IRAQ. October 2007 Bulletin No. 2. Expanded Humanitarian Response Fund (ERF) NGO Micro Grant. I. Operational Updates. Basic Facts

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1 IRAQ Expanded Humanitarian Response Fund (ERF) NGO Micro Grant October 2007 Bulletin No. 2 I. Operational Updates A. HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW According to UNHCR 1, the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) remains at approximately 2.25 million. While the number of IDPs increases in some areas, branches of the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) are reporting the return of IDPs in several governorates such as Baghdad, Babylon and Najaf some 3,200 families are reported to have returned to Baghdad by the MoDM. Basic Facts Approximately 2.25 million people are internally displaced in Iraq. Each month, 60,000 new people are forced to leave their homes corresponding to 2,000 people per day. Just over 4 million people corresponding to 15 percent of the entire population are food insecure despite the PDS (Public Distribution System) rations they are receiving. A further 8.3 million (32 percent of the population) would be rendered food insecure if not provided with a PDS ration. More than 220,000 school-aged children have been displaced since February 2006, many of whom are not currently attending classes. Only one third of children under five have access to safe drinking water. Among children under five, 25.9 percent suffer from stunting and 9 percent suffer from wasting percent are considered underweight. The under-five mortality rate is currently estimated at 41 per 1000 live births. Diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections account for about two out of three under-five deaths, with malnutrition a major contributing factor. (Sources: UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, IOM, 2006 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) 1 Cluster F report, Update of 19 September 07 The displacement continues to strain infrastructure and resources throughout Iraq and several governorates are restricting IDPs entry and/or registration (such as Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Kerbala, Najaf, Thi-Qar, Bashra and Muthanna. Ongoing cross-border operations conducted by the Turkish military aimed at the Kurdish PKK in the northern part of Iraq (Dahuk) are raising serious concerns of further increases in the internal displacement in an area already carrying a heavy burden of Iraq s IDPs. However, according to UNHCR, over the past two-to-three weeks the number of people displaced, mostly moving in the direction of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, is currently modest and counts, at the most, 100 families. In the event of a further escalation, KRG authorities estimate that between 2,000 and 10,000 families could be subject to displacement, according to the latest IOM update 2. Local authorities are not planning to set up camps in preparation for such displacement, but local hospitals are implementing emergency preparedness measures. Also the UN under the leadership of UNHCR is developing contingency plans in the event the security situation deteriorates in the area. As of 28 October 2007, a total of 4,467 cases of cholera were confirmed in 44 districts across 11 governorates, according to WHO. Around 99 percent of the confirmed cases are reported from Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Kirkuk, while outbreaks in the other eight governorates so far have been more sporadic and isolated with no confirmed link to the northern part of Iraq. A total of 22 people have died as a result, which represents a 2 IOM s bi-weekly Iraq Displacement Assessment and Statistics report, 1 October

2 mortality rate of 0.49 percent (according to international standards, the mortality rate should not exceed 1 percent). The month of October has seen a steady decline in the number of reported cases which were confined to 39 districts in 11 governorates. However, by the end of the month new confirmed cases were reported from an additional 5 districts, fearing that the outbreak could further escalate. B. HUMANITARIAN PRIORITIES FOR THE ERF With the continued rise in internal displacement and severe access restrictions in most parts of Iraq (except in the KRG areas), the need for Food and Non-Food Items (NFIs) for both IDPs and other vulnerable residents, including shelter materials remains high, in particular in light of the approaching winter season. According to Cluster F assessments 3, between 40 percent and 60 percent of IDP families in Diyala, Kirkuk and Salah al Din have no access to cooking stoves and heaters, and NFI s should be adequately in place in preparation for the winter. In response to a request from the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM), the World Food Programme (WFP) plans to start emergency food s targeting up to 750,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across Iraq for an initial period of 12 months. It is then anticipated that the food needs among this population group (including host communities) would be adequately addressed by WFP and other humanitarian actors (e.g. ICRC, IOM and NGOs). 4 In the food sector, funds from the ERF will therefore mainly support proposals that target vulnerable and most needy among the non- IDP populations. Insufficient sanitation structures in some areas are causing serious health hazards. Following the severe outbreak of cholera over the last two months mostly impacting Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk, the flow of rivers from North to South, the continuous movement of people and cargo and the bad sanitary and hygiene conditions in Iraq, there is a continued high possibility for further spread of the disease to previously unaffected areas, according to WHO. In addition, the imminence of the rainy season brings with it the risk of flooding and crosscontamination of drinking water. Consequently, further assistance in this area remains a priority in the form of of health kits, hygiene items and purification tablets. Water availability and cleanliness is often especially poor in remote areas (for example in areas in the South), in overcrowded neighbourhoods, or in areas in where regular maintenance of systems presents major challenges 5. Source: Mercy Corps 3 Cluster F report, Update of 19 September 07 4 UNHCR is involved in emergency food for refugees only inside Iraq. 5 Cluster F report, Update of 19 September

