Humanitarian Aid Continues in Wasit

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Staff Sgt. Carlos J. Lazo, USA

[SandRat]

Salvadoran Col. Walter M. Arevalo, commander of the Cuscatlan battalion X rotation, gives a bag of food supplies to a local Iraqi boy in a village near Shaikh Sa'ad, Iraq, on April 2. A total of 350 bags were distributed among the residents of a village near Shaikh Sa'ad and the village of al Sheeb, each containing a 15-day supply of food. Photo by Sgt. Carlos Lazo, 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

AL KUT — Coalition forces distributed food supplies and wheelchairs in two villages around al Kut, April 2. Salvadoran Soldiers from the Cuscatlán battalion distributed 350 bags of food, each containing a 15-day supply of food, to a village near Shaikh Sa’ad and the village of al Sheeb.

“We are always trying to help as much as possible,” said Col. Walter M. Arévalo, commander of the Cuscatlán battalion X rotation.

Twelve wheelchairs were provided to the residents of the villages.

“You have residents with problems of mobility, who’ve had this problem for a while,” Arévalo said. “Something as simple as providing a wheelchair can be a big difference.”

The distribution comes after several days of skirmishes between Iraqi security forces and criminals in al Kut.

“After the recent period of tension in al Kut,” Arévalo said, “the population could not go out because of the affects of the conflict, but we cannot forget about the population.”

Along with the food distribution, representatives from the Cuscatlán battalion’s civil military cooperation team and the Wasit provincial reconstruction team discussed possible projects for the villages with local leaders.

The small village near Shaikh Sa’ad is home to 70 families and a primary school for boys and girls. The school is used by five surrounding villages, with approximately 300 students. Future projects considered include refurbishing the school, fixing the roof and paving a road from the main road directly to the school, making it more accessible to surrounding communities.

[SandRat]

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[blam]

It’s not good PR for the needy to be wearing name brand clothing, lol.

[SandRat]

awww,.. it was probably given to him by the troops on the last visit. lol