Power to Rusafa Citizens
Rusafa district area leaders gave power to Rusafa citizens when they conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, turning on micro-power generators in Muhalla 125 of eastern Baghdad July 24.
Iraqi Brig. Gen. Latif Mohammed, Rusafa district police commander and Abass Hassan Hamud, a neighborhood council chairman for Muhalla 125, were two of the dignitaries present to help bring readily available electricity to area residents.
“We defeated all the criminals around us, and now we are progressing,” Mohammed said. “Criminals are behind us, and we have to do something in favor of our neighborhoods.”
Mohammed said the micro-generators are proof of what he claimed about defeating criminals and improving life in the area, and construction projects are on the agenda in Rusafa as well.
Iraqi officials selected Muhalla 125 to receive the two generators, along with a third generator at another location, to serve the people in the neighborhood.
“This is a good start,” said Mohammed. “We are doing further things for the people of this muhalla.”
Hamud thanked everyone responsible for helping bring electricity to Muhalla 125, including Coalition forces. This is a very special moment for us here,” declared Hamud. “These generators will help … 1,000 families.”
Hamud said Muhalla 125 residents used to rely only on the main grid for power, which sometimes would only provide power for two or three hours. The generators will allow for electricity on a more continuous basis.
Maj. John Schulz, a civil affairs officer with the 418th Civil Affairs Detachment, said the project to bring micro-generators to Muhalla 125 residents began in May unit representatives asked Rusafa officials who most needed electricity. They selected Muhalla 125, Schulz said.
Schulz said the project could serve as a model for everyone else in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light) who works with similar interests to follow.
There are 300 residences already hooked up to the generators, said Schultz. Other area residents may be added, but in the meantime businesses in Muhalla 125 may be hooked up to the generators, too.
The last project to bring electricity to Muhalla 125 in a major way occurred in 1963, said Schultz. Since then, the muhalla has been ignored for the most part, primarily because of its old buildings and narrow streets, which make it difficult to access the area with equipment necessary to do the job.
Hamud said the next improvement Hamud will push for in the area is a long-term sewage solution.
“It’s a very big impact on people to have electricity,” said Hamud. “I would like to thank the Coalition, the American side. It’s a great thing giving use this service.”
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