CENTCOM NEWS RELEASE

October 10, 2003
Release Number: 03-10-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NINEVAH PROVINCE SCHOOLS BENEFIT FROM SEIZED IRAQI ASSETS

MOSUL, Iraq – Coalition soldiers and non-governmental organizations partnered to rebuild more than 800 schools in the Ninevah Province, current home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

The division’s Commander’s Emergency Relief Program, which draws from Iraqi government funds seized after the first Gulf War, has to date spent $2,040,513 on 330 completed school projects including the recently opened Ninevah Province Education Headquarters in Mosul.

The 101st has made nearly a daily hobby of opening schools throughout Northern Iraq since August. Lt. Col. Kevin Felix, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery commander, opened three schools in the town of Tal Abtah Monday.

Oct. 1 marked the first day of school for all public primary and secondary school students throughout Iraq.

Schools in need of simple supplies and new windows, or a complete renovation, have received a helping hand from 101st Airborne Division CERP funds and Non-Governmental Organizations working with the soldiers.

“The students are eager to go back, especially those who are going to new, renovated schools,” Sgt. First Class Rocky Upchurch of New Deal, Texas, 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, said. Upchurch has worked with the education headquarters and numerous schools during the summer rush to rebuild schools

Upchurch has also worked with several NGO’s all over the globe, including the United Nations Development Program. The NGO’s have provided additional muscle with “a lot of the little stuff.”