OFFICE OF THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT NUMBER 18 7 April 2003

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1 OFFICE OF THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR IRAQ HUMANITARIAN SITUATION REPORT NUMBER 18 7 April HIGHLIGHTS In Baghdad, the water supply situation is critical, as a result of reduced water pressure in the network. Most hospitals and water installations are powered by back-up generators. DART and coalition forces report that 200 residents looted the Umm Qasr port area on 2 April. Efforts are underway to enable water system workers to access the water treatment plants. In Erbil and Sulaymaniyah the security situation is calm. However, the presence of coalition troops and air raids on GoI positions are a matter of concern in Erbil. In Dahuk, the situation is extremely tense after the GoI fired on Dahuk city with artillery, causing a new round of displacement. 2 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN IRAQ 2.1 TABLE OF ASSISTANCE FOOD Item Quantities delivered (MT) Cumulative totals (MT) Location Remarks Wheat flour Northern Iraq WFP. For distribution in the three northern governorates Dried Milk Northern Iraq WFP 2.2 AFFECTED POPULATIONS Third Country Nationals (as of 6 April - IOM) Location In transit Departed Camp population Remarks Jordan Ruwayshed* Includes 491 Jordanian travelling from Baghdad to Jordan. Syria Tanf Damascus Al Bukamal Yarubiya DTC Iran Khoshravi TOTALS 1,632 1, Trend: over the past week an average of 15 TCNs per day crossed into Syria and Jordan. Registered arrival of IDPs by families (IOM/UNOPS) Location Numbers Trend Remarks Erbil 2442 Dahuk 617? Sulaymaniyah 2259? 1

2 TOTAL 5318 An additional 30,000 (to Amarah) and 10,000 (to Badrah) are reported to have fled Baghdad in recent days. UNHCR is investigating. A further 22,000 are in Penjwin (Sulaymaniyah). N.B. These figures only reflect the new caseload IDPs that fled from the Centre/South GoI controlled areas that have been registered. The figures do not include new caseload IDPs from within the three northern governorates nor the old caseload IDPs already hosted in camps. 2.3 OPERATIONAL ISSUES ICRC continued visits to POW. NORTH (Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah) In Sulaymaniyah the security situation is calm. However, the presence of coalition troops and air raids on GoI positions are matter of concern in Erbil. In Dahuk, the situation is extremely tense after the GoI fired on Dahuk city with artillery, causing a new round of migration (numbers not known). The second WFP convoy of wheat flour arrived in Dahuk on 6th April. This brings the cumulative deliveries of wheat flour to 850 MT. WFP started dispatching 217 MT of wheat flour to agents in the Amadia area (Dahuk) for distribution to around 23,600 beneficiaries. This area accommodates a high number of IDPs who fled from the cities of the three northern governorates. 3 UNDP vehicles, which had been seized by the local authorities in Sulaymaniyah, were returned yesterday. Erbil WFP staff visited Ashkawtawan camp (Soran), which houses 160 individuals. Most of the IDPs who had previously been accommodated in schools have returned to Erbil City. Only 3 schools, housing around 120 IDP families from GoI areas are still occupied. According to WFP, their food reserves will last no longer than one week. The site preparation and construction of water and sanitation facilities for the expansion of Delizian and Ashkawtawan camps is ongoing. Another group of 56 surrendered Iraqi soldiers have now been settled in Ashkawtawan camp (Mergasur), bringing the total population of the camp to 195. UNOPS has provided this group with tents, and relief items. UNOPS continues to distribute water and kerosene to 3,700 IDP families in the governorate. Dahuk UNOPS continues with the provision of potable water to 2,051 new IDP families and 228 singles. Power supply continues to be problematic and there is a shortage of fuel. Sulaymaniyah UNOPS distributed relief items to the 117 IDP families accommodated in Bazyan camp. UNICEF has constructed water and sanitation facilities, and provided a large tent and sport facilities for social and recreational activities. WFP will distribute food items today for 47 IDPs families. The NGO KSRO installed 100 tents in Sordash camp, while construction of water and sanitation facilities is progressing and will be concluded within five days. In Takya transit camp, which had been established in 2002, UNOPS distributed tents and relief items to 5 newly arrived IDP families and is continuing to provide drinking water and waste collection services to the camp. Following an assessment of the Aghjalar region, UNOPS distributed relief items to 49 IDP families. 2

