A girl looks out from the Numaniyah, Iraq, Handicap Association's new facility, soon after it opened, Aug. 8. Photo by Sgt. Daniel West.

The facility, which was built with coalition funds, will be used by the association for administrative purposes, and will also have rooms dedicated to therapy.

Soldiers of El Salvador’s Battalion Cuscatlán supervised construction of the 200 square meter building, which cost about $200,000.

“It’s good that it will be open to help people with special needs,” said Ahmed, a local citizen who attended the event.

Construction on the facility began, June 30, 2008, and finished a few days ahead of schedule. The project is expected to benefit nearly 2,500 people in Numaniyah and the surrounding area.