CPA SOUTH: NEWS UPDATE - 10 AUGUST

Whilst progress continues to be made across all four Governorates in the Southern Region, it is recognized that there is a major problem with the electricity supply, which in turn is affecting the provision of petrol. It is in all our interests to rectify the situation as quickly as possible and everyone concerned is working extremely hard to put things right. An increase in demand caused by the hot weather, together with the loss of half of the output from one of the two major power stations owing to a major fault, plus the looting and sabotage of pylons, on top of years of neglect of the system, means there is a lot of repair work to do to get the national grid up and running effectively. Whilst this is being done back up generators are in use, but these are old and inefficient. This has affected the oil refining process and the delivery of fuel from garage pumps. We very much regret the difficulties that are being caused, but the pylons are being repaired, the refinery staff are doing all they can to keep the old generators going, and extra stocks of fuel are being delivered to fuel stations.

SECURITY

• There is a major effort to tackle criminal activity and in particular fuel smuggling. Coalition forces are working closely with the Iraqi Police Force, the Basra River Police Service and the Oil Police. 74 tankers have been impounded and around 30 drivers arrested. Leaflets have been handed out to drivers to remind them that they need to have the proper permits to deliver fuel.
• The emphasis remains to engage local Iraqis more and more into handling these problems themselves:
• Over 3,366 policemen have been retrained and are back on duty already in Basra Province. 32 police stations have been refurbished and are in operation. In Maysan there are 20 police stations and over 1,500 police officers; in Dhi Qar 25 police stations and 1,912 police officers; in Al Muthanna, 10 police stations and 1,200 police.
• It will take time for people to have full confidence in the police force but their presence in new uniforms, with new vehicles and equipment, is a visible sign of progress.
• There has been an increase in joint patrols conducted by Coalition Forces and the Iraqi Police Force and police check points; these have been welcomed by local people as a further visible sign of security measures in action.
• There has been a noticeable increase in Iraqi traffic police on the streets at intersections. This has coincided with a considerable increase in vehicles on the roads.

GOVERNANCE

• Basra Province now has an Iraqi interim administration in place, consisting of an Interim Council and an Interim Technical Committee. Nominees for the Interim Council were chosen from lists submitted by a wide range of sources, representing a broad cross section of society.
• The Interim Council meets regularly - the Interim Governor is Judge Wail Abdulateif and his Deputy is a police brigadier, Ameed Mezher Kherallah.
• They now have a considerable support staff of local employees and discussions are continuing to find them a permanent building.
• The South has three representatives on the Baghdad Governing Council.
• The new Regional Coordinator, Sir Hilary Synnott has set up a Joint Coordination Board with the Commander of British Forces General Lamb and the UN Administrator to ensure a fully coordinated approach to all issues.

ELECTRICITY/OIL

• It is recognized that electricity supply problems are causing major difficulties, in particular to fuel supplies. Work continues to rectify the situation. Twenty five million litres of petrol were delivered by tanker yesterday to petrol stations. In addition a convoy of 25 road tankers have been escorted by US soldiers from Kuwait.
• The oil pipeline between Basra and Nasiriyah was recently sabotaged; arrangements were made for emergency supplies to be supplied by truck from Kuwait and Italian Forces captured two people suspected of the sabotage.
• Work is continuing to develop options to provide additional generation capability in Maysan Province.
• Work continues to refurbish LPG filling stations in Basra, as well as arrangements for further imports to meet demand whilst the main LPG plant is being restored.

WATER AND SANITATION

• To the North West of the City two of the five main pipe lines into the City have suffered damage causing leaks. This is due to the failure of one of the air valves because of malicious damage, and two fractures caused by lack of maintenance. The Water Authority is making every effort to repair the damage with the help of the CPA and Coalition Forces.
• $300,000 has been spent on urgently needed spare parts, tools and minor works to enable pumps, pipes, transmission lines, filter systems and chlorinators to be repaired.
• 4 generators have been provided to 4 of the City's water treatment plants. 3 Bechtel generators started up this week and 3 more are due to become operational next week.
• The 'clean up Basrah' campaign which began on 1 June, is proceeding; employing around 600 local Iraqis a day and using around 30 hired lorries. Progress is being made, but clearly there is a lot more to do.

ECONOMY

• Basra Central Bank reopened on Saturday 21 June, and an accelerated programme of branch openings continues.
• The ongoing payment of salaries, pensions and welfare payments continues in all four regions - in Basra approx $13m has been paid in salaries to 40,000 recipients in the last few weeks, $3.5m to pensioners.
• 6,827 people in Basra designated as chronically poor have received social welfare payments through post offices.
• The first passenger ferry arrived in Umm Qasr on 19 July carrying 35 passengers from Dubai. This has now become a regular weekly service.
• It is hoped that Basra International Airport will be open to regular commercial flights in the next few weeks.

HEALTH

• Work has started on the reconstruction of the Basra Public Health Laboratory.
• For the first time the four Director Generals of Health of all the Governorates in the Southern Region met on 31 July to discuss the strategic issues facing Southern Iraq.

EDUCATION

• The schools sector reconstruction phase is continuing. Within the next few days 57 schools will be under reconstruction and Bechtel hope to get authorization for a further 25 facilities.

Steve Bird, Press and Public Affairs, CPA (South)