Chelsea+G

Conditions of the Middle East Webster defines the environment as, “The social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.” In Iraq, there are major differences in social and cultural surroundings than in the United States. Due to the war going on in Iraq, there is more violence. Although our climates and living conditions are so far from being similar, people live in both places and need to survive. Electricity in Iraq has come a long way since the war, but it is a disappointment to see the living environment in healthcare facilities getting much worse. Iraq lacking water, food, and shelter doesn’t help the facilities one bit. The electricity, healthcare facilities, water supply, food sources, and shelters in Iraq are making subtle progress, but the United States is a large part of this progression. In 2002, Iraq was limited to one to two hours of electricity every day. Recently, the United States completed a very expensive program costing us $2.3 billion. The program is called Iraq Infrastructure Reconstruction Program and this helped many goals be accomplished. The United States helped repair thermal units in different homes and buildings. Another accomplishment is the replacement and addition of turbines or motors that generate electricity. Also the United States repaired the transmission network including the 400 KV Khor az Kubary-Nasiriyah transmission line. One of the more recent accomplishments is the mounting and restoring of small generators. Women and children of Iraq always just jam themselves into a tiny waiting room just to get some proper healthcare. The Americans over in Iraq and the Iraqis get equal healthcare unless, there is a bad battle wound which they aren’t usually offered help right away. The doctors and nurses in Iraq are always overbooked and busy. The employees don’t have any special security and know they are at risk to be captured or even in the room with a suicide bomber. When they try to work the machinery they are lucky if it turns on due to the shortage of electricity. “Nearly three fourths of the people in need aren’t even helped,” broadcasts Alex from NPR on 7 March 2008. Most of those people who aren’t helped or are in critical condition don’t normally make it due to the [|medication shortage]. The healthcare facilities aren’t exactly up to date yet. A total of twelve water pumps are located in one city of Iraq. In a parking lot, next to the twelve pumps are filtration trucks. The people who delivered the trucks from Jordan stole the filtration unit out of the truck so they really just sit there and are useless. When an Iraqi drinks their water you would think it came from a Brita Filter because it quenches their thirst so greatly. The pumps don’t generate too much water though. Only two of the twelve pumps work at a time due to the fact Iraq only has half capacity. In Iraq, there are huge shortages of food. The shortages are increasing rapidly at this very moment. Iraq is so desperate they have an “oil-for-food” case. They’re giving oil while other countries are giving them food. The United States brings money over for food aid, but most of the time it just stays on the borders of Iraq. About four years ago, there would be many fruit and vegetable stands, but now it is too risky! Most all Iraqis have a place to stay unless their [|home is destroyed.] Some people are living dangerously on the streets in Iraq. To help some of them get their homes back there is a new Iraqi reality show called, “Materials and Labor.” The show has fixed or replaced six new homes that were destroyed by car bombs, U.S. armor, U.S. airstrike, and by U.S. soldiers. The cost of each home they fixed was about $300,000 and took about six weeks. It is very nice way to give everyone a place to live. In the United States most people live one family to a home. Over in Iraq it is normal to have multiple families in a home. Most homes are made of stone, mud, and a couple metal rods for the structure of the building. The buildings take up a lot more land because most likely there is neither a basement nor an upstairs. When Iraqis look outside of their house, it is more like a dessert. The temperature is hot and there isn’t much grass. It is like a barren field. Although there isn’t much success in the living conditions, they may get better if more people become aware of how the Iraqis live. The surroundings in Iraq haven’t exactly improved. The electricity is an exception because it has came so far since this war has started and the United States is now helping with the power plants which will be a huge successful accomplishment. Presently, the Iraqis call themselves lucky if they get two hours of electricity, but that will change. Due to the lack of electric at the moment, the life-saving machines in the healthcare facilities don’t work properly. In addition they’re lacking basic medical tools that are needed. The shortages of food and water will most likely improve over the next couple years with the help of the United States and many other countries. If the number of bombing decreases, then homes will not be destroyed and everyone will have shelter or a place to live. All of the following living conditions really connect with one another. If ambitions are set and achieved, many other things will come along with that accomplishment. Even though the Iraqi environment is lacking basic needs right now, the future may bring them more than the people of Iraq can imagine.

code English, Aljazeera, dir. __Failing Health Care in__ __ Iraq __. You Tube, 2008. 5 May 2008 code code . code

Ibrahim, Mohammed. "Troop Deaths in Iraq." __USA__ __Today__. 2008. 24 Apr. 2008 < [|http://i.usatoday.net/news/_photos/2007/08/16/iraqrubble-topper.jpg>.]