14 April 2005
Kuwait City -The Kuwaiti government plans to finance the construction of 120 housing units in Najaf Governorate in southern Iraq for families of martyrs who laid down their lives in the struggle to liberate Iraq from Saddam Hussein's dictatorial government. Initial feasibility studies on the $3 million project have been concluded and the contract is expected to be signed by July 15, 2005 for the commencement of construction works, chairman of the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Lieutenant General (Rtd) Ali Al-Momen told newsmen Wednesday at HOC's offices after meeting with a 10-member delegation from Najaf Governorate currently visiting the country.
The HOC was created by Kuwait after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government and Iraq's liberation by the United States-led coalition to supervise international humanitarian efforts in Iraq. Lt Gen Al-Momen said the Najaf project will be supervised by the Jaafari Jurisprudence Department at Kuwait's Ministry of Awqaf in conjunction with its Iraqi counterpart. He said some of the houses, on completion, will also be given to needy families in the Iraqi governorate. Commenting on the HOC's mandate that is expected to officially end on July 31, 2005, Gen Al-Momen said he is optimistic the Kuwaiti government will extend HOC's term given the level of support HOC has received from international humanitarian organizations.
He said many of these humanitarian agencies want HOC's mandate to be extended to the end of Iraq's general elections in December for it to assist them until the United Nations is able to take over humanitarian operations in Iraq. Gen Al-Momen said the HOC has drawn up contingency plans for the continuation of Kuwaiti aid to Iraq in case its mandate is not renewed. An example is the Najaf project where the Awqaf Ministry has been brought in to supervise the project and decide on the next course of action. He said the HOC and the visiting delegation discussed humanitarian projects completed in the region, those yet to be completed and the possibility of new Kuwaiti and international aid to the area.
According to Abdullah Hussein Mousa Al-Mousawi, leader of the Najafi delegation and counselor at the Najaf Governorate, the 800-square-meter project will be divided into four phases with each phase of the same size (400X400 sq meter) having forty housing units of different sizes to meet different types of families.He said the project, expected to be completed within a year barring any obstacles, will also include basic amenities like electricity and water, mosques, commercial and health centers. On the security situation in Najaf, Al-Mousawi said life in the governorate is returning to normal after Iraq's general elections.
Kuwait City -The Kuwaiti government plans to finance the construction of 120 housing units in Najaf Governorate in southern Iraq for families of martyrs who laid down their lives in the struggle to liberate Iraq from Saddam Hussein's dictatorial government. Initial feasibility studies on the $3 million project have been concluded and the contract is expected to be signed by July 15, 2005 for the commencement of construction works, chairman of the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Lieutenant General (Rtd) Ali Al-Momen told newsmen Wednesday at HOC's offices after meeting with a 10-member delegation from Najaf Governorate currently visiting the country.
The HOC was created by Kuwait after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government and Iraq's liberation by the United States-led coalition to supervise international humanitarian efforts in Iraq. Lt Gen Al-Momen said the Najaf project will be supervised by the Jaafari Jurisprudence Department at Kuwait's Ministry of Awqaf in conjunction with its Iraqi counterpart. He said some of the houses, on completion, will also be given to needy families in the Iraqi governorate. Commenting on the HOC's mandate that is expected to officially end on July 31, 2005, Gen Al-Momen said he is optimistic the Kuwaiti government will extend HOC's term given the level of support HOC has received from international humanitarian organizations.
He said many of these humanitarian agencies want HOC's mandate to be extended to the end of Iraq's general elections in December for it to assist them until the United Nations is able to take over humanitarian operations in Iraq. Gen Al-Momen said the HOC has drawn up contingency plans for the continuation of Kuwaiti aid to Iraq in case its mandate is not renewed. An example is the Najaf project where the Awqaf Ministry has been brought in to supervise the project and decide on the next course of action. He said the HOC and the visiting delegation discussed humanitarian projects completed in the region, those yet to be completed and the possibility of new Kuwaiti and international aid to the area.
According to Abdullah Hussein Mousa Al-Mousawi, leader of the Najafi delegation and counselor at the Najaf Governorate, the 800-square-meter project will be divided into four phases with each phase of the same size (400X400 sq meter) having forty housing units of different sizes to meet different types of families.He said the project, expected to be completed within a year barring any obstacles, will also include basic amenities like electricity and water, mosques, commercial and health centers. On the security situation in Najaf, Al-Mousawi said life in the governorate is returning to normal after Iraq's general elections.
By H. Hashim Ahmed
© Arab Times 2005
