USAID: Iraq Reconstruction and Humanitarian Relief Weekly Update #21 (FY 2004)

This fact sheet highlights overall accomplishments and some weekly activities from USAID's reconstruction efforts in Iraq. For more information on USAID's programs in Iraq please see: www.usaid.gov/iraq
USAID assists Iraqis in reconstructing their country by working within the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). USAID programs are implemented in coordination with the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Coalition country partners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners. The USAID Mission in Iraq carries out programs in education, health care, food security, infrastructure reconstruction, airport and seaport management, economic growth, community development, local governance, and transition initiatives.

The USAID Mission in Iraq implements programs in four strategic areas:

1. Restoring Essential Infrastructure

2. Supporting Essential Health and Education

3. Expanding Economic Opportunity

4. Improving Efficiency and Accountability of Government

Program Descriptions and Updates

1. Restore Essential Infrastructure

Electricity -- Objectives include the emergency repair or rehabilitation of power generation facilities and electrical grids. Teams of engineers from the Ministry of Electricity, USAID, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the CPA have been working since May to restore capacity to Iraq's power system, which was dilapidated from decades of neglect and mismanagement and had been looted.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Generated 4,518 MW on October 6 - surpassing the prewar level of 4,400 MW. Average production over the last seven days was 4,148 MW. Production has steadily increased as generators in scheduled maintenance come online and unscheduled outages decrease.
  
  
• Generated 98,917 MW hours on February 14 - the highest since reconstruction began.
  
  
• Installed independent sources of power at Baghdad International Airport and Umm Qasr seaport.
  
  
• Conducting necessary long-term repairs and scheduled maintenance at plants throughout the country to build a sustainable power grid.
  
  
• Rehabilitating units 5 and 6 at Doura thermal power plant.
  
  
• Rehabilitating units 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 of Bayji thermal power plant.
  
  
• Continuing reconstruction of the country's 400-kv transmission network by rebuilding 205 kilometers of Khor Az Zubayr-Nasiriyah 400-kv line.
  
  
• Installing new generating capacity at Kirkuk and South Baghdad power plants.

Highlights this Week:

• Progress continues at Bayji thermal power plant in northern Iraq. Unit 2 remains on schedule to return to service on March 9 and unit 3 is expected to be taken offline for maintenance this week.

Airports -- Objectives include: providing material and personnel for the timely repair of damaged airport facilities, rehabilitating airport terminals; facilitating humanitarian and commercial flights, and preparing the eventual handover of airport operations to the Iraqi Airport Commission Authority.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Processing 30 non-military arrivals and departures a day at Baghdad International Airport.

  - More than 5000 military and NGO flights have arrived and departed at Baghdad International Airport since July.
  
  

• Completed infrastructure work to prepare Baghdad International Airport for commercial air operations.

- Repaired Terminal C and administration offices.

- Installed three X-ray machines.

- Installed very small aperture terminal (VSAT) communications systems and 6.5-MW power generators.

- Rehabilitated Iraqi customs office in the arrival hall.



• Substantially prepared Al Basrah International Airport for commercial operations. Ongoing projects include:

- Repairing runway, taxiway, and apron striping.

- Installing two baggage x-ray units.

- Repairing passenger support facilities.

- Installing VSAT satellite communications.

- Installing security fence

- Repairing airport water and sewage treatment plants.



• Completed evaluation of reconstruction requirements at Mosul Airport.

Bridges and Railroads -- Objectives include: rehabilitating and repairing damaged transportation systems, especially the most economically critical networks.

Accomplishments to Date:

Bridges:

• Demolished irreparable sections of three key bridges (Khazir, Tikrit, and Al Mat) and started reconstruction.

  - Al Mat Bridge: A key link on Highway 10 that carries over 3,000 trucks daily on the main route between Baghdad and Jordan.

  - Reopened the south span of the bridge for two-way traffic in mid-February.

  - Khazir Bridge: Critical to the flow of fuel and agricultural products to the north.

  - Repaired the south span of the bridge and reopened it for two-way traffic on January 16. Complete repairs are expected by April 2004.

  - Tikrit Bridge: An important link for passengers and commerce over the Tigris River between Tikrit and Tuz Khurmatu.

  - On the upstream side of Pier 7, steel beams have been erected and dowels are installed. Work is expected to finish in May 2004.
  
