Overview. Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

Transcription

1 February 24,

2 Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font. Overview Humanitarian Situation: Continued concern about attacks on soft targets, security, sabotage, lethal exchanges between coalition troops and Iraqis, crime, and lack of infrastructure food distribution OK; Political: Coalition Provisional Authority head Paul Bremer endorses United Nation s report on elections and return of sovereignty looks forward to working with UN; UN: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan says Iraqi people must see UN as an impartial, independent world body says UN willing to play its role and help find interim government solution if desired says a more secure environment necessary for UN to return permanently after sovereignty restored; Refugees: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Assistant High Commissioner, Kamel Morjane, is at Jordan s Ruwaished camp to assist about 400 Palestinians about 1,000, mostly Iranians, in nearby no-man s land on Jordanian-Iraq border; All but 500 refugees have left Saudi Arabia s Rafha camp remaining refugees will return to Iraq in next several days; Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) estimates between 650,000 and 900,000 IDPs in Iraq 300,000 IDPs are in homes, most do not stem from recent war and most are in the north definition of IDP is very broad; Civil Society/Rule of Law: Support for coalition plan for regional caucuses to elect government has all but disappeared; Foreign affairs spokesman for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Safeen Dizayee, says they support delay of elections; Sunni religious leaders demand release of women held by coalition estimated to number about 150; Civil Military Interaction: US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says continued insurgency could disrupt coalition plans to shift troops to outlying areas of cities; Coalition investigating Amnesty International allegations of prisoner abuse by troops; Coalition sweeps continue; attacks continue against coalition, those viewed as working with coalition, and Iraqi security forces; Humanitarian Access to Iraq: The Feinstein International Famine Center, in cooperation with some 200 humanitarian institutions, reports humanitarian groups in Iraq are confronted with critical challenges including a contested environment, a security crisis, major policy quandaries, lack of a clear UN mandate, and issues arising out of the need to interact with Coalition forces; Economy/Oil: About 1.6 million barrels per day being exported through the south; Continued sabotage has prevented pipeline flow north through Turkey 800,000 barrels per day was pumped from Kirkuk before the war; Bush administration s Special Envoy to Iraq James Baker reports success in relieving almost two-thirds of the US$120 billion debt accumulated by Saddam Hussein s regime; Water/power: Japan, which plans to do a survey, says power capacity in Iraq is less than half than in the 1990 s; Electricity Minister Aiham al-samarrai says country plans 7,000 megawatt capability by mid-2004; Over 1 million cubic meters per day of untreated sewage from Baghdad end up in Tigris River system coalition plans to be able to treat 800,000 cubic meters by end of 2004; Food: Coalition handed food contracting and distribution back to the World Food Program (WFP) for 3 months while it prepares Iraqis in the Ministry of Trade to take over the program Coalition building up audit and monitoring capability; Backlog of food brought in by WFP through November distributed; 2

3 Health and Medical: Health infrastructure has recovered to pre-war level all 240 public hospitals and 95% of private clinics open; Coalition plans about US$1 billion in 2004, but this will be insufficient to achieve reasonable levels of care after decades under Saddam Hussein regime. Routes for Humanitarian Aid Country Supply Routes Supply Routes Comments From: To: Turkey Iskenderun (port) Mersin (port) Silopi North Open for humanitarian supplies Bandar Imam Khomeni (Port) Iran Ahwaz South Open for humanitarian supplies Kermanshah Northeast Open for humanitarian supplies Iraq Shipping Open for humanitarian supplies; South, Central Umm Qasr (port) High charges limit use Kuwait Kuwait City (port) South, Central Open for humanitarian supplies; Also military use Jordan Aqaba (port) Ar Ruwayshid Central Open for humanitarian supplies Latakia (port) Abu Kamal Central Syria Tartus (port) Beirut, Lebanon (port) Central Open for humanitarian supplies Al Tanf Al Yarubiyeh North Open for humanitarian supplies 3

