Rehabilitating Iraqi Public Facilities

Rehabilitating Iraqi Public Facilities Repairing Infrastructure for Growth December 2003 Under the repressive rule of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi people suffered economically and socially for years. Lack of investment and maintenance in public facilities allowed schools, health clinics, airports, seaports, bridges, railroads, and other services critical to public welfare to fall into a severe state of disrepair. USAID programs focus on repairing these facilities and providing operational support and training to ensure a consistent provision of services. Baghdad International Airport has been refurbished and repaired by USAID partners Bechtel and Skylink. Photo: Thomas Hartwell Airports Airports Key Projects at Public Facilities Reconstructing and supporting operations at Baghdad and Al Basrah International Airports Rehabilitating Umm Qasr Seaport, Iraq’s only deep-water port and a critical transit point for goods, including humanitarian assistance. • Completing reconstruction activities at the Baghdad and Al Basrah International Airports. Reconstructing three key bridges (Khazir, Tikrit, and Al Mat) to allow easier transportation for both passengers and commerce. • Processing an average of 50 non-military arrivals and departures each day at Baghdad International Airport. Repairing railways along critical lines to ensure bulk grain and freight movement to key locations. • Began operating Iraqi customs office on October 21, 2003, in Baghdad Airport arrival halls. Renovating and re-equipping 600 health clinics which provide life saving health services. • Begun construction of a security fence around Hawler International Airport as part of the Arbil Economic Development Strategy. Rehabilitating over 2,000 schools throughout Iraq to create a safe environment conducive to learning. • Evaluated reconstruction requirements at Mosul Airport. Renovating 10 fire stations in Baghdad to restore capability of stations to respond to fire emergencies. Bridges Bridges • Completed construction of a 1.5-kilometer, four- lane bypass for the damaged Al Mat bridge—an essential route for the transport of humanitarian goods • Demolished irreparable sections of the Khazir and Tikrit bridges, two key spans on roads that connect Baghdad to cities in the north, and begun reconstruction. • Repaired a floating bridge on the Tigris River in Al Kut, improving traffic for approximately 50,000 travelers a day. A nurse monitors a premature baby in the neonatal ward of a clinic in Basrah renovated by USAID partner RTI. Photo: Thomas Hartwell In close cooperation with Iraqi nationals and the Coalition Provisional Authority, USAID is restoring critical infrastructure, improving healthcare and education services, expanding economic opportunities, and implementing good governance. Special Feature Rehabilitating Public Facilities Umm Umm Qasr Qasr Seaport Seaport Special Feature • The port reopened to commercial traffic June 17 and the first passenger vessel arrived July 16— exceeding goals for the use of the port. • Dredging of the seaport is complete, and Umm Qasr is able to handle deep-draft ships at all 21 berths. • On November 14, the first bulk cargo grain ship arrived in the port and unloaded 52,000 tons of wheat. A second grain ship unloaded 52,185 additional tons of wheat in December. • Five hundred Iraqi staff work at the port, the majority of which are in the Marine Department. • From May 23 to November 30, 638,000 metric Health Clinics Health Clinics tons of goods were offloaded at the port. • Rehabilitated 20 delivery rooms, serving more than 300,000 residents of Basrah. • Power supply and grain facilities are operational, enabling the storage and distribution of humanitarian goods. • Renovating more than 60 primary health clinics and re-equipping more than 600. • Interim port tariffs were approved and applied on June 20, providing a revenue stream for the financial sustainability of port operations. • Evaluated 18 national and regional public health laboratories for equipment needs. • Rehabilitated the National Polio Laboratory. • Security fencing has been erected at the grain facility and at the old and new ports. Schools Schools Renovation is almost completed at the Umm Qasr High School for Boys, which was looted and vandalized. (Photo: Thomas Hartwell) • Rehabilitated 2,088 schools for the first term of the 2003-04 school year. • Awarded 350 grants worth $5.2 million to rehabilitate schools and education directorates general countrywide. • Established the Education Management Information System at the Ministry of Education to aid in the systematic tracking of statistical information on the education sector. This project was in collaboration with UNICEF and UNHIC. Fire Stations Fire Stations • Renovated 10 fire stations in Baghdad that were looted after the conflict. A dredging vessel arrives in the port of Umm Qasr. Dredging of the port has allowed ships to enter the port, allowing supplies and humanitarian aid to enter Iraq. USAID United States Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov/iraq/