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Iraqi Police Make Medical Donation

By Sgt. Tony White  

Local Iraqi Police (IP) distributed a variety of medical supplies to the hospital here Wednesday, helping to overcome supply shortages of certain items.

A local Iraqi policeman packs the back of his truck with school supplies. The supplies were intended for distribution amongst the schools in Samarra Tuesday

One of four scheduled drop offs for the day, the police officers and Coalition Forces distributed basic medical supplies to the hospital such as bandages, intravenous fluids/needles (IVs) and crutches. The medical supply mission was part of the Iraqi Police's regular efforts to work with the Samarra population.

"It's a (positive) whenever you can get the Iraqi security forces to be the ones who are facilitating the missions," said Sgt. 1st Class Edward Rodriguez, 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion noncommissioned officer in charge. "It not only trains them to know how to run a government but it builds a rapport and a local trust with the local populous."

"The (Iraqi Police officers) distributed the hospital supplies and we just provided a cordon security for them," Rodriguez added. "The hospital head was very happy to have them. There is a logistical shortcoming from Baghdad and the Ministry of Health, so any sort of support they get with medical supplies is a plus.

The mission was originally intended to make several drops, primarily focusing on the distribution of more than 400 lbs. of school supplies to three schools in the city.

"Unfortunately the mission was a hampered by a local vehicle curfew," Rodriguez said. "We went ahead anyways and did the mission with the hopes of the head master accepting the supplies we had for the schools," Rodriguez said. "Unfortunately none of the kids or staff were present due to the curfew, but the coordination was a success, which is a step forward."

A local Iraqi carries a box of medical supplies at the Samarra hospital Tuesday.

Rodriguez said he believes despite the ongoing violence between Sunnis and Shiites, there is a sense of gratitude amongst most citizens for any sort of assistance.

"The fundamentals of the religion are to help the brothers," Rodriguez said. "Muslim helping Muslim is just as important as the (police officers) helping local citizens in the hospitals, providing some sort of medical supplies for the local populous. Overall I think the Iraqi people are grateful for any type of help they can get."

Although the mission was not a complete success, Rodriguez said it was step towards the goal of a larger mission.

"Our focus and end state is to legitimize the local government so they can help their own people, so they are able to stand up and run their own government," Rodriguez concluded.

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