Mississippi Post-Katrina Rebuilding Efforts Provide Lessons for Iraqis

A group of young Iraqi leaders toured South Mississippi last week to learn how the area is rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.

The group of five dignitaries and two translators from the Kurdish region of Iraq is taking part in a U.S. State Department program known as the International Visitor Leadership Program.

Roberta Avila, executive director of the Interfaith Disaster Task Force in Biloxi, which is working to rebuild the area, said the visitors knew a lot about Katrina challenges.

Many of the leaders were in their early 30s and are leading their war-torn country’s rebuilding efforts. The group included Wahid Ali Abdi, the mayor of Faida village; and Ahmed A. Nima Alfatlawi, who is co-director of the Najaf Human Rights Center.

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com

Topics Mississippi