4 In Country Humanitarian Assistance Information By Region North Region Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah Coordination UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UOHCI) is aware of 36 NGOs in northern Iraq Population Population of Sulaymaniyah: 662,600 Population of Erbil: 839,000 IDP Movement According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are approximately 42,000 IDPs living in Dahuk Governorate, 5,000 of which are living under the care of UN agencies; Approximately 175 Kurdish families are living just east of Mosul, and another 700 families are living in Zamar Food The World Food Program (WFP) handed over responsibility for food distributions to Kurdish authorities on November 21, programs that are not terminated will be passed on to Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) under UN Security Council Resolution 1483 Health World Vision reports donations to northern Iraq which include pharmaceuticals, Aqua Boxes, VitaMeal, clothing, and wheelchairs donated jackets and shoes are due to arrive in mid-february Jan Non-Food Items UNHCR has begun a shelter program which will construct 70 houses for Shelter approximately 500 IDPs in two villages outside Erbil Water & All water projects in urban and semi-urban areas in Erbil are functioning properly Sanitation Security Toll from suicide attacks earlier this week rises to 100, brings major violence to north Feb Other/Comments After the heavy terror attacks on February 1st and the anticipation of further attacks in the north, NGO Malteser Germany suspended its relief projects in northern Iraq and moved its project coordinator from Erbil back to Germany. For 2004, Malteser Germany, in cooperation with the Department of Health in Iraq, has developed a program for the training of laboratory staff in 13 hospitals in the Erbil region, concerning hygiene and protection against the transmission of diseases. Since the end of major conflict in May 2003, Malteser Germany has delivered medicine and laboratory material to hospitals and health centers in the regions of Erbil, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Kifri in northern Iraq? Feb Coordination Population IDP Movement Food Health Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Kirkuk (Attamin), Mosul (Ninewa), Tikrit (Salahaddin) Population of Mosul: 1.7 million; Population of Kirkuk: 755,700 Population of Tikrit: 28,000 UNHCR is funding projects to assist some 2,500 newly displaced Arabs are gathered in the Hawija area west of Kirkuk; About 250 Kurdish families have been staying at Kirkuk s sports stadium awaiting housing from authorities US-based NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) is continuing to help improve 4

5 Sanitation Security Other/Comments sewage line repair and garbage collection in Kirkuk 3 Iraqis working with the US were killed and 2 others seriously wounded today (Feb. 24) by gunmen in the northern city of Mosul. Feb-24-04; 3,600 South Korean troops, including special forces, marines, military engineers and medics, will be sent to Kirkuk by May 2004, replacing 465 South Korean military medics and engineers in Nasiriyah. Feb ,000 US troops in Mosul are being replaced by a Stryker Brigade and a single company of military police, about 8,000 soldiers in all. Feb US Central Command reports that members of US Task Force Olympia met with leaders of nongovernmental organizations in Mosul in northern Iraq on February 15th. The Ministry of Humanitarian Assistance and Cooperation hosted the meeting, which was attended by 15 nongovernmental organizations with representatives from Great Britain, Japan, France, the United States and Iraq as well as civil affairs soldiers from Task Force Olympia. The organizations covered a wide variety of issues and services across the region from health and medical issues to the Makhar refugee camp. Task Force Olympia provides the groups with humanitarian information and assistance to help them accomplish their mission in Iraq. Feb

6 Central/West Regions Al Anbar, Salahaddin, Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Wasit, Najaf, Qadissiya Coordination Population Al-Anbar Province: Fallujah - 425,774, Al-Kaime - 116,129 Ramadi - 444,582 Rowtba - 24,813 Ana - 37,211 Hidatha - 75,835 Hit 105,825 Total Al-Anbar Population 1,230,169? Feb IDP Movement US-based NGO Save the Children has completed registration of IDPs in Najaf, where 2,157 IDPs have been identified; International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, and CARE are working on projects that serve the IDP population in Diyala Food Health The Government of Japan decided on February 17th to extend grant assistance for Japanese NGO projects totaling about 35.6 million yen (US$326,606) for the Emergency Aid of Medical Equipment to Samara Maternity & Children Hospital. In response to the request of the hospital, the project will provide medical equipment such as defibrillators, infant incubators, photo therapy units for incubators, an electrocardiograph, and suction units. When implemented, the project hopes to improve the neonatal mortality rate, which is estimated to be more than 10%. Feb Non-Food Items Shelter Water & The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Najaf recently awarded more than Sanitation US$125,000 for community initiatives to develop new water networks and repair existing water infrastructure. The water projects will help people more than 23,500 people in the area. Feb Security NGO Action by Churches Together (ACT) says armed hijackings on lone vehicles and convoys still reported on usual route between Baghdad and Amman, Jordan recommends avoiding these areas Feb ; Other/Comments On Feb 22, Saboteurs attacked the Kirkuk-Baghdad-Basra pipeline near Al-Hare, a small town west of Karbala, about 70 miles (110 km) south of Baghdad. This is reported to be the first attack against a pipeline in southern Iraq since the ousting of Saddam Hussein. Feb

