CPA SOUTH: NEWS UPDATE – 26 JULY

 

The Coalition Provisional Authority for the Southern Region, in co-operation with the new Basra Interim Council and the Coalition forces, is working extremely hard to tackle the key issues of local concern. Day by day improvements can be seen to be taking place, but from a basis of many years of chronic under investment in the major public services.     

 

SECURITY

 

• Law and order remains a key issue. The Basra Interim Council has formed a joint security committee with the Coalition Forces and the Iraqi police force to work together to tackle this.

• The emphasis is to engage local Iraqis more and more into handling these problems themselves.  
• Over 2500 policemen have been retrained and are back on duty already in Basra Province.  Target is 6000 pre war level. 1200 police officers are back to work in Maysan Province. The police reconstruction effort in Maysan is being assisted by a vastly experienced retired Superintendent of the Greater Manchester Police.
• During the last week, three new Iraqi police stations have been opened across Basra Province on top of the 36 police stations and HQ buildings already fully restored and operational. This is a visible sign of an Iraqi police presence, and of reconstruction in progress.
• Five hundred AK47s have been given to the Oil Police across Basra Province as part of the crackdown on smuggling.
• Local people appear to be content with the visible joint patrols now being conducted by Iraqi police with UK soldiers and the increase in check points has been positively supported.  
• The increase in Iraqi traffic police on the streets is another sign of progress.

 

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.
• As part of the effort to get public Ministeries up and running the Governor has announced that the Council will give 30 days notice to all groups to evacuate public buildings.
• The South has three representatives on the Baghdad Governing Council.  

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRICITY/OIL

 

• Following the completion of repairs between Hartha and Khor Az Zubayr power stations and further extensive repairs to the transmission and distribution networks, the Southern dispatch centre is now able to supply continuous power to all areas of Basra City. The increased availability of electricity has been noticeable in recent days.
• Work is continuing to develop options to provide additional generation capability in Maysan Province.
• The first of 49 generators has been installed in the Basra area, primarily to help hospitals and water treatment facilities.  
• Work continues to refurbish LPG filling stations in Basra.  

 

WATER AND SANITATION

 

• Water is available for 60% of the population although distribution is hampered by leaks and power supply difficulties. The main canal that provides much of the water has been damaged by looting and the pumps are silted up. Repair work is underway. Electricity for the pumps is crucial and 6 generators have been provided to the main pumping station for Basra City. 10 joint civil/military teams continue to repair leaks. Work continues to improve the quantity and quality of water supplies.      
• 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. There has been a noticeable difference, enhanced by the recent addition of newly painted blue and white ballistrades alongside the many canals throughout Basra City.     

 

ECONOMY 

 

·        Basra Central Bank reopened on Saturday 21 June, and an accelerated programme of branch openings continues – 16 locations with 21 branches across the four regions already, with 19 locations and 24 branches in the next few weeks.   

·        The stipend payments to former Iraqi soldiers have been conducted  successfully.  

·        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.

·        A plan to pay social welfare payments to the chronically poor in Basra has been put in place. Payments began on 16 July through designated post offices and by 24 July all those – around 6,827 people identified – should have been paid.  

·        The first passenger ferry arrived in Umm Qasr on 19 July carrying 35 passengers from the UAE. The passengers were successfully disembarked and checks were carried out by Iraqi Customs and Immigration personnel.

·        Qatari Airlines have made the first proving flight into Basra International Airport. Discussions continue about opening the airport to regular commercial flights; it is hoped they will be able to commence in the next few weeks.

 

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE

 

·        The Dubai government are providing an assistance package that equips Iraqi Customs with the latest cargo clearance technology and intelligence.

·        Operating out of the Safwan Police Station the Iraqi Customs Police have established a presence at the border crossing with Kuwait.

·        More passenger traffic is expected to develop as the ferry service builds up between UAE and Umm Qasr. The effectiveness of the Customs procedures will be monitored.

·        Fuel smuggling remains a problem – check points are conducted along known transportation routes and drivers without permits are being arrested. Boat patrols along the Shat Al Arab continue and more boats are expected in the next few months. Training of further River Police is continuing.  

 

HEALTH

 

·        Dr Raad Dawood was recently selected by senior clinicians to be Director General Health for Basra Governate. This is the culmination of two months hard work.

·        Funds have been secured to rebuild the Basra Public Health Laboratory.

·        180 tons of vitally needed drugs have been delivered to the Basra Warehouse.

 

EDUCATION

 

·        The schools sector reconstruction phase is continuing. Work has commenced on the Southern campus of Basra University (Internet café and Business centre at $60 000) and contracts for a further10 University buildings on both campuses have now been submitted, again the aim is to use local contractors. BECHTEL  are refurbishing 3 schools within Basra, with contracts to refurbish a further 25 schools now signed.

·        358 Secondary and 358 Primary teachers allegedly  dismissed under the old regime have been reinstated.

 

 

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