Multi-National Division – North
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, IRAQ – The city of Taza in Kirkuk province, Iraq, continued its recovery efforts after a devastating truck bomb attack in June.
Representatives from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and Kirkuk’s Provincial Reconstruction Team traveled to Taza June 27 to assist in the recovery. Capt. Nathan Jennings, commander of Company C, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, met with Mayor Talib of Taza.
Jennings said, the purpose of the visit was to assess the security situation in the city, deliver much needed water, and examine a tent city that was established using tents donated by the Turkish government and several non-governmental organizations for displaced residents who lost their homes in the blast.
“The town has been feeding at least 3,000 people a day since the blast to accommodate the family members and friends who came to attend funerals,” Jennings said. “We brought the water to make sure the visitors had enough.”
Mayor Talib, who has worked on recovery efforts since the attack, said water lines leading to the destroyed homes have been temporarily repaired and water to the city has been restored.
The tent city was erected by the Iraqi Army in a field near the town. The Iraqi Soldiers will establish a field kitchen to feed the victims and a fence for additional security. Taza officials said, the tents will be furnished.
“The tents have electricity for a portion of the day and will have power 24 hours a day shortly,” Talib said.
Chris Jennings, the Kirkuk PRT representative offered his agencies assistance in the recovery as well.
“The PRT is here to help facilitate Taza’s needs through the civilian sector,” Jennings said.
With much of the debris removed from the blast site, reconstruction and rebuilding homes was top priority during the meeting.
“In the coming weeks, we can start looking at offering micro grants to help businesses that were damaged in the attack rebuild,” Jennings said.
Talib said, the families of those killed in the blast would receive 2 million Iraqi dinars and those wounded would receive 1 million Iraqi dinars, while the Government of Iraq has earmarked U.S. $5 million for rebuilding residential homes in Taza.
Talib, who also is on the reconstruction and humanitarian committee, said there was a plan to rebuild in place and that it would take up to a year to complete.
“If terrorists knew this explosion would have unified Arabs, Turks, and Christians, they wouldn’t have done it,” Talib said. “It has united us!”
Capt. Nathan Jennings (center), Palmer, Alaska native and commander of Company C, 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, meets with Talib (right), the mayor of Taza, June 27, to discuss recovery efforts in the city Taza, Kirkuk province, Iraq, following a truck bomb attack June 20. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas)
U.S. Army Soldiers pull security during a recovery assessment by a U.S. envoy June 27 to the blast site of a truck bomb attack that occurred on June 20 in the Iraqi city of Taza, Kirkuk province, Iraq. The cleanup of the site is near completion following the removal of several tons of debris. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas)
Tents donated by the Turkish government fill a field in the city Taza, Kirkuk province, Iraq, following a truck bomb attack June 20. The tents have electrical power that are cooled with water coolers and will temporarily house displaced residents who lost their homes in the blast. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Douglas)
Stumble It!
