Recently a report was released by Stuart W. Bowen Jr., special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction (SIGIR). You can see the entire 238 page document at the SIGIRs website (www.sigir.mil).
Here are a few direct copy/paste highlights from the document... During my trip to Baghdad, I experienced first hand the dangers that affect everyone working in the “Green Zone.” As indicated by open sources, the number of rocket and mortar attacks targeting the Green Zone rose markedly over the past three months, increasing the threat to reconstruction contractors, U.S. government employees, and Iraqis. In June, the UN Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that the rise in attacks on the Green Zone is “a major development.” (page 3)
SIGIR’s latest report on anticorruption, which finds that, despite some new support for Iraq’s anticorruption institutions, endemic corruption continues to afflict the Government of Iraq (GOI). (page 3)
SIGIR’s latest sustainment inspections, the most notable of which demonstrated that Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity inadequately maintained the U.S.-funded rehabilitation work at the Doura Power Station, a critical power source for Baghdad. (page 3)
Security problems in Iraq posed a continuing danger for reconstruction staff, management, and contractors. Attacks on the International Zone have grown more frequent and more deadly during this quarter. [ ... ] Violence continues to force Iraqis to leave their homes. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that one out of every eight Iraqis has been displaced by the conflict in Iraq. According to the Army Corps of Engineers’ Logistics Movement Control Center, attacks on contractor-protected supply convoys have tripled since June 2006, killing or wounding 206. (page 17)
SIGIR reports here on the uses of the $44.5 billion in U.S. appropriated funds within these reconstruction programs: (page 41)
- Security and Justice
- Provincial Reconstruction Teams
- Capacity Development
- Electricity
- Oil and Gas
- Water
- Health Care
- Transportation and Communications
- Democracy
- Economic Development
- Refugees, Human Rights, and Education
Since 2003, the electricity sector has received the second-largest investment of Iraq reconstruction funds, amounting to more than $4.6 billion. Despite this major investment, which funded the repair and rehabilitation of generation facilities, transmission lines, and distribution networks, the Iraqi electric grid remains fragile and vulnerable. Thus, the power generated does not meet demand. (page 67)
Oil production in Iraq has been on the rise since January 2007. Notwithstanding this recent rise, long-term output remains “constrained by security problems and persistent underinvestment.” (page 77)
SIGIR previously reported on the detrimental effects of oil smuggling on Iraq’s vital source of revenue. In a recent report, GAO confirms that “about 10% to 30% of refined fuels is diverted to the black market or smuggled out of Iraq and sold for profit.” GAO also reported that “as much as 70% of the fuel processed at Baiji was lost to the black market, possibly as much as $2 billion a year.” (page 82)
Today, progress in the water sector is impeded by violence, a lack of trained facility workers, and inadequate maintenance practices. [ ... ] The goal for Baghdad is to provide potable water for all homes and businesses, only 30% are connected to water distribution lines. (page 87)
The inability of Iraq’s water ministries to sustain projects continues to limit progress in the sector. The security situation is the “number one challenge faced by ministries today in executing their work. The GOI has not allocated sufficient money for operations and maintenance (O&M); this affects sustainability. Iraqi ministries tend to focus on building facilities rather than maintaining them. (page 94)
Activities in U.S. reconstruction in hospitals and health clinics were initially hindered by both design-build contractor performance shortfalls and mismanagement in overseeing the reconstruction contracts. These issues most adversely affected the primary healthcare center (PHC) program. In addition, insurgent attacks have slowed construction of PHCs. (page 97)
The Village Roads Program, budgeted at $38.5 million, plans to improve 424 miles of roads throughout 15 governorates in Iraq. Originally scheduled to be completed by August 2006, the program completion was delayed because of security problems and a shortage of fuel and bitumen. This quarter, GRD reported further delays, and the current estimated completion date for the program is now December 31, 2007. (page 108)
