Did you know????

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction!

Did you know that Iraqi higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2004 for the reestablished Fulbright program?

They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a navel infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraqi Air Force consists of three operation squadrons, 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad ! stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004? Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate in their country recently?

Women's Rights Center Established
Hilla, Iraq - Iraqi women producing garments for the local market at the Fatima Al-Zahra Center for Women's Rights in Hilla, one hour south of Baghdad. The women's center was named by the community after Fatima Al-Zahra, who was the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The center is open to all and offers nutrition and health classes, internet/computer training, and sewing facilities. The center well generate income through sewing production, a planned food catering business, and an internet cafe. The CPA and USAID/OTI worked with women from across Babil Provence to establish the center. It is the first of five such centers to open in the south-central region of Iraq.

USAID Promotes Local Governance Projects
Mokhtars from Abu Ghrayek, 1 of 15 subdistricts of the Babel Governate, listen to a description of the basics of democracy and the selection process that will allow for delegates to select 20 members from their communities to a new district council. USAID is working to promote ongoing local governence projects throughout Iraq.

Life in Baghdad
An Iraqi man offers watermelons for sale in a roadside stand in central Baghdad 30 May, 2003 as life begins to return to normal.

USAID to help refurbish schools in Baghdad
Iraqi school girls wait after school at the Agadir Secondary school in the Saydiya neighborhood of Baghdad. Several rooms of the school were looted during the war. USAID is looking at refurbishing the school.

A USAID Education advisor talks to Iraqi school girls about their curriculum at the Agadir Secondary school in the Saydiya neighborhood of Baghdad. USAID is looking at funding efforts to update the Iraqi school curriculum.

Iraqi school girls listen to their teacher in the Agadir Secondary school in the Saydiya neighborhood of Baghdad. Several rooms of the school were looted during the war. USAID is looking at refurbishing the school.

School Reconstruction in Al Basrah
The Al Nijoom school playground. Workers are employed by Alsabah construction firm

Sweet Water Canal Project
Basrah, Iraq, October 2003 - Loaders remove accumulaed silt from a section of 1 of 2 storage reservoirs in the Sweet Water Canal project that supplies all the fresh water to the city of Basrah and environs. The serpentine walls within the reservoir are designed to slow the flow of water allowing solids to settle providing cleaner water to water treatment plants downstream. The 275km canal, storage reservoir and pumping stations have suffered from a lack of maintenance and will be rehabilitated by USAID partner Bechtel at a cost of almost $12 million. When completed by March 1, 2004 it will serve 1.75 million citizens of the Basrah region.

Fishermen use nets to catch fish from a spillway in the Sweet Water Canal project that supplies all the fresh water to the city of Basrah and environs. The reservoirs must be drained before the accumulated silt can be removed. The serpentine walls within the reservoir are designed to slow the flow of water allowing solids to settle providing cleaner water to water treatment plants downstream. The 275km canal, storage reservoir and pumping stations have suffered from a lack of maintenance and will be rehabilitated by USAID partner Bechtel at a cost of almost $12 milllion. When completed by March 1, 2004 it will serve 1.75 million citizens of the Basrah region.

Saba Nissan Water Treatment Plant Extension
Baghdad, Iraq, October 2003 - An Iraqi civil engineer surveys the site preparation for an extension to the Saba Nissan water Treatment plant as part of a $15 million dollar grant to expand drinking water for the Baghdad region. The new extension will increase portable water capacity by 225 million liters per day. USAID is working closely with the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources and the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Baghdad, Iraq, October 2003 - Iraqi civil engineers working for Bechtel, survey the site preparation for an extension to the Saba Nissan water treatment plant as part of a $15 million dollar grant to expand drinking water for the Baghdad region.

USAID and the World Food Program provide basic commodities in Iraq
A widow with a family of 4 receives rations as part of a World Food Program that provides basic commodities to the needy in Southern Iraq. The local agent and his family service 168 families (897 people) from the supplies stored in their home. USAID supports the program.

A Food for Peace Officer checks the list of receipients of rations as part of a World Food Program that provides basic commodities to the needy in Southern Iraq. The local agent and his family service 168 families (897 people) from the supplies stored in their home. USAID supports the program.

Brought to you by the Coalition Forces!

Iraqi soldiers assigned to 3rd Company, 2nd Squadron, 4th Task Force, follow the yellow smoke signal indicating which houses need to be searched for weapons and contraband in Deles, Iraq, June 21, 2005.

An Iraqi soldier assigned to the 3rd Company, 2nd Squadron, 4th Task Force, searches for weapons and contraband in a house in Deles, Iraq, June 21, 2005.

Iraqi soldiers assigned to the 3rd Company, 2nd Squadron, 4th Task Force, search for weapons and contraband in a house in Deles, Iraq, June 21, 2005.

Iraqi and U.S. soldiers detain an Iraqi man after finding illegal contraband in his house in Deles, Iraq, June 21, 2005.

Iraqi children share candy that soldiers gave them in the Iraqi village of Deles, Iraq, June 21, 2005. U.S.

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