The Reconstruction Fund for Areas Affected by Terrorist Operations (REFATO) signed an agreement with a Kuwaiti company on Wednesday to begin the reconstruction of 19 health centers in five Iraqi provinces affected by terrorist operations and the war against ISIS.
The signing ceremony was held in Baghdad, between head of REFATO Mustafa al-Hiti and representative of Kuwaiti company Nidal al-Salami.
The Kuwaiti company, in cooperation with the Engineering Advisory Office of Anbar University, will complete the reconstruction of the medical centers in Anbar, Nineveh, Salaheddin, Diyala and northern Babil governorates. The $15 million project is part of the $100 million grant from Kuwait.
In a brief statement after the signing al-Hiti said that the reconstruction fund he heads is the first beneficiary of the Kuwait conference. The reconstruction of the health centers is the first project that was launched few weeks after the conference concluded and is expected to be completed within one year.
He revealed that a REFATO delegation went to Kuwait this month to sign the remainder of the $85 million grant, which is also earmarked for the reconstruction of 18 hospitals and 11 health centers.
For her part, the representative of the Kuwaiti company indicated the Office will restore, rebuild and supervise the process of reconstruction of all health centers in the affected areas and work on the implementation within one year.
REFATO communication consultant, Majda Salman announced that Kuwait Development Fund is the donor of $100 million grant and has chosen the Kuwaiti Advisory Office and the Advisory Office at Anbar University.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Salman said that concerning other projects and financial grants from other countries at the Kuwait conference, officials make no statement about promises, but about final decisions.
"Yes, there are many promises and allocations from different countries, but we will not discuss them. A committee of the government's General Secretariat will follow up the issue of grants," she added.
Salman downplayed claims that the fund will be part of possible corruption cases. She said the projects are known and announced, and the Kuwaiti company has already worked in most areas of Iraq, oversaw the construction of schools, and has considerable experience in this field.
