Millions of dollars poured into reconstruction of Baghdad slum

 

By Haqi Ismael

 

Azzaman, 2004-12-26

 

The government has released a large portion of the funds allocated for the reconstruction of Sadr City in Baghdad, according to Labor Minister Leila Abdul-Latif.

 

Sadr City, a major Iraqi slum, is home to nearly 2.5 million impoverished Shiite Muslims in the country.

 

It was the scene of heavy fighting between U.S. troops and militiamen of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

 

But the sides agreed a ceasefire in October under which Sadr’s fighters surrendered their weapons in return for hard cash.

 

Abdul-Latif said Iraqi ministries now had access to 57 billion of the 90 billion dinars (approx. $60 million) and $200 million the government had earmarked for Sadr City.

 

The ministries involved include electricity, education, health, interior and labor, she said.

 

The remaining 33 billion dinars will be made available next year, she said.

 

In addition to local currency allocations, the government had spent $200 million on projects in Sadr City.

 

Upgrading the city’s sewage network has so far cost $150 million, Abdul-Latif said.

 

The remaining $50 million had gone to drinking water projects, she added.

 

However, the minister said, Sadr City was in need of additional funds to modernize its public amenities.

 

“Baghdad municipality would need $150 million to keep the city clean and tidy and the education ministry requires $200 million more to upgrade school buildings and construct new ones,” she said.

 

Abdul-Latif said the city has been divided into “eight blocks for smooth implementation of the scores of reconstruction projects.”

 

Each block, she said, will have its own police station, firefighting unit, schools and other amenities,