A group of Western observers traveled to Iraq to evaluate the situation of he country after the war. Rebuilding efforts have begun in most cities as bridges and buildings are being reconstructed. Regardless of the destruction throughout the country life continues. Bombed out buildings and bridges, often next to undamaged homes illustrated the precision of the Allies aim. Visits to hospitals that had been bombed, or nearly missed proved that damage which had been quickly repaired elswhere, had been left untouched, or even exagerated to show to western visitors. "Meanwhile the state of the rest of the hospital was terrible" said one of the participants of the trips, Malek Boutih Vice - President of SOS Racisme in Paris. "the floors were so dirty that they appeared covered with mud, and only one or two rooms were cleaned and available for us to visit. The police station was cleaner than the hospital".