From MNF-I, Salvadoran Battalion Delivers Medical Supplies in Kut.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — The Salvadoran Cuscatlán Battalion delivered $4 million in medical supplies to the al Kut Director General of Health Warehouse April 1.
“It is very important to provide more resources to the people of Iraq. We want to provide supplies to those who need it,” said Col. Walter Arevalo, commander of Cuscatlán Battalion X.
Even though there is a heightened security risk, Arevalo said he felt honored that his Soldiers were called upon to fulfill this mission.
“It is important for the hospital to be able to provide support for people who need it,” he said. “The supplies will help them provide that support, and a lot of people need to get medical attention.”
The supplies, donated by the International Red Cross, are for Iraqis affected by the recent upsurge in violence by criminals.
The Iraqi Security Forces in Wasit province clashed with criminals for five days. According to Iraqi Police reports, seven Iraqis were killed and 14 were injured. Eleven IPs were killed, and 42 were injured. At least 43 criminals were killed, and more than 40 were injured.
The al Kut medical facilities generally have a small quantity of supplies and are in dire need of blood, said Dr. Ammar Bashar, director general of the al Salam Emergency Medical Clinic. Al Kut’s limited medical supply was further depleted when the Kut Ministry of Health provided Basra with medical supplies to treat Iraqis injured in the uprising there, said Bashar.
The donated supplies will replenish what was used during the civil unrest in the city and will increase supplies on hand.
The warehouse will distribute the supplies in the following weeks to three medical facilities in al Kut. One is a 150-bed emergency clinic and the other two are 400-bed hospitals, Bashar said. The supplies will be used for emergency and specialty care.
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