  

• Repaired a floating bridge on the Tigris River in Al Kut, improving traffic for approximately 50,000 travelers a day.

Railroads:

• Iraqi Republican Railways (IRR) contributes equipment and labor, while USAID contributes project management, material, and parts. Work on the railways includes:

  - Repairing 16 km of track at the port of Umm Qasr and 56 km of track between the port and Shuiaba Junction near Basrah to facilitate grain shipments from the seaport to mills.

  - Completed explosive ordinance disposal at all 53 sites of the rail line project near Shuiaba Junction (Al Basrah Governorate) in preparation for installation of new track.

Umm Qasr Seaport -- Objectives include: managing port administration, coordinating transport from the seaport, and facilitating cargo-handling services such as warehousing, shipment tracking, and storage.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Reopened to commercial traffic June 17; completed first passenger vessel on July 16.
  
  
• Offloading cargo from more than 40 ships per month.
  
  
• Dredged the port to an average depth of 12.5 meters. Previously, the port was 9-10 meters deep, and limited cargo could arrive only during high tide. All 21 berths are now open to deep-draft ships.

  - An Iraqi dredger, which is being rehabilitated by USAID partner Bechtel, will assist in maintaining the harbor.
  
  

• Renovated grain-receiving facility, which can process up to 600 metric tons of grain an hour.

- Over 200,000 tons of grain has been unloaded since the first bulk grain ship arrived in mid-November.



• Instituted interim port tariffs, which provide a revenue stream for financially sustainable port operations.
  
  
• Installed generators, energizing all three ring mains and restoring power to most parts of the port.
  
  
• Completed security fencing at the old and new ports and grain facility.
  
  
• Renovating the administration building, passenger terminal, customs hall building, and electrical substations.
  
  
• Employing 500 Iraqi staff, the majority of which are in the Marine Department of the Port Authority.

Telecommunications -- Objectives include: installing switches to restore service to 230,000 telephone lines in Baghdad area; repairing the nation's fiber optic network from north of Mosul through Baghdad and Nasiriyah to Umm Qasr by March 2004.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Purchased tools, equipment, and parts to enable Iraqi engineers to restore the network.

  - Audited over 1,200 km of the fiber optic backbone network.

  - Repairing the national fiber optic network from Mosul to Umm Qasr, connecting 20 cities to Baghdad.
  
  

• Reconstituting Baghdad area phone service by installing switches with 240,000 lines of capacity. Installed new switches and main distribution frames at 12 sites and fully integrated them with the 14 existing switches. Over 147,000 individual subscriber lines have now been connected; work to allow final activation is underway.

- Baghdad's largest exchange, Al Mamoun, opened on December 13.

- The Ministry of Communications has brought in additional workers from outside Baghdad to expand the line-splicing workforce and accelerate progress.



• Installed a satellite gateway system at Al Mamoun and restored international calling service to Iraq on December 30.
  
  
• Training Iraqi Telephone and Postal Company operators and engineers at Al Mamoun on telecommunications site operations, maintenance, and repairs.

Water and Sanitation -- Objectives include: rehabilitating and repairing essential water infrastructure to provide potable water and sanitation to communities and improve irrigation.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Nationwide: Rehabilitating sewage treatment plans that are currently by-passing untreated sewage generated by millions of people into the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

  - Repairing and rehabilitating water systems throughout central and southern Iraq.

  - Repaired hundreds of critical breaks in Iraq's water network immediately after the war, significantly increasing water flow.
  
  

• Baghdad: Expanding one water plant and rehabilitating three sewage plants.

- Rehabilitating and adding capacity to Baghdad's Sharkh Dijlah water plant (previously named Saba Nissan water plant) by 45%, adding an additional 225,000 cubic meters a day to the water supply by May 2004 mostly in the overpopulated eastern sections.

- Installing back-up electrical generators at 39 Baghdad water facilities and pumping stations to ensure continuous water supply.

- Rehabilitating Baghdad's sewage treatment plants - Rustimiyah North, Rustimiyah South, and Kerkh. The plants will be able to treat nearly 800 million liters of wastewater a day, benefiting 3.8 million people by October 2004.

- Rehabilitated 70 of Baghdad's non-functioning waste pumping stations.



• South Central: Rehabilitating one water plant and four sewage plants.

