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Wasit
Wasit

Wasit

The name "Wasit" comes from the Arabic word meaning "middle," as the province is located along the Tigris River between the cities of Baghdad and Basra. Wasit extends from the southwestern edge of Baghdad, with Maysan province to the south, Babil to the west and Diyala to the north. The province shares a border with Iran and is the primary entry point for religious pilgrims from Iran. Wasit’s economy has historically been agriculture-driven, with wheat as the major cash crop.

Wasit PRT, located in Al-Kut, is headed by a senior State Department Foreign Service Officer and supported by a U.S. military support element. The team also includes other State Department Foreign Service Officers and detailees from USAID and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with a strong group of subject matter experts in areas including rule of law, reconstruction and public diplomacy. The team focuses its efforts on developing the capacity of provincial and local governments, agricultural development, improving the delivery of health services, assisting provincial authorities with long-term planning, and fostering partnerships between U.S. universities and the provincial university.

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