Fallujah residents received approximately $203,000 in Iraqi property lease payments during the second round of the Property Leasing Program last week. Second Marine Division marines and sailors, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), executed 139 leases during a two-day period.

The program, which began in June, was created to compensate local residents whose homes were or are currently occupied by coalition forces. Last month, 94 contracts were completed and $76,000 in payments were made in three days.

“The impact is two-fold,” Maj. Tom Nelson, 5th Civil Affairs Group economic development officer, said. “First, and most importantly, the people of Fallujah see us doing the right thing by paying them for the use of their properties. Secondly, we inject much-needed capital directly into the local economy.”

A total of 139 leases were drawn up and about $203,000 in payments were made in two days.

Two specialists from the Contingency Real Estate Support Team (CREST), Gulf Region Division, USACE, executed the leases on behalf of the U.S. government.

“We normally execute leases in batches of 20 to 30,” CREST representative Melissa Head said. “I was impressed that the Marines were able to do the right thing for so many people so efficiently.”