Release No. 080907-1

Sept. 7, 2008

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, GULF REGION DIVISION

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A new sewer network for Kamaliya paves the way to progress
by Kendal Smith
Gulf Region Central district

BAGHDAD, Iraq – “After all the suffering of deprived people in this neglected area by the hands of the former regime, Insha’Allah, those sufferings are going away as a result of the efforts performed by our Coalition friends and our bothers in the government,” said Sheikh Kemal Yoda, east Baghdad’s Nisan 9 Chairman of Civil Services, at the opening ceremony this week for the completed Kamaliya Sewer Network.

Iraqi officials and Coalition forces, including Gulf Region Division Central District’s Loyalty Resident Office staff, celebrated the $33.5 million completed project in a ribbon cutting in one of Baghdad’ toughest neighborhoods. Taking more than four years to finish because of continued security issues in the area, the event was commemorated and applauded at Pump Station 5B. The pump station is one of two collection points which will bring sewage in, then lift and push it out through effluent trunk lines.

Overall, the 10 pump-station network with more than 160 kilometers of pipe serves 11 muhallas in the Kamaliya and Oubaidi municipalities. According to Deputy City Council Chairman, Wadi al-Shammari, more than 175,000 of the poorest residents in the New Baghdad area will benefit from the sewer system. It was noted by all five of the Iraqi officials at the Sept. 3 ceremony that this civic improvement will reduce diseases and provide an infrastructure crucial to improving health and well-being for citizens.  

Dr. Kareem Anber, Nisan 9’s Sector Committee Chief, noted that Kamaliya has suffered for over 60 years because of the lack of a sewer system. The city would not pave roads, for example, until central sewer lines were placed. There are no paved roads in Nisan 9, he said, and the residents eagerly await both the paving of long-neglected streets with the next step to improving living conditions, a water treatment plant. Dr. Anber remarked that this project was by far the largest for Nisan 9 and pronounced it to be an example of defeating terrorism by all means in helping the people of the area.

“This is a historic event. Safety and health now have a tremendous advantage in this neighborhood,” said Maj. Robert Culberson, officer in charge of the USACE Central District’s Loyalty Resident Office. “It’s a great sign of growth and we’re proud to be a part.”

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Note:  Kendal Smith is a public affairs officer with the Gulf Region Central district, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq. For more information, contact Kendal at 540-665-2644 or email requests to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text64869 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >  . For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil <http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/> .
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