3 CENTRAL (Ninewa, Tameem, Salah al-din) BAGHDAD (Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala) Anbar Installation of 3 generators supplied by ICRC restored water supply to 60,000 people, which were deprived from this basic service since 29 March. Baghdad ICRC reports movement of population within the city, to reach relatives in parts of Baghdad deemed safe. According to ICRC, all hospitals are under pressure, but are still managing the situation. Influx of injured at Al-Yarmouk hospital (Baghdad) reached 100 per hour. Mahmoudiya hospital (south of Baghdad) is no longer capable of dealing with the influx of war-wounded. The situation of water supply is critical, as the pressure in the network has been reduced. ICRC continues distribution of water. Wathba water treatment plant is out of operation since 3 April because of lack of power supply. Most hospitals and water installations are powered by back-up generators. UPPER SOUTH (Najaf, Qadissiya, Wassit, Babil, Kerbala) LOWER SOUTH (Basrah, Missan, Muthanna, Thi-Qar) The 4 th April UN assessment mission to Umm Qasr inspected existing water treatment system (non-potable water for washing) and the Kuwaiti water pipeline and tanker system (potable water). Potable water is available throughout the city but in insufficient quantity. Selling of water by tanker drivers continues to be a problem, as the population has insufficient means to purchase it. Water deliveries to the hospital are insufficient. Residents told the UN mission that 200 individuals had left Basrah as a direct result of fighting, and were now housed with relatives in Umm Qasr. While there are no reports of IDP sleeping in the open, WFP reported that during the mission they identified IDP inhabiting the former UNIKOM HQ. WFP initiated food distribution to those individuals immediately. UNICEF reports there is a three months supply of most essential drugs available in Umm Qasr hospital, but heavy use of the facility ( patients/week) may have reduced the stock considerably. UNICEF provided one basic health kit to the facility. ORS are in short supply and the status of regular vaccination activities is unclear. In consequence, ORS as well as BCG, measles and hepatitis B vaccines will be procured for Umm Qasr immediately. Emergency services are no longer provided by the Umm Qasr hospital, and patients are currently unable to travel to Basrah for treatment. 30 food agents are reportedly still present in Umm Qasr and willing to return to work. The ration card system is still in place and it may be possible to start it up again quickly. Family food stocks are sufficient for up to two months, but average diets lack protein; meat is available in the market but at prohibitive cost. WFP will try to reactivate the food agents and the distribution system, utilizing the existing ration card system There is no fuel available in Umm Qasr for vehicles, pumps, or cooking. 3

4 Umm Qasr port is in excellent condition, but has no electricity. There are 21 warehouses of approximately 2000m², half of which are empty. Coalition forces have repaired two shunting locomotives for use inside the port, and the port silos appear to be in good condition. The British Army has stated that 2 back-up generators which will be working by 8th April. The water situation in Umm Qasr remains a concern. UNICEF will tanker water from Kuwait for Umm Qasr s hospital and primary health care unit and install temporary water storage and pumping systems at those facilities as a matter of priority. Additional temporary storage and pumping will be established at selected points in and around the town. UNICEF will work towards reactivating existing Iraqi water and sanitation systems and personnel (17 technicians have already been identified). The ICRC reported that its convoy carrying medical supplies and water reached Basrah on 4 th April and has since returned to Kuwait City. The Basrah area continues to be affected by a problem of clean water distribution. There has been a reported increase in diarrhea incidence. 3 SECURITY UPDATE DART and coalition forces report that 200 residents looted the Umm Qasr port area on April 2. 4 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES 4.1 IRAN 4.2 JORDAN There are 22 people in no man s land between Jordan and Iraq awaiting a response from the Jordanian Government to be allowed to enter the country. UNHCR is monitoring the situation. UNICEF reached an agreement with the MoH to immunize all children who remain in the TCN camp for over a week for measles and polio, and to give them vitamin A. There are currently 15 children who fall into this category. 4.3 KUWAIT 4.4 SAUDI ARABIA The office of the Resident Coordinator continues to follow-up on the request for over fly and landing permission for humanitarian flights. 4.5 SYRIA 4.6 TURKEY The Turkish Government Diyarbakir Regional Crisis Centre is considering withdrawing to Ankara in light of the unlikelihood of an influx of refugees. The Turkish Red Crescent Society in Diyarbakir has sent back to Ankara 160 out of the 280 staff as well as some of the vehicles deployed to Silopi. The remaining core team will run the warehouse where humanitarian supplies are stored. 4

5 The Van airport is closed. UNHAS is looking for alternative routes. Cross-border operations The GoT is planning to create a coordinating body to facilitate the transit of humanitarian supplies across the border. 7 April