- Rehabilitating An Najaf municipal water treatment plant. The project will be completed by June 2004.

- Rehabilitating Ad Diwaniyah and Karbala´ sewage treatment plants, which serve 200,000 residents and currently discharge untreated waste into the Euphrates River. These projects are expected to be completed by May 2004 and October 2004, respectively.

- Rehabilitating An Najaf and Al Hillah sewage treatment plants to serve 194,000 residents. These projects are expected to be completed December 2004 and the end of February 2004, respectively.



• South: Rehabilitating the entire Sweet Water Canal system, including the canal, its reservoirs, and 14 water treatment plants and pumping stations and the Safwan water system

- The system provides drinking water to 1.75 million residents of Basrah City. It had been operating at less than half capacity.

- Rehabilitated and removed 34,000 cubic meters of sand and silt from the west settling-reservoir of the Canal, allowing it to be refilled with clean water.

- Began work on Sweet Water's 14 water treatment plants in January. By summer 2004, water quality and volume will surpass prewar levels.

- Completed the restoration of the Safwan water system. All 40,000 residents now have access to potable drinking water.



• North: Rehabilitating two water plants and one solid waste collection system.

- Constructing 400 solid waste collection points in Kirkuk (At Tamim Governorate) to improve sanitation.

- Rehabilitating Mosul and Kirkuk water treatment facilities.

Highlights this Week:

• Over 98 percent of the silt from the Sweet Water Canal's east sediment retention reservoir has been removed. Last cleaned in 1999, the east settling reservoir was filled with about two meters (150,000 cubic meters) of sediment with vegetation growing at the surface before rehabilitation began.
  
  
• Progress continues at the Kerkh wastewater treatment plant, one of three Baghdad plants being rehabilitated by USAID partner Bechtel. Upon completion, the plant will greatly improve water quality and fisheries in the area.
  
  
• In Central Iraq, sewage treatment plants are being restored to full capacity in the cities of An Najaf, Ad Diwaniyah, Karbala' and Al Hillah. As they are brought back online, they will serve more than a quarter million Iraqis, and reduce pollution in the Euphrates River.

  - Ad Diwaniyah and Al Hillah wastewater treatment plants: The civil work for these sites is substantially complete. The remaining work is limited to a few items that will be completed this week. Al Hillah will serve 53,000 people when it is completed at the end of April and Ad Diwaniyah will serve 80,000 people when it is completed in May.

  - An Najaf wastewater treatment plant: Civil cleanup is 95 percent complete. The bypass lagoons, which are being used to process waste while the plant is inoperable, continue to work well with minor maintenance being implemented to ensure proper operation. An Najaf will serve 141,000 people when it is completed in December 2004.

  - Karbala' wastewater treatment plant: Civil restoration is approximately 40 percent complete. The first sedimentation tank has been cleaned and repairs to the concrete and steel work are ongoing. Work has now started on the second tank. Sludge has been removed from five of the eight drying beds and concrete repairs are ongoing. Karbala' will serve 161,000 people when it is completed in April 2004.
  
  

• Rustimiyah North and South wastewater treatment plants are two of three sewage treatment plants in Baghdad and will be rehabilitated by October 2004 with USAID assistance. Currently, none of Baghdad's sewage goes through any treatment before it is dumped into the Tigris River. The rehabilitated plants will treat nearly 800 million liters a day, benefiting 3.8 million people.

- Rustimiyah South: Civil work at Rustimiyah South wastewater treatment plant is progressing and is expected to be complete by the middle of March. The last major effort is focused on the inlet works screen house. Rustimiyah South will serve 1.1 million people when it is completed in October 2004.

- Rustimiyah North: Civil work cleaning the tank at Rustimiyah North wastewater treatment plant is progressing well, with pre-aeration tank 4 and primary settling tanks 7-12 now essentially complete and with final washings underway. Repairs to the administration building, storage shed, and chlorine building are progressing. Rustimiyah North will serve 1.3 million people when it is completed in September 2004.

2. Support Essential Health and Education

Health -- Objectives include: supporting a reformed Iraqi Ministry of Health; delivering essential health services; funding medicines and supplemental nutrients; establishing a rapid referral and response system for the most serious cases; providing medical equipment and supplies; training and recruiting health staff; providing health education and information; and determining the specific needs of the health sector and of vulnerable populations such as women and children.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Procured more than 30 million doses of vaccines since July with support from the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.
  
