Az Zubayr - April 22, 2003
The DART traveled to Az Zubayr on April 22 to attend the fourth meeting of the town council, which was facilitated by Coalition forces. Coalition sources reported that water is functioning at 60% of the pre-war capacity, and generators are providing power through a "rolling blackout" strategy. Oxygen is a priority need at the main hospital. Thirty-four local policemen were scheduled to begin joint patrols with Coalition troops on April 24. In addition to attending the meeting, the DART observed general conditions in Az Zubayr and visited the main hospital.
Az Zubayr Town Council Meeting
The DART attended the fourth meeting of the Az Zubayr town council. Participants are selected by the community as points of contact to represent different sectors. Sectors represented include security (police), petrol/oil, food, education, health, public works, and water. There are approximately twelve Iraqi representatives, but no women and no religious leaders.
According to Coalition sources during the meeting, water is functioning at 60% of the pre-war capacity as a result of repairs to the system by local workers. There is some electricity in parts of the city. Cash is needed to maintain the economy and to purchase food to supplement the OFF rations. The bank has been badly damaged and needs specialists to help repair and re-wire it, including the doors and the vault.
All former government employees, regardless of rank, are slated to receive an emergency payment of $20 by the end of April as a "retainer for services". This payment will not replace a salary. Once the salary system becomes operational, workers will be back-paid from April 14. The pay scale is still being worked out. Coalition forces have asked the council representatives to provide employee lists. Teachers in Az Zubayr are to be paid first, according to Coalition sources.
There will be no back pay for the month of March. There was also a question regarding payments for agriculturalists or traders, but those in private industry are already trading and profiting as much as they can. A system has not yet been established to provide funding for official use, such as fueling official vehicles, garbage collection, furniture for offices, etc. Coalition forces have encouraged each sector to design a "business plan" outlining their requirements.
During the meeting, each sector representative presented current plans and concerns.
- Water : The Basrah water station is not powerful enough to supply water to Az Zubayr. Even with water trucks, certain neighborhoods are not receiving enough.
- Power : Generators are the main source of power and are operating with a "rolling blackout" strategy, allowing for a certain amount of power for each area for limited amounts of time. There is a need to get gas generators working.
- Education: There are still weapons caches at some schools, which Coalition explosives experts are clearing. There are also mortar rounds in the septic tank at one school. There is concern over media reports that schools will only re-open in September. The council wants schools to re-open as soon as possible and finish out this school year. Save the Children and the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) are investigating alternative activities for children who are not in school.
- Public Works : There is only one functional refuse truck remaining, which is operating.
- Health : Doctors are working with the community for the return of looted equipment. There are two empty fuel tanks for diesel at the hospital that are well guarded and can be used to store fuel for public services, including sanitation vehicles. One tank has a capacity of 20,000 liters, the other 12,000 liters. The doctors passed a list of "urgent needs" to Coalition forces. The needs included twenty 100-pound canisters of oxygen and ten 50-pound canisters of propane.
- Security : Thirty-four local policemen have been registered and given a "48-hour crash course" in familiarization with Coalition forces. The police were to begin joint patrols with Coalition troops on April 24. The issue of whether the police will be allowed to carry weapons was still unresolved.
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Food
The only food visible at open-air market was tomatoes, but, according to Coalition sources, meat and eggs are also available, although these items are too expensive for most of the population. According to Coalition sources, households' pre-war food stocks (via OFF distributions) continue to sustain people. However, the March distribution, which was intended to last through August, was interrupted by the war. Coalition forces reported that unconfirmed amounts of food stocks remain in warehouses in Basrah. Food agents who did not receive their full stocks from the March allotment have requested that the balance now be delivered. Coalition forces reported that they have received guidance not to distribute this food and to wait until the World Food Program (WFP) arrives and can distribute the food through the public distribution system (PDS). Coalition forces expressed confidence that the PDS was functionally "in place", with 193 food agents (out of approximately 315) already located, and that the system could be revived quickly in Az Zubayr with the assistance of WFP.
WFP has already visited Az Zubayr and intends to work more closely with communities throughout the south as soon as the U.N. Security Coordinator reduces the general security threat level, allowing greater mobility and access for longer periods.
Hospital
The DART was able to make a short visit to the main hospital in Az Zubayr, which is relatively well enclosed and secure, surrounded by a concrete wall. In the parking lot outside one building were over a dozen empty oxygen canisters. Doctors estimated that they would run out of oxygen later that same day and requested an urgent re-supply. The structure of the hospital is sound, but in need of some routine maintenance and clean-up. There are 152 beds, 100 of which were occupied the day of the DART visit. The hospital serves a population of 300,000 and sees 750 to 900 outpatients each day. There are 270 staff, all of whom have returned to work. The hospital sees all ailments - GI, ARI, skin infections as well as chronic illnesses. Some medical supplies have been provided by the Government of Kuwait (GOK), but the hospital is running out of sedatives and anesthetic. The supplemental World Health Organization kit, provided by the GOK, is not enough. There is no evidence of outbreaks or epidemics.