7 Baghdad Coordination Population IDP Movement Food Health Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Security Other/Comments Baghdad Population: 5.8 million France-based NGO Premier Urgence has reported a new case load of 7,000 IDPs in Baghdad; UNHCR has registered more than 8,200 Palestinian refugees in Baghdad who no longer receive support from authorities; About 700 families of Roma origin are reportedly living in a former Baghdad orphanage; French NGO, Premiere Urgence, says that about 10,400 people in Baghdad are IDPs because of recent war or human rights issues NGO is working to repair former Republican Guard headquarters outside Baghdad which is temporary IDP shelter; Premier Urgence is operating at 270 locations in and around Baghdad - working to set up information center to mediate land/home claims Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and UNICEF establishes pilot youth house in Al Maghrib, Baghdad, children visit daily; According to a report on December 18th, US NGO, Mercy House, operating home for over 50 orphans and runaways with some aid from French NGO, Enfants du Monde, in Baghdad Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) reports that repair of 7 water works which serve about 1.2 million people in Baghdad, were completed in December 2003 Jan In November 2003, the International Red Cross decided to close its Baghdad office temporarily due to the security situation; The Baghdad Unemployment Center located beside the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 29, This office is the first official establishment allowing Iraqis the opportunity to seek employment. It also provides them the opportunity to improve their English, computer and business skills. The ministry is planning to open two more offices by March 2004 in other locations in the city Feb

8 South Region Basrah Coordination Population IDP Movement Food Health Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Security Other/Comments Umm Qasr, Basrah Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) currently has 7 international staff in Basrah Jan Population of Basrah: 1.5 million US-based NGO Save the Children has completed registration of IDPs in Basrah, where 5,300 IDPs have been identified WFP is continuing to provide emergency relief rations for Iraqi refugees returning from the Al Rafha camp in Saudi Arabia; According to report on December 18th, Iraq Ministry of Water Resources launched a pilot project on Al Faw peninsula to dredge about 180 rivers and rehabilitate irrigation system destroyed in Iraq-Iran war in 1980 s 1 st phase started beginning of December2003 and will cost US$755,000 Iraq engineers and laborers working for Denmark-based NGO DanChurchAid (DCA) have reopened all 74 health centers in Basra province Feb-12-04; Despite an attack on a DanChurchAid (DCA) vehicle in Basrah on January 31, 2004, (first NGO attack in the region), work continues with help of NGO partner, Lutheran World Relief (LWR), on low-profile projects such as the repair of water supplies and electrical systems Feb-12-04; All UN operations in Basrah have been suspended until further notice; International staff curfew is in place from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am; All UN international staff and UN Joint Logistics Center in Basrah have been relocated to Kuwait; The International Red Cross has decided to close its Basrah office temporarily due to the security situation; Save the Children, one of the largest private relief efforts in Iraq, employs more than 150 aid workers who are working with Iraqi citizens in more than 130 communities to launch development projects aimed at rebuilding war-torn neighborhoods in southern Iraq. Based in Basrah, Save the Children s top priorities included providing clean water and sanitation to local neighborhoods, rehabilitating schools and health clinics, protecting and educating children, and improving nutrition. Feb

9 Al Muthanna, Nassiriyah (Dhi Qar), Maysan, Coordination UNOHCI is aware of 22 NGOs operating in southern Iraq Population Population of Nassiriyah (Dhi Qar): 560,200 IDP Movement Food Health Czech Republic-based NGO People in Need Foundation (PINF) is continuing its work to rehabilitate medical facilities in Maysan governorate, including 5 primary health centers and 10 larger clinics; Mobile community outreach health clinics staffed by Iraqi doctors and community health workers are providing medical relief to remote areas of Maysan Governorate Non-Food Items Shelter Water & UK-based Department for International Development (DFID) assisting French Sanitation NGO, ACTED, in rehabilitation of water supply units in Al Muthanna and Al Najaf Feb-10-04; Security 3,600 South Korean troops, including special forces, marines, military engineers and medics, will be sent to Kirkuk by May 2004, replacing 465 South Korean military medics and engineers in Nasiriyah. Feb Other/Comments The Japan Government has extended a grassroots human security grant aid of US$802,909 to the Water Department in Al Muthanna to purchase 12 water tankers to distribute purified water; Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) will take part in water purification activities Feb-10-04; A contingent of 800 Japanese troops crossed into Iraq from Kuwait on February 8th, as part of the country's first deployment to a combat zone since 1945 the troops, most of them engineers, are part of a deployment slated to total about 800 troops in a humanitarian mission in southern Iraq another 200 troops are to remain in Kuwait. Japan had already dispatched advance teams and three C-130 cargo planes to the region troops tasks include water purification as well as other humanitarian tasks in Iraq? Feb ; Neighboring Countries Humanitarian Activities/Preparations Jordan The Government of Jordan has stated that borders with Iraq are open for the flow of goods. The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center (HACC-West) has advised that it needs 24-hour advance notice of vehicle movement into Iraq from Jordan. Travel on this route in the short-term may be dangerous due to the threat of hijacking while on the road. Most of the Sudanese and Somali refugees who fled Iraq last spring as the government fell are now being taken in by the US and Australia. About 60 people who have been living at Al-Ruwayshid camp in the desert near the Iraq-Jordan border are expected to go to the US, said Jacqueline Parlevliet, senior protection officer at the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in the Jordanian capital, Amman. The Jordanian government has agreed to keep the camp open until the end of April The group of 60 is about one-sixth of the more than 400 people living at Al-Ruwayshid camp. Many of the others are Palestinians who were given housing and other help under former Iraq president Saddam Hussein. When Hussein's Ba'ath Party regime fell in late April, refugees say their landlords told them to leave. 9

