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For Immediate Release
April 21, 2003

Global Message

The world is witnessing historic days in the cause of freedom. Our work is not done and the difficulties have not passed, but the regime of Saddam Hussein has passed into history.

Coalition forces continue to secure population centers in Iraq and to respond to the needs of the Iraqi people.

The Coalition is working with local leaders to restore public works and rebuild Iraqi infrastructure.

The World Food Program continues operations in Iraq, and core staff in Baghdad have returned to work.

Since March 31, WFP has delivered a total of 3,548 metric tons of wheat flour and 77 metric tons of dried milk to northern Iraq to assist approximately 384,000 Iraqis.

We are transitioning to the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq. Britain and Poland have agreed to command multinational divisions for stabilization in Iraq, and we are working with a number of other countries that have expressed interest in contributing.

The water supply and electricity are priorities right now in places where service is disrupted. Before the war, many areas did not have a consistent and reliable supply of safe water or electricity, and many areas did not have adequate sanitation.

Rebuilding is a major task. The neglect and devastation by two decades of rule by Saddam Hussein and his henchmen did far more damage to Iraq than the war.