FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 assisted Iraqi Police during a humanitarian-aid operation in the Muallimeen area of Fallujah, Iraq, Dec. 3.
The Marines provided security while IPs from the local police station distributed food to 125 under-privileged families living in the area.
“We are working really hard to make a difference and help the poor people in the city,” said Abass H. Abid, section leader and shift controller for the IP station. “We really want everyone to see that we are here to help them.”
The IPs loaded items into the backs of their vehicles and drove to several preplanned areas in the middle of the city. They distributed several containers of canned food, rice, flour and other basic necessities.
The names and addresses of citizens scheduled to receive the food were given to IPs by religious leaders from several nearby Mosques.
“This was a successful project run by IPs that helped out several of the less fortunate communities,” said Staff Sgt. Gregory J. Henry, a 30-year-old platoon sergeant from Las Vegas. “The primary mission of the IPs today was to give to the needy.”
While Marines were there for additional security, they also took the opportunity to speak with Iraqi citizens to gain information about stability in the neighborhood.
The Marines also used the opportunity to tell those living in the city about the services offered by local police and to remind them that IPs are their first line of security.
This mission “shows a presence of IPs in communities,” said Henry. “It shows people they can trust in their government organizations and the IPs.”