10 Another estimated 1,100 refugees, most of them Iranian Kurds, remain in a nearby camp in the "No Man's Land" between the Iraq and Jordanian borders, according to Parlevliet. This group, also being helped by UNHCR, may be in limbo for a longer period of time, depending on the situation in Iraq. The Kurds have lived in Iraq as refugees for 23 years. Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) responsible for solid waste and sanitation facilities in Ruweished camp and no-mans-land at Jordanian border, under agreement with UNHCR. Following talks with Jordan s King Abdullah II, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said that Jordan will not pressure the approximately 200,000 Iraqi refugees living in Jordan to return to Iraq. In addition, a limited number of Iraqis would be allowed to stay long-term, particularly those married to Jordanians. The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) reported on December 11 that it has adopted a decision to provide EUR 13 million (US$16.3 million) in additional support to vulnerable populations in the Middle East. Some of the funded activities will include health services for refugees from Iraq hosted in camps in Jordan and in the no-man s land between Jordan and Iraq. The funds are directed through ECHO. In early December 2003, 400 Jordanian trucks stopped entering Iraq to protest insecurity. Iran The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports today (Feb. 11) that over the past two days, 500 Iraqi refugees have left camps in Iran to return to their home country. The new arrivals bring the number of Iraqis who have gone back from Iran since last November to more than 2,600. After entering the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the refugees receive plastic tarpaulins, blankets, jerry cans, lanterns, hygienic items and tents if needed, as well as a small stipend to cover transport costs back to their communities. They are also enrolled in the country's food distribution network. UNHCR confirmed on Monday, February 9, that one of the largest camps to host Iraqi refugees in Iran closed over the previous weekend (Feb. 7-8). The remaining 205 refugees in the Ashrafi camp, located 93 miles (150 km) north of Ahvaz, the capital of the southwestern Kuzestan province, were transported back to their homeland escorted by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) troops via the Shalamshea border crossing on Saturday, February 7. The camp was home to some 12,000 Iraqis, many of whom had lived there for more than a decade following the first Gulf war in UNHCR expects other Iraqi camps to close in coming weeks, such as Beheshti, which now only shelters 28 refugees. There were some 200,000 Iraqi refugees living in Iran last year, of which approximately 50,000 have returned home, according to rough estimates. Although UNHCR is assisting refugees to return, they stressed that this was not a repatriation program in the normal sense as conditions are not right for refugees to return. Under the UNHCR program, which started in November 2003, refugees are given US $20 and free transportation to the southern Iraqi city of Basra. UNHCR has very limited presence inside Iraq due to the security situation there, making it very difficult for a repatriation program to operate, such as the one in Afghanistan. So far the refugee agency has helped more than 2,600 Iraqi's in Iran return home. Meanwhile, returns of Iraqi refugees from other parts of the country are continuing, with some two convoys per week heading for the border with Iran. 10

