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| Iraq |
| CERP funds |
| 2004-01-15 |
| Although much attention is given to the large reconstruction projects that are currently under bid, one of the primary tools for improving the lives of average Iraqi citizens has been the Commander’s Emergency Response fund, called CERP. This program was initiated in May to allow commanders to make an immediate impact and address local issues. Since then, CERP has provided a means for commanders to rapidly allocate resources to meet local needs. Since CERP’s inception, commanders have spent over $126 million to directly improve education, health care, electricity, water and security. Each major command has been allocated CERP funds based on the geography, population and needs of their respective region. CERP projects are the grassroots effort by local commanders to quickly deal with short-term needs and are conducted in concert with large-city and nationwide projects headed by USAID and the Corps of Engineers. SNIP We’ve spent a total of $126 million in CERP funds. That’s since May of last year. Approximately $2 million is in support of operations; $29 million, almost $30 million for education; $3 million for electricity -- and again, that’s the small generators for specific applications; $8 million for Facility Protection Service -- payments for those individuals that are providing those services; $6.4 million for health-related items; $1.5 million for humanitarian efforts, which would include things like housing for people that are homeless; $24 million for other public services, and that includes a pretty broad range, including things like getting fire departments back up and running, getting fire trucks, communications for the fire (sic); $14.7 million for police and other security, and that includes local police as well as border police; $16 million for reconstruction, and that’s to rebuild key buildings, key government service buildings; $6.8 million for rule of law and government-related issues -- that’s anything from establishing places for advisory councils to work and operate out of; $2.2 million for social programs; $900,000 for transportation, things like getting buses and that type of thing, fixing major -- or smaller items for road work; and $8.9 million on water and sewer projects. This money comes from the Iraqi assets seized, such as the millions in cash found hidden away during the Liberation. |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |