Iraqis lead humanitarian aid mission

Multi-National Force-Iraq ^ | Spc. Anthony Jones, USA

[SandRat]

Maj. John Walton from Pine Bush, N.Y., operations officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, talks with an Iraqi child during a joint humanitarian aid delivery in the village of Sudoor, Dec. 18. Photo by Spc Anderson Savoy, 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

DIYALA — Iraqi Army Soldiers took the lead in planning and conducting a combined humanitarian aid delivery to displaced persons living in the village of Sudoor, Diyala province, Dec. 18.

The supplies were delivered by the 20th Brigade, 5th IA Division to Sunni Arabs who were removed from their homes in the predominately Kurdish city of Khanaqin in 2003 and are now living in an abandoned hotel.

Col. Wadau, the executive officer of the 20th Bde., said, "These people have been displaced for six years and they are in need of help."  He added the Iraqi government is making plans to move the people to new homes.

U.S. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, helped their IA counterparts with the delivery.  The team provided each of the approximately 20 families there with one 50 kilogram bag of rice, a 50 kilogram bag of flour, four bags of sugar, four bottles of cooking oil and four cans of tomato paste.

The U.S. troops on scene provided vehicles to move the supplies and secured the area for the IA Soldiers.  They also took time to interact with local residents who came to receive aid.

"Arrowhead" brigade medical officers were also on hand to discuss preventative medicine with local elders.

The Soldiers also handed out schools supplies donated by various organizations from the United States.

“There is no doubt these people need whatever support we and our Iraqi partners can provide,” said Maj. John Walton, operations officer, 2/3rd Inf. Div. "Operations like this really show that the Iraqi Security Forces cares about the populace."

(By Spc. Anthony Jones, 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

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