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

Transcription

1 January 6,

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 key infrastructure; Nationwide food distribution proceeding smoothly; Political: After successful trips to Europe and Asia yielded promises of significant Iraqi debt relief, US presidential envoy James Baker looks to Middle East countries for debt relief; Middle East countries, like the Paris Club of 19 nations, hold about US$40 billion in debt; Total Iraqi debt about US$120 billion plus perhaps another US$100 billion in war reparation claims; UN: Secretary General Kofi Annan plans January 19th meeting on UN role through June 2004 Current and rotating presidents of the Governing Council to attend the meeting December through February Annan expects senior US delegation to attend, including some from Baghdad, and hopes senior British representative Jeremy Greenstock will attend; Refugees: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) returns another 300 refugees from Saudi Arabia s Rahfa camp and also assists 300 refugees return from Iran s Motahari and Ansar camps; 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: Governing Council circulating draft 6-page transitional constitution ahead of end-of-february deadline Islam is the basis, but not Sharia law; The next step is the selection of a transition assembly by the end of May Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-sistani issued fatwa calling for direct election rather than by representatives; Transitional Assembly elections in June; Iraqi sovereignty in July; Civil Military Interaction: Second battalion of 700 for Iraqi military graduate today in first battalion over 30% left service, many citing low salary bonus now added to salary; Coalition continues sweeps; Attacks on coalition, civilians, and soft targets continue; Humanitarian Access to Iraq: Humanitarian groups do not see immediate security improvements from capture of Saddam; Local authorities, coalition officials, and construction companies push for humanitarian groups to return to the largely-kurdish north as being safer than the rest of Iraq; Economy/Oil: Coalition switches from US Army Corps of Engineers to Defense Logistics Agency to award contracts for importing petroleum products into Iraq in support of Oil Ministry recently there have been long lines, rationing at gasoline stations and shortages of other products as well as allegations of profiteering by Army contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root; Water/power: Electricity Ministry aims for 6,000 MW capability in near term and 10,000 MW by ,400 MW were generated prior to war; Daily nationwide power outages continue, including Baghdad; Food: Oil-for-Food contractors down from 6,000 to 3,900 as screening for corruption and kickbacks continue; US$750 million in contracts turned over to authorities in the north US$8 billion in contracts in place for the rest of the country; and Medical: US reports that Iraqi Ministry of now has 100,000 healthcare workers; Iraqi Minister of, Khudair Abbas, says Ministry looking for independence as early as January

3 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 Preparations North Region Coordinator Food Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Other/Comments Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UOHCI) is aware of 36 NGOs in northern Iraq 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; UNHCR has provided tents, blankets, and other household items to several hundred Iraqi Kurds who have returned to Dahuk; Approximately 175 Kurdish families are living just east of Mosul, and another 700 families are living in Zamar The World Food Program (WFP) preparing to hand 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 Council Resolution 1483 Four volunteer nurses from Northwest Medical Teams International will provide training in hospitals in Erbil and Dahuk UNHCR has begun a shelter program which will construct 70 houses for approximately 500 IDPs in two villages outside Erbil All water projects in urban and semi-urban areas in Erbil are functioning properly Power in Dahuk has been restored; Electric power is available for hours per day in Erbil; Telephone services have been restored between Dahuk and Mosul; Relocation of UN international staff in the Northern Governorates is underway Coordinator Food Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Other/Comments Kirkuk (Attamin), Mosul (Ninewa), Tikrit (Salahaddin) UNHCR is funding projects to assist some 2,500 newly displaced Arabs who have gathered in the Hawija area west of Kirkuk; About 250 Kurdish families have been staying at Kirkuk s sports stadium awaiting housing from authorities International Medical Corps (IMC) completed renovations of four health clinics in Kirkuk World Vision was able to distribute blankets, cooking stoves, and other non-food essential items to 2,990 IDP families living in public buildings or camps in Mosul US-based NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) is continuing to help improve sewage line repair and garbage collection in Kirkuk On Tuesday (Jan. 6), an Iraqi policeman was injured in a rocket attack on a police station in Kirkuk The Mosul airport is still closed to UN flights, which are using Erbil as the landing point in the North; All civil, criminal, and administrative courts in Kirkuk are now open and hearing cases; World Vision International reports that rehabilitation of more than 4