  
• Vaccinated three million children under the age of five through the Expanded Immunization Program since June. USAID will provide vaccines for a total of 4.2 million children under five and 700,000 pregnant women.
  
  
• Continuing a monthly immunization campaign with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health with 4,000 health workers and 124 supervisors.
  
  
• Awarding small grants to support Iraqi NGO healthcare efforts throughout Iraq.
  
  
• Developed a hospital and clinic facility database for the Ministry of Health on facility type, location, service distribution, cost information, and building condition.
  
  
• Renovated 52 primary health clinics and re-equipping over 600 to provide essential primary healthcare services including training staff in essential service delivery. In addition, a master training of medical professionals in public health, community medicine, and healthcare delivery is being conducted in the reequipped clinics. The master trainers have trained 140 health professionals; the exercise will ultimately branch out to 2,500 medical staff.
  
  
• Additional training to enhance primary health care services in all governorates is continuing and is reaching 2,200 health workers. The training is conducted by 340 local supervisors and trainers whose work is monitored by 23 central supervisors.
  
  
• Distributed high-protein supplementary food rations to more than 240,000 pregnant and nursing mothers and malnourished children.
  
  
• Evaluated 18 national and regional public health laboratories for equipment needs.
  
  
• Rehabilitated the National Polio Laboratory.
  
  
• Training more than 8,000 health workers to identify and treat acutely malnourished children.
  
  
• Working with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to develop a master plan to reduce child mortality and increase the level of preventative care available to the Iraqi people through assistance to their nine working groups which address: public health, health care delivery, health information systems, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, health care finance, education and training, human resources, legislation and regulation, and licensing and accreditation.
  
  
• Working with the Ministry of Health to assist in the delegation of functions to other entities in the health sector such as NGOs, professional associations, community organizations, and businesses.

Highlights this Week:

• In February, 20 containers (800 tons) of high protein biscuits were delivered directly to 15 governorates. Another 160 containers with 6,400 tons of high protein biscuits will be delivered before the end of March 2004.
  
  
• The Iraq Ministry of Health has concluded a series of 3 health forums in Baghdad to discuss the vision for health sector reform established by the Ministry. The sessions gathered feedback from more than 100 health professionals on the new vision and is the first of a several such forums to be held throughout Iraq.
  
  
• In support of the Ministry of Health's efforts to strengthen primary health care in Iraq, USAID partner Abt Associates Inc. delivered a kit of primary health care equipment to Al Andalous Clinic located in Ramadi (Al Anbar governorate). This is the first of 600 primary health care equipment kits to be delivered to primary health care centers throughout Iraq.

Education -- Objectives include: increasing enrollment and improving the quality of primary and secondary education, ensuring that classrooms have sufficient materials, facilitating community involvement, training teachers, implementing accelerated learning programs, and establishing partnerships between U.S. and Iraqi colleges and universities.

Accomplishments to Date:

Immediately After the Conflict

• Provided technical assistance for the resumption of the Ministry of Education functions.
  
  
• Provided assistance for resumption of Ministry salaries.
  
  
• Funded 5.5 million examinations for transitional grades, which ensured the smooth continuation of school.
  
  
• Conducted a survey of secondary schools in all permissive areas in the country (3,300 schools total).

Facilities and Supplies

• Awarded 633 grants worth more than $6.1 million to rehabilitate schools and Directorates General.
  
  
• Rehabilitated 2,415 schools countrywide for the first term of the 2003/04 school year.
  
  
• Provided materials, equipment and supplies:

  - Distributed 1,493,743 secondary school kits that include pens, pencils, paper, math equipment, and other supplies.

  - Distributed 159,005 student desks, 26,437 teacher desks, 59,940 teacher chairs, 26,050 metal cabinets, 61,500 chalkboards and 40,889 teacher kits.

  - Delivered 808,000 primary student kits.

  - Delivered 81,735 primary teacher kits.

  - In consultation with the Iraqi Ministry of Education, reviewed 48 math and science textbooks for grades 1-12.

  - Printed and distributed 8,759,260 textbooks throughout Iraq.
  
