$50 million from World Bank to Baghdad Municipality

 

By Faiz Jawad

 

Azzaman, 2005-03-07

 

The World Bank has agreed to give Baghdad Municipality and additional $50 million.

 

A statement by the municipality said Baghdad’s Mayor Alaa Mahmoud al-Tamimi was in Washington and negotiated the grant.

 

Tamimi’s Washington visit comes as the Iraqi capital, home to more than 5 million people, suffers from acute water and power shortages.

 

The statement said Tamimi presented to the bank an outline of Baghdad’s needs and the funds necessary to upgrade public amenities.

 

Tamimi also attended an international water conference in Washington in which he provided details of current drinking water capacity in the city and projected requirements until 2015.

 

“Public services in Baghdad must be developed and improved to match the city’s status as a world capital,” the statement said.

 

In his meeting with World Bank officials, Tamimi furnished “a full picture” of the problems the city is facing, the statement said.

 

“Tamimi discussed the areas in which the World Bank can help Baghdad and the need for additional funds,” the statement added.