U.S army donates $ 8.5 million aid to drought-affected area in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD/IraqiNews.com: The U.S army on Thursday announced its forces donated an $8.5 million drought relief package as a gift for Eid to the people of Salah Ad Din, Diyala, Kirkuk and Ninewa Provinces to provide emergency relief to these drought-affected areas.      “The ongoing drought is the worst in 100 years. The emergency funds provide farmers with agriculture technologies and seed to prevent the complete loss of another growing season,” noted a U.S army statement received by IraqiNews.com.       “Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division-North, presented the gifts to each province at an event at the Tikrit University Agriculture Center campus in Salah al Din,”the announcement pointed out.   The deputy Minister of Agriculture and the governors of Salah ad Din, Diyala, Ninewa and Kirkuk attended along with their Director General’s of Agriculture. AM(P)       1