3 required for national NGOs to be obtained from either an international NGO and/or a UN/IOM agency prior to submission of project proposal. FACTS ABOUT THE ERF Distribution in Qadissiya by SFHO, November 2007 Efforts to enhance the capacity of primary health care also remain a priority. Many Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) are lacking adequate equipment, medicine and/or qualified staff. PHCs in areas of high IDP concentrations are often overstretched and thus unable to sufficiently meet IDP health care needs 6. C. THE EXPANDED HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE FUND (ERF) Duration of projects for the remainder of 2007 For financial accounting purposes and the OCHA yearly budget cycle, this year the ERF will not be disbursing funds or making financial commitments beyond 31 December Organisations applying for ERF funds at this juncture are consequently requested to consider two options; 1) either to propose activities that can be implemented by 31 December, with a possibility for requesting a no-cost extension, or 2) divide the project proposal in two parts in which one part applies to the year 2007 and the other part for From 1 January 2008, the ERF will again process applications for the new calendar year. Pre-qualification criteria In the amended EFF Charter, it is stated on page 6 that For national NGOs, a letter of recommendation from an international NGO, NCCI and/or a UN/IOM agency must be attached to the project proposal. A letter of recommendation from NCCI is no longer required, therefore such letter is only The ERF provides quickly-disbursed funds for national and international organisations to undertake urgent humanitarian activities in Iraq to alleviate suffering of the civilian population. The ERF is not intended to respond to chronic social problems, reconstruction or other longterm development needs. The ERF will seek replenishment with fresh contributions on a rolling basis. The Fund will grant a maximum of US$ 400,000 and a minimum of US$ 25,000 per project. Contributions to the ERF will be treated as unearmarked and pooled, i.e. they lose their donor identification. A Technical Review Committee (TRC) is an integral part of the ERF comprising of UN/IOM and NGO representatives. (For further details, please see the ERF Charter, which can be obtained from OCHA Iraq) Project and Financial Status As of 31 October, a total of 13 project proposals have been submitted to the ERF with a total value of US$ 2,766,982. Seven project proposals have been submitted by international NGOs and six by Iraqi NGOs. Four projects have been approved while seven projects are currently under consideration. Two projects have been rejected by the Technical Review Committee (TRC). A total of US$ 1,424, has been donated to the ERF of which US$ 739, has been committed leaving the ERF with a balance of US$ 685, With seven projects in the pipeline totalling a present requirement of US$ 1,439, further contributions to the ERF are urgently required. Current partners of the ERF include Mercy Corps, Islamic Relief International, Terres des Hommes and Iraqi Relief Organisation. 6 Cluster F report, Update of 19 September

4 Table 1: Status of projects submitted Month submitted rejected under review approved Requirement (US$) August September October , Total , Table 2: Ongoing projects funded by the ERF No. Governorate Sector / Activities Beneficiaries 1 Baghdad Food and Shelter / Food and NFI 2 Baghdad Food and Shelter / Food and NFI 3 Diyala, Kirkuk and Salah al Din Shelter / NFI 1,000 families 300 families 1,420 families 4 Najaf Food / Food 1,000 families Table 3: Contributions (US$) Donors Contributions Pledges Committed Balance Sweden (SIDA) 439, Canada (CIDA) 474, Norway 511, Total 1,424, , , D. THE NGO MICRO GRANT Most recently OCHA has re-allocated a total of US$ 100,000 to the NGO Micro Grant for immediate disbursement to NGO partners. While the ERF aims to support larger humanitarