BAGHDAD — On a hot day in eastern Baghdad, soldiers with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center line the rooftops surrounding a small courtyard in a displacement camp in Bagdad.

However, unlike the past where they may have been pointing weapons inward, during Operation Khairat Ramadan 10, which took place, Oct. 15, the American soldiers stand with their backs to the courtyard, looking out at the city. Inside the courtyard, Iraqi National Police officers and members of the Red Crescent, a branch of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies humanitarian aid organization, hand out boxes of food and toys to Iraqi families.

“Today we are doing Operation Khairat Ramadan 10,” said Capt. Rory McGovern, commander of Btry. A, 1st Bn., 41st FA Regt., “Khairat Ramadan means ‘Ramadan Charity.’ What we did was work with the [National] Police, and they identified a series of areas [where] they wanted to do these outreach missions.”

The Red Crescent was more than happy to help, providing aid packages to donate to the people in the camp.

“We come out here and provide support for the people,” said a member of the Red Crescent. “We are still hoping to get more toys for the kids as well.”

The Red Crescent also facilitated the attendance of a doctor for the mission, to distribute medicine to the people.

“With a doctor from the Red Crescent and with three sheiks from the local area,” McGovern said, “they came up with this concept and we’ve resourced it and are supporting it with security. The importance of all this is that you have Iraqi Security Forces and the [National] Police working with local community leaders and the Red Crescent. These are three real power brokers in the community coming together, forging relationships and accomplishing the mission [for the people].”

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