New grants to preserve ancient sites in southern province

 

By Naieem Muhalhal

 

Azzaman, August 24, 2005

 

Denmark, Italy and the United Nations have extended new grants to preserve ancient sites in the southern Province of Dihqar, the province’s deputy governor, Ahmad Ali, said.

 

Dhiqar is home to some of Mesopotamia’s best-known ruins, among them those belonging to the fabled Sumerian cities of Ur and Larsa.

 

“An agreement has been signed with the United Nations Development program to maintain and develop archaeological and tourist sites in the province,” Ali said.

 

He said Italy has allocated $450,000 for the construction of “a cultural and information center in Nasiriya, the provincial capital.

 

Dhiqar, with an area of 12,900 km square, is a key southern province. Besides its archaeological riches, the province is the site of major oil fields.

 

But most of the province’s nearly 1.5 million people still live in abject poverty with run-down amenities and rickety infrastructure.

 

Ali said the Italian grant plus the amounts the U.N. and Denmark have pledged would revive ancient sites in the province.

 

Nasiriya’s museum, with the largest collection after the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, was looted in the aftermath of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

 

Ali declined to give figures about the U.N. and Danish grants but said “the sums are good.”

 

He said the provincial council has managed to restore relative normalcy to the province, paving the way for the start of several reconstruction projects.

 

“Two housing complexes are under construction and two more are expected to start soon,” he said.

 

He said the pace of reconstruction “matches the financial allocation and state of security in the province.”

 

Ali said the provincial council, however, was not “completely pleased with what has been achieved.

 

“The standard of services is still low as a result the destruction caused to the province’s infrastructure has not been repaired yet.

 

“We can say we have achieved some degree of political and security success in the province but it is still below our expectations.”