Courtesy Photo | BAGHDAD -- A mother and daughter move two propane tanks down the newly-opened road...... read more read more
Maj. Russ Goemaere
2nd Brigade Combat PAO
BAGHDAD -- Residents in one east Baghdad community believe a newly-opened road will have a positive impact on their local economy.
"This road will make it much easier for the people of Al Shuada south and Al Oubaidy to move between both communities," said a smiling Sharker Rheeie Sudan, a long-time resident and owner of a propane shop along the road.
"Business will improve," he continued. "Heavy trucks will have an easier time getting to my shop for deliveries and pickups."
The 700-meter asphalt road will impact more than 60,000 Iraqis. At a cost of about $100,000, it officially opened Oct. 19
.
The project was started after members of the community approached local leaders with their request.
"The people came to me and told me they needed a road," said Chalub Lazim, district chairman of the community. "During the rainy season, it was very hard to move between the neighborhoods."
Lt. Col. Kevin Farrell, commander of Coalition Forces in the Tissa Nissan district, said, "The district and neighborhood councils have the interests of the people at heart with projects like this."
This project shows how a good dialogue can result in a benefit.
"I am convinced this road will improve the economy and security situation here," Farrell said. "People will come here and build their homes and these homeowners will bring businesses and money into the local economy, and they will want a secure environment to raise their families.
"The plan is for the Iraqi government to provide more roads that will branch out from this one to build an even bigger and better community," he added.
Sudan has noticed many changes since the fall of the previous regime.
"Now is better than the past," he said. "Everyone can see the progress happening every day. There is progress in security and services."
New multi-million-dollar sewer and water projects are on-going in Al Shuada and Al Oubaidy as well.
The Al Shuada sewer project will run about $2.2 million while the massive Al Oubaidy sewer and water project costs about $14.5 million. While the small road that just opened benefits only a small amount of the population, the sewer and water projects are expected to positively impact the lives of more than 260,000 people.
Both projects are expected to be completed in early summer 2006.
Members of the sewer work crew in Al Shuada feel very good about what they are doing for their community.
"The people are very happy," said about 10 workers in unison, as they took a short break to talk to BBC reporter Hugh Sykes who was visiting the area Oct. 20.
"We only had gutters and channels to take the sewage out into the street. This project will change everything," said Mr. Alla, a resident and worker who has lived there since 1997.
"It has taken 30 years for projects like these to come to the people in these areas," said Lt. Col. Jamie Gayton, commander of 2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion. Gayton is also the primary essential service project manager in east Baghdad. "(Coalition Forces) are here to support the Iraqi government as it gets stronger and can coordinate and execute these projects on its own."
The Al Shuada project is being completed by Iraqi engineers using local neighborhood labor following designs created and approved by Iraqis at the Baghdad Sewer Authority. The projects have collectively employed more than 120 Iraqi laborers.
Gayton held an informal discussion with the Iraqi workers and some of the residents in Al Shuada to gauge how the projects are benefiting the community and to remind them that they need to talk to their local government leaders about what additional projects are needed in the future.
All projects go through the Iraqi Amanant municipal management offices for development, he said.
"When we see progress and the Iraqi workers doing such a good job we are all encouraged," said Abdel Karim, a government employee and resident of Al Shuada.
The Iraqis seemed pleased by the visit by Gayton and the BBC reporter, but one worker who was focused on the job politely told the visitors the interview needed to wrap up. "You are in our way; please leave so we can get back to work," Alla said with a smile.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2005 15:56 |
| Story ID: | 3443 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 39 |
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