11 For the last 20 years, Iran has sheltered an estimated 200,000 Iraqi refugees who fled during the Iran-Iraq war, with most living among Iranian host communities and only 48,000 in camps. An unknown number of refugees have returned unassisted by UNHCR. UNHCR says it still does not encourage large-scale returns at this time, but it will arrange further return convoys from Iran upon request of refugees. UNHCR says it has difficulties beginning repatriation as US military has fears returnees could include foreign militants. Task has also been complicated by the evacuation of UN foreign staff from Iraq, and complicated security and logistical problems along heavily mined route. Maryam Ghahremani of ANSAR, an Iranian foundation that conducts mine-awareness training at Ashrafi, stresses mine awareness especially for children of refugees. The Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) has stated that requests of convoys crossing the Iranian border could be processed within 24 hours, once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides clearance. Turkey UNHCR has said it is scaling down its operations along the border between Turkey and Iraq in order to focus on relief efforts already underway in Iraq. Turkey has said it would continue assistance to Iraqi refugees who fled Iraq prior the recent war and who now wish to return to Iraq. UNHCR said it could facilitate such repatriations, but could not guarantee the returnees safety upon return and thus would not encourage them to do so at this time. International Organization for Migration (IOM) is also scaling down their operations in Silopi, but said it would be ready to assist in the repatriation of Iraqis. The Turkish Red Crescent has sent a four-truck convoy carrying food aid and non-food items to Iraq to be distributed in the northern Iraqi cities of Mosul and Dahuk. According to reports on December 9, Turkish truck drivers with routes to Iraq went on strike last week over fear of attacks. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United States and Turkish officials are seeking a way to repatriate some 12,000 Turkish Kurds living in northern Iraq, who at present are not allowed to return home. The majority of them are in the Mahmour camp southeast of the northern governorate of Arbil, with the others living in cities. The refugees first settled in Atrush, where two camps were established southwest of Dahuk in northern Iraq, until they were moved to the Mahmour camp in 1998 under the government of Saddam Hussein. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials announced on Thursday (Jan. 22) that Iraqi, Turkish, and UNHCR officials have agreed on the modalities of voluntary return of up to 13,000 Turkish citizens (ethnic Kurds) to Turkey from Iraq who have lived in exile in Iraq since the early 1990s. An estimated 9,200 of these refugees are living in Mahmour Camp, near Erbil, while others are living in Dahuk and Erbil areas of northern Iraq. Under the agreement reached at the Turkish capital, Ankara, the Iraqi authorities will ensure that the return is voluntary and that the refugees are not subjected to pressure. The accord stipulates that the UNHCR will have full and unhindered access to the refugees both on Iraq; territory and once they have gone back to Turkey. Turkish authorities are to ensure that the refugees who volunteer to go back to Turkey are free to return to their former places of residence or any other places of their choice within Turkey. 11

12 Kuwait The Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) in Kuwait requests a maximum of 96 hours to issue a clearance to agencies to carry out cross-border operations. Humanitarian flights are now exempt of all landing and parking fees. The Government of Kuwait has issued a statement that it must be notified 24 hours in advance to issue approved legal passes. UN staff wishing to travel to Iraq through Kuwait need security clearance and must complete a Kuwaiti immigration form. The immigration form, in addition to a copy of a mission plan, must be given to the transportation office by 1600 hours one day prior to the mission. Due to the current security situation in Iraq, international staff members of UN agencies operating in southern Iraq have been relocated to Kuwait, as have international staff members from several international organizations, including International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Medical Corps (IMC), and Mercy Corps. Syria The Government of Syria has granted UN agencies and International Organization for Migration (IOM) a number of exemptions for fees, taxes and levees related to the import/export of humanitarian transit cargo to Iraq. New border crossing procedures are improving cross border movements. 273 Iraqi men held in Lebanon for illegal residency were repatriated to Baghdad on December 19 overland via Syria most fled there in outbreak of war this year, about 40 left in Rumeih prison who face trial in Lebanon. Islamic Relief has been working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to help 600 Syrian refugees living in Baghdad and Ramadi by subsidizing rents, covering the cost of medical treatment, and paying for students transport and equipment costs. The beneficiaries of this joint Islamic Relief and UNHCR project are refugees who registered with the UNHCR in Baghdad in mid-june The UNHCR is in the process of finding a long-term solution in the form of repatriation to Syria or resettlement in another country. Iraq 's refugee community has been in a vulnerable position since the fall of Saddam Hussein s regime. The Hussein regime gave the refugees asylum and provided subsidized rents, a monthly allowance and legal support. However, the privileges that the refugees enjoyed has created resentment amongst many Iraqis. In the chaos that followed the collapse of the government, refugees were targeted by gangs of criminals who looted their accommodations at gunpoint. Many refugees lost their homes when rent subsidies ended. Those who remain in their accommodations have had to cope with increased rents while the value of the Iraqi dinar has fallen. Saudi Arabia The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GoKSA) has issued a blanket authorization for overflight and landing for an unspecified period of time. These clearances apply to flights between Kuwait and Amman. All but 500 refugees have left Saudi Arabia s Rafha camp out of the original 33,000 in 1991 remaining refugees will return to Iraq in next several days. 12