Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Staff Sgt. Charles Ecxford, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop,...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq— Bulldozers and dump trucks are still pulling out rubble by the ton in the city of Taza, Iraq, where a bomb blast June 20 left more than 82 people dead, approximately 200 wounded, and dozens of homes destroyed.
Hundreds of mourners held services in the town, and humanitarian aid from the local government, non-governmental organizations, the U.S. military and others arrived in the days following the attack.
"The people here don't have a single thing left in their pockets," said Hussein Ali Marden, who is one of the men responsible for distributing supplies to many of the now homeless residents of Taza.
"The food that they have is all coming from aid," he continued.
To assist in this aid, Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have been delivering water, fuel and food.
"We are trying to coordinate how we can support the government of Iraq's response here," said Lt. Col. Hugh McNeely, the deputy commanding officer of 2nd BCT.
"Most of the aid will come in the form of donations from NGOs and the government of Iraq," continued McNeely.
The brigade will continue to support Taza residents by providing microgrants for businesses and projects that include trash removal, portable toilets and small generators, said McNeely.
Soldiers from the brigade are also helping to coordinate efforts and bring more relief organizations into the area by working with the Kirkuk Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Taza residents have already received thousands of pounds of aid supplies from the government of Turkey, which also flew 11 seriously injured patients to hospitals in the capital city, Ankara.
"People are starting to think about the next stage," said Michael Knowles, the governance advisor for the Kirkuk PRT, who discussed reconstruction efforts with Taza city leaders.
According to Knowles, the families here are most concerned with the immediate issues of housing, food and supplies, but many of their daily needs are continuing to be met by outside donations.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2009 13:48 |
| Story ID: | 35800 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 178 |
| Downloads: | 77 |
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