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| Coalition in Iraq Strapped for Funds? |
| 2004-02-25 |
| R.P. team for Iraq stranded; U.S. funds withheld The deployment of 43 Filipino replacement personnel for the humanitarian mission in Iraq was deferred after US officials failed to release funds for the augmentation force. General Pedro Ramboanga, former chief of the Philippine Humanitarian Task Force to Iraq, said the US government failed to provide the funds for the airfare, meal allowances and military equipment for the 43 replacement personnel that were supposed to leave on Monday. The government had earlier shouldered the expenses and allowance for the deployment of the first batch of the Philippine contingent to Iraq in August last year. âThey are still here in the country because we donât have the money needed for their stay in Iraq. From what Iâve heard, the US has yet to find a window in their budget to fund the deployment,â Ramboanga said. The US Command in Iraq has allegedly suffered financial problems and Washington has sought the assistance of the United Nations to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. The Department of Foreign Affairs has admitted that the Philippine contingent had difficulty getting funds from the US and it is now seeking funds from the UN. Ramboanga said the additional contingent to Iraq was supposed to leave on Monday to replace some personnel of the 96-member first contingent. He said the members of the Philippine contingent currently deployed in Iraq cannot leave their post in Camp Babylon, which is under the command of the Polish Army in Hillah, until the arrival of their replacements âThe members of the contingent who were supposed to go home will have to stay there. Their return to the country is hinged on the deployment of the replacement team. We will just have to wait for the US to fund it,â Ramboanga said. |
| Posted by:Lone Ranger |