  

Institutional Strengthening

• Trained 860 secondary school Master Trainers during September 2003-January 2004 nationwide.
  
  
• Trained approximately 32,553 secondary school teachers and administration staff.
  
  
• Conducting an accelerated learning program in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Ad Diwaniyah, and Karbala'. Of the 699 students registered, more than 600 are attending the program. In February, the students completed mid term exams.

Higher Education

• Returned the Fulbright Scholarship Program to Iraq after a 14-year absence. The program awarded at least 25 scholarships for Iraqis to study in the United States in 2004. USAID participated in the binational review committee for Iraq.
  
  
• Launched Higher Education and Development Program. Awarded five grants worth an estimated $20.5 million for U.S.-Iraqi university partnerships:

  1) A consortium led by Research Foundation of the State University of New York at Stony Brook partnering with Baghdad University, Al Mustansiriyah University/Baghdad, and Mosul University in archeology and environmental research.

  2) The University of Hawaii College of Agriculture and Human Resources partnering with the University of Mosul Hamam Al-Alil for strengthening academic, research, and extension programs.

  3) The Human Rights Institute at DePaul University College of Law and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (Italy) partnering with University of Baghdad to reform legal education.

  4) Jackson State University partnering with University of Mosul for public health and sanitation.

  5) The University of Oklahoma partnering with Al Anbar University, Basrah University, and the University of Salah ad Din in higher education initiatives.

3. Expand Economic Opportunity

Economic Growth -- Objectives include: currency conversion and development of economic statistics, small businesses credits, commercial legislation, a national employment program, micro-finance programs, a bankto- bank payment system, a computerized financial management information system, tax policy and administration, budget planning, insurance ,telecommunications reform and electricity reform.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Worked with the Ministry of Finance to introduce the new national currency. The currency exchange began on October 15 and was completed on January 15. All of the 6.36 trillion new Iraqi dinars are now in country, and 4.62 trillion Iraqi dinars are in circulation - 106 percent of the original demand estimate of 4.36 trillion. The overall management plan for the currency exchange operation was developed by BearingPoint, including security and logistics.
  
  
• Conducting a daily currency auction for banks to exchange dinars and dollars.
  
  
• Created more than 77,000 public works jobs through the National Employment Program.
  
  
• Provided technical assistance on the implementation of a bank-to-bank payment system that allows 80 banks to send and receive payment instructions.
  
  
• Assisted in developing, installing, and training staff to use the Financial Management Information System, a new accounting and reporting system that will eventually be used by all Iraqi treasury offices and ministries.
  
  
• Assisting CPA in managing a $21-million microcredit program.
  
  
• Supporting CPA's Oil for Food (OFF) Program in planning, program management, logistics, database applications, and communications to support the CPA OFF Coordination Center in the north and south.
  
  
• Evaluating and updating commercial laws pertaining to private sector and foreign investment; assisted in the development of the new Company Law.

Highlights this Week:

• USAID partner BearingPoint worked with Rafidain Bank's managers and staff to assess a loan to an Iraqi polythene bag manufacturing company for $500,000. This loan, which is still under review, has been used to train bank staff in financial analysis and loan structuring to ensure sustainability of operations.
  
  
• This week, the Iraqi Governing Council approved the proposed tax strategy for 2004, effective April 1. Taxes will be reintroduced on personal and rental income while personal exemptions will be increased and tax rates lowered. There also will be a simplified system for taxing employees of government and state- owned enterprises.
  
  
• Training for a micro-lending activity in the Sunni Triangle has commenced. Twelve junior and mid-level bankers from the Middle East Investment Bank, the Bank of Baghdad, Rafidain Bank, and the Rasheed Bank, are attending workshops that include micro and small enterprise lending techniques. Upon completion of the training, the bankers will form the base of the Sunni Triangle micro-lending project, which will help to reinvigorate micro and small businesses and stimulate economic growth in that area.

Food Security -- Objectives include: providing oversight support for the countrywide public distribution system, which provides basic food and non-food commodities to an estimated 25 million Iraqis; participating in the design of a monetary assistance program to replace the commodity-based distribution system to support local production and free-market infrastructure; and promoting comprehensive agriculture reform to optimize private participation in production and wholesale markets.

Accomplishments to Date:

• Worked with the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) and Coalition Forces to re-establish Iraq's public distribution system in less than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian food crisis and maintaining food security.
  
