of neglect under Saddam’s regime, in even the most basis areas including adequate potable water.
Although the city received its water from 2 existing water treatment facilities, the total potable water provided residents amounted to less than 46 liters (12 gallons) per capita per day. As a comparison, the average American uses 161 gallons per-day. It was then determined that a new water treatment plant was needed near Sadr City.”
According to project engrs, the modern water treatment process incorporated in the plant is designed with a filtering system that far exceeds the World Health Org. standards.
Col. Dan Anninos, cmdr of the Gulf Region District, and charged with completing the Sadr water treatment project, calls the facility a major success for U.S. reconstruction efforts and the residents of Sadr City. “This is a project we can all be proud of knowing that it was built by the hands, hearts and minds of our employees, for the citizens of Sadr City. The facility today is well maintained and it's being utilized as it was intended. This plant has the capacity to service thousands more citizens, and I'm confident over time it will.”
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Joint Combat Camera Center-Iraq
An Army UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter with Charlie Co, 3-25th Aviation Regt, Forward Support Medevac Team, flies over a delta on the Tigris river, on its way back to FOB Diamondback, near Mosul, in northern Iraq, Oct. 22.
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