FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 3, 2004

CONTACT
Wasit Province
Malcolm Russell
media_in_wasit@hotmail.com

South Central Region
Hilary White
hilary.white@CPA-IQ.ORG

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY FOR THE YOUNGSTERS IN WASIT

Al Kut, Wasit Province, Iraq. During the past few months, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Al Kut has provided assistance to kindergartens, orphanages, and institutes for the deaf and for people with mental disability.

CPA worked with the Al Kut Nursery School Director, Ms. Kefaya Ahmed-Abdullah, to provide beds, linen, and carpets for the entire school of 40 children. Other kindergartens received similar assistance with toys, crayons, pencils, and paper. CPA has spent more than $10,800 (15.1 Million ID*) on nursery schools in Wasit over the last three months.

The Al Raja Institute for People with Mental Disabilities represents the only one of its kind in Wasit Province. The Director, Mr. Iman Yazoul Ophi, asked the CPA to provide better training equipment for the 100 people it serves. CPA provided musical instruments, letter and number sets with magnetic white boards, and other teaching equipment as well as toys, colored paper, cartoon films and tennis balls worth $1,200 (1.68 Million ID*).

After the Al Kut Orphanage asked for assistance with basic items, the CPA provided a refrigerator, bed linen, curtains, tables, and heaters worth more than $1,100 (1.54 Million ID*). The Director of the Orphanage, Ms. Eman Mohamed Jawad, believes this will improve the quality of life for the 36 children at the orphanage and allow them to live a happier life.

Seized from former regime assets, the money is now being used for the Iraqi people. Additional funding projects will be announced in the coming weeks.

The CPA in Wasit Province is pleased to work closely with the people of the Province to improve their quality of life. These seemingly small improvements produce large results for the people of Wasit Province. It further demonstrates the wonderful cooperation of Iraqis and the Coalition as they work to help Iraq move toward a sovereign, democratic government.

* Assuming $1 equal 1,400 Iraqi Dinars.
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