Iraqi, Coalition forces aid local residents, build friendships

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Spc. Chris McCann

[SandRat]

Iraqi Army medic Ziad Afuritakh of 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division treats a young Iraqi girl at a medical operation conducted Thursday at a school in Cargouli Village, Iraq, as her father looks on. Almost 200 people were seen at the operation and treated for various illnesses. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chris McCann, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and U.S. Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) conducted a medical-civil affairs clinic in Cargouli Village Thursday.

An Iraqi medic, along with several medics of the 2^nd BCT, treated aches, pains and stomach illnesses due to poor water quality.

“It’s sad that in most patients that we see, their issues stem from water problems,” said U.S. Army Spc. Erin Byers of 2^nd BCT.

In these rural areas, the Iraqi civilians drink, cook and clean from canal water.

Muhamad Sebeh, a resident of Cargouli Village, was one of about 200 people seen by the medics. He came to be treated for arthritis.

“It’s wonderful that the Americans are doing all the things they do,” Sebeh said. “The situation here has gotten much better since the arrests after those Soldiers were kidnapped. We’re free to walk around now, thanks to the Americans. And when people come to harass us, we kick them out.”

Several local women waiting to be seen agreed.

“It’s very, very good of the Americans to do this for us,” said Badriyya Abdullah. “Since the Soldiers got rid of the terrorists, we’ve been able to start negotiations for power and water improvements.”

The operation was hopefully just the start of improvements in the area, locals said.

In the nearby village of Arab Jassim, a former sanctuary for terror, the local sheikh and leader of a Cargouli sub-tribe, hosted the operation in his guest house.

“It’s good that you Soldiers have come out here,” said Umm Muhammad, one of the sheikh’s daughters. “I’ve seen a few repeat customers for treatment. I think doing these will help relations between the people and the Coalition

forces.”

The sheikh was also very positive.

“It’s great,” he said. “The timing isn’t so good, with the crops coming in right now, but still, we have no clinic and this sort of thing is our only access to medical care. The road to Baghdad is closed off, so it’s wonderful you have come out here.”

Company A, 478th Civil Affairs Battalion Soldiers also joined the efforts by distributing bags of Iraqi government-issue flour, school supplies and clothes donated by U.S. citizens at the operations.

U.S. Army Maj. David Hernandez, a 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT medical provider working with the 2-69th, treated many of the patients in Arab Jassim.

“And it does improve relations – they come here to the patrol base as though I’m their doctor. So I’ve seen a lot of the people before, either when they’re sick or they’re bringing an ill family member,” said Hernandez.

(U.S. Army story by Spc. Chris McCann, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

In other developments throughout Iraq:

• Multi-National Division–Baghdad Soldiers assisted a young boy recovering from a gunshot wound to the foot June 17 in the Jamia area of the Iraqi capital.

• The 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team completed two simultaneous operations in a 48-hour period in Al Dura’iya Sunday.

Press Releases

• MND-B patrol struck by improvised explosive device
• Iraqi Security Forces detain members of Al Qaeda cell in Mosul
• MND-B troops discover multiple roadside bombs, defeat insurgent attacks
• High-level senior al-Qaeda leader killed during Coalition operations
• Local civilian dies of wounds, 2 wounded during engagement
• IA, CF apply ‘relentless’ pressure on insurgents, detain 25

[SandRat]

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