5 Central/West Regions Coordinator Food Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation 80 schools in Mosul has been completed so that more than 40,000 school children can return to classes Anbar, Salahaddin, Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Wasit, Najaf, Qadissiya 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 Kuwait s Red Crescent Society (KRCS) is sending its 28th batch of aid to Al Kut city, containing food items, flour, water, and milk US-based NGO Mercy Corps has supplied medical kits to health facilities in Qadissiya and Wasit, benefiting over 60,000 patients According to a December 17 th report, International Rescue Committee (IRC) recently rehabilitated and reopened a youth center in Najaf about 2,000 youth expected to use center US-based NGO Mercy Corps is addressing water, sanitation, and health needs in Wasit and Qadissiya; CARE has repaired water flow in Anbar governorate, providing access to potable water for 1,100 households; Six water treatment plants are being rehabilitated in Babil and Diyala governorates to serve more than 500,000 people Anbar, Diyala, and Salahaddin are still inaccessible to UN staff due to poor security; The UN Iraq Office reports a surge in the number of attacks against coalition forces in the area northwest of Hilla in Babylon governorate; In Fallujah, 30 miles (50 km) west of Baghdad, 2 French nationals were killed and one wounded in a drive-by shooting Other/Comments According to a December 18 th report, Mercy Corps still in Al Kut city, about 100 miles (161 km) southeast of Baghdad, despite security concerns half of effort focused on developing democratic processes on village level, other projects include building infrastructure in area Baghdad Coordinator : 5.8 million Baghdad 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 5

6 Food Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Other/Comments Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and UNICEF establishes pilot youth house in Al Maghrib, Baghdad, children visit daily working to find location for second house in Baghdad; According to a report today (December 18), US NGO, Mercy House, operating home for over 50 orphans and runaways with some aid from French NGO, Enfants du Monde, in Baghdad USAID reports that 70 of Baghdad s 90 sewage treatment plants have been rehabilitated; NCA says Al Hella water pumping station in Baghdad has now been fully rehabilitated In November 2003, the International Red Cross decided to close its Baghdad office temporarily due to the security situation; A First Responder emergency system has been established in Baghdad to reach emergency services for fire or other crisis situations; NGO charter flights are still being scheduled daily between Amman, Jordan and Baghdad while commercial flights are on hold 6

7 South Region Basrah Coordinator Food Non-Food Items Shelter Water & Sanitation Other/Comments Umm Qasr, Basra 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 18, 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 USAID reports that the first of 74 health clinic in a box kits containing medical instruments and primary health clinic supplies were distributed to the Department of in Basrah; USAID has supported the rehabilitation of 20 delivery rooms in hospitals and health care centers in Basrah; In a report today (December 19), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that it has organized a training program for 4 medical staff from Basra General hospital, which was rehabilitated with a grant from IOM s Medical Evacuation & Rehabilitation Program for Iraq (MEHRPI); MEHRPI funded by ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Office), the Kuwait government & Middle Eastern and European governments program has facilitated evacuation of 148 patients since May 2003 The week of Dec. 15, UNHCR sent 10 trucks loaded with relief items from Kermanshah, Iran, to Basra goods included 1,000 tents, 500 plastic tarpaulins, 6,000 blankets, 1,200 cooking and heating stoves, 2,000 kitchen sets and 6,000 jerry cans Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is working with UNICEF in Basrah and Maysan to provide clean drinking water through water tanks, repair and install emergency water equipment and networks, and repair Water Directorate vehicles; NCA says tankers supply 3.5 million liters of water a day, serving population of about 250,000 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; Due to rumors that violent incidents may intensify towards end of Ramadan, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Basrah will temporarily withdraw most international staff for one week from November 19 7

