Baghdad, June 19: The U S Agency for International Development has announced it will spend US$1.1 billion on the reconstruction of Iraq, humanitarian aid and other projects. ``We've never spent so much money in one country over one year since the marshall plan,'' Andrew S. Natsios, administrator of the USAID, told Iraqi contractors and reporters yesterday.
The USAID priorities in Iraq include putting back in effect basic public services, reviving the private sector and providing employment to as many Iraqi citizens as possible.
Natsios also announced a grant to the Iraqi Nursing Association based on needs identified by a U S army civil affairs team and the Nursing Association.
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. It operates in 79 countries.
A total of $2.4 billion has been appropriated from the US Congress for reconstruction.
More than two months after Baghdad fell, many Iraqis are without jobs, security is sketchy, basic services like water and electricity are still hobbled and the salaries of many civil servants remain unpaid.
Late last month, USAID announced that five humanitarian organizations, who will promote citizen involvement in local decisions and work to prevent conflicts across gender, ethnic and religious lines in 250 communities, would receive an initial US $7 million each for community projects in Iraq. Bureau Report