  
• Contributed cash and food aid in the amount of $425 million to WFP's emergency operations immediately following the conflict, making the U.S. the foremost contributor to WFP emergency operations in Iraq.
  
  
• Placed food specialists in Baghdad, Al Basrah, Al Hillah, and Arbil to support food operations immediately after the conflict.
  
  
• Provided ongoing support and technical assistance to WFP and local Iraqi authorities in the Ministry of Trade and the Kurdish Food Departments to ensure the smooth transition of public distribution system management tasks to the Iraqi government. Special attention was given to the transition phase in the northern governorates of Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Arbil. The initial handover of responsibilities occurred on November 21 without significant problems.
  
  
• Played a role in negotiating a memorandum of understanding between the CPA, the Ministry of Trade, and the World Food Program that details WFP's areas of responsibility to include: capacity building and training, procurement of food commodities, the renegotiation of certain food contracts, shipment and overland transport of food commodities, and pipeline management. The World Food Program will continue to assist with supporting the public distribution system through June 2004 and will begin work immediately to assure continuation of food deliveries.
  
  
• Currently providing food aid expertise to CPA and Ministry of Trade in Baghdad and assisting with the CPA OFF Coordination Center as WFP and CPA and the Ministry continue to distribute food to all Iraqis.

Agriculture

• Objectives include: expanding agricultural productivity, restoring the capacity of agroenterprises to produce, process and market agricultural goods and services, nurturing access to rural financial services and improving land and water resource management.

Accomplishments to Date:

Since October, USAID partner DAI has been implementing the Agricultural Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) to formulate a long-term vision for the sector, while designing activities for quick impact, including:

• Winter Crop Technology Demonstrations: On 334 hectares in 15 governorates, 128 farm families are establishing plots with new crop varieties for extension field days.
  
  
• Kirkuk Veterinary Hospital Renovation: Fifty communities will benefit from a $96,000 grant to renovate a hospital that serves more than 100,000 livestock in the area.
  
  
• Taza and Rashad Veterinary Clinic Rehabilitation: A $50,000 grant will be matched by supplies and equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture. These rural clinics are the two principal sources of vaccines and medicines for animals in 125 local communities.
  
  
• Internet Connectivity and Repairs to a Student Union Building: The Baghdad University School of Agriculture will receive a $75,000 grant that will benefit 4,509 students.

Highlights this Week:

• Seven grants, totaling $394,000, were approved February 23 under USAID's Agriculture Reconstruction and Development Program for Iraq (ARDI) to build the capacity of Iraq's agriculture sector. The emphasis on veterinary programs allows an immediate, highly visible response to the challenges that face herders and farmers in the North and Central Regions. The grants include:

  - University of Baghdad Internet Center: The $62,000 grant will furnish and equip a new Internet center at the University of Baghdad College of Veterinary Medicine.

  - Ministry of Agriculture Internet Support: A $62,000 grant will provide computers and furniture to support and equip a computer center at the State Board of Agriculture Research.

  - Rehabilitation of Daquq, Imam Qasm, and Al Riyadh Veterinary Clinics in Kirkuk: Under the direction of the Kirkuk Veterinary Hospital, a $60,000 grant will be used to renovate the Daquq Veterinary Clinic, a $75,000 grant will be used to renovate the Imam Qasm Veterinary Clinic, and a $55,000 grant will be used to renovate Al Riyadh Veterinary Clinic.

  - Rehabilitation of Karmah Veterinary Clinic in Fallujah: A $40,000 grant will be used to renovate the Karmah Veterinary Clinic.

  - Sheep Dipping Tanks: A $40,000 grant will be used to purchase and install six dipping tanks, which are used to delouse and clean sheep.

Marshlands

• Objectives include: construct environmental, social and economic baselines for the remaining and former marshlands; assist marsh dwellers by creating economic opportunities and viable social institutions; improve the management of marshlands and expand restoration activities

Program Goals:

• The $4-million Marshland Restoration and Management Program will promote wetlands restoration and provide social and economic assistance to marsh dwellers. Initiatives include:

  - Creating a hydraulic model of the marshes to improve water management.

  - Equipping a soil and water quality lab at the new Center for Iraq Marshlands Restoration.

  - Implementing pilot projects to improve treatment of wa