8 Coordinator Food Al Muthanna, Nassiriyah (Dhi Qar), Maysan, UNOHCI is aware of 22 NGOs operating in southern Iraq 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 & Sanitation Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is conducting water and supply activities in Maysan and Amarah provinces, including pipe network repairs, training, and water tankering to clinics and schools; NCA says Al Chatra water works in Nasariyah will be finalized by end of December 2003 Other/Comments UK-based NGO Caritas has temporarily suspended operations in Nasiriyah after November 12 suicide bombing of the Italian police base; Japan is planning to set up camp for Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) in Samawah town PINF, which is still increasing its activities in the education and health sectors, has proceeded with reconstruction of the Education College in Maysan 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. A Jordanian government spokesman said Jordan has shelved plans for the immediate closure of a camp housing refugees from the Iraq war for "humanitarian reasons" as it works with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to repatriate the hundreds stranded there. Jordan had repeatedly said it wanted to move the more than 500 people stuck in the Ruweished camp to a makeshift compound in no-man's land on its border with Iraq where more than 1,000 people, mostly Iranian Kurds, have been stranded since April. 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. About 1,200 people, mostly Iranian Kurds from the Al Tash refugee camp in Iraq, are currently residing in no-man s land at the Iraqi border with Jordan. Jordan has refused entry to most of the refugees. A refugee camp has been set up for them in no-man s land, using some structures that were relocated there from the Ruweishid camp. However, due to the unofficial status of the camp in a buffer zone, neither Iraq nor Jordan is obligated to accept responsibility for the camp residents. 8

9 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. According to December 9th reports, 400 Jordanian trucks stop entering Iraq to protest insecurity. 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. Iran 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. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that on Monday (Jan. 5), some 300 Iraqis returned from camps in Iran, where some of them have been exiled for more than two decades. The refugees had been sheltered at Iran's Motahari and Ansar refugee camps in southwestern Khuzestan Province since the Iran-Iraq war. The returning refugees underwent mine awareness training and other departure formalities at the Shalamancheh border crossing point. They were received on the Iraqi side by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) personnel, who escorted them into Basra. As with other returning refugees, UHNCR distributed the usual assistance package and tents, as-needed, at their Basra transit centre. The returnees were also enrolled in Iraq's country-wide food distribution system. This was the fourth convoy of Iraqi refugees to leave Iran since facilitated returns started in late November. More than 800 Iraqis have returned from Iran to date on four UNHCR-facilitated convoys. Reportedly, most refugees were going home to Basra, while others were headed for Karbala and Najaf. 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. 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 9

10 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. 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. The HOC, originally scheduled to close on September 30, 2003, will continue to operate until December 31, 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 Thursday (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. 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. UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that a convoy carrying 330 refugees arrived today (Jan. 6) in southern Iraq, ending their long exile in Saudi Arabia. This was the 14th group of Iraqis to leave Rafha refugee camp, where they had lived for nearly 13 years. UNHCR-facilitated returns from Rafha began from Saudi Arabia last July. The refugees transited Kuwait in the early hours of this morning and arrived in Iraq a few hours later. They were met on the Iraqi frontier by Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) personnel and escorted into Basra, where UNHCR national staff received them at a transit centre and distributed one-month's supply of food aid and various other items, including blankets, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, and soap. Those in need also got tents. Most of today's returnees are going to Basra and Al- Muthanna. 10

11 The UNHCR is not encouraging returns due to lack of security in Iraq, but is assisting those who wish to return. Less than 1,000 Iraqis remain in Rafha after the return so far of 4,500. All the returning refugees are met by UNHCR national staff upon their arrival and given various assistance items and tents if they require emergency shelter. 11