BASRAH — The winter chill was broken for some Iraqis as a company of Iraqi National Police recently distributed blankets, heaters, flashlights and other items to Basrah residents.
This is one of several humanitarian events the National Police, 1st Battalion, Basrah Brigade, 4th Division have provided in addition to their regular security mission over the nine months they have served here.
“The people ask for so many things, and it is not our job to give it to them,” said Iraqi NP Lt. Col. Sattar Jabbar Awda, executive officer for 1st battalion. “But they need it, and we will do what we can to help them.”
He said that there have been no serious incidents since his unit arrived in Basrah, which allows for them to help with humanitarian aid in the city.
He said they have built soccer fields, volleyball courts, basketball courts, painted and plastered schools and refurbished a Christian cemetery.
“People were throwing their trash over the walls and it was becoming a dump,” said Capt. Jason Rose, intelligence officer for the National Police Transition Team. “It was this National Police team that identified the problem and initiated the clean up.”
Rose’s unit consists of a small platoon that lives and works with the NP at Basrah Palace. His team serves as advisors who help with training, planning and security for the battalion.
Because the humanitarian aid consists of items that are valuable on the black market, NP leadership worked with the NPTT to create a plan that would ensure the people who needed the goods were the ones who got them.
Companies from the NP met with local leaders who provided them with the names. NP leadership then made random home visits to families to verify they were not related to those leaders.
“This was a preventative measure for avoiding favoritism,” Rose said. “This will ensure that more than one family will get what they need.”
Once the distribution was complete, both NP and NPTT leadership agreed that the day went well with no incidents.
“It was a big mission. I think we did really good,” said Awda. “This sends the message to the people that we are here to help them.”
Rose said these missions are used as a way to help build the community and foster stronger relationships within it. However, 1st Battalion’s primary mission is to provide security.
Awda said they will continue to fight the Jaish Almahdui militia, the Shia influenced terrorist group in southern Iraq.
“We want all of the people in Basrah to know that they are safe to go to school, shop, go to the hospital and sleep at night without fear of being kidnapped,” Awda said. “We have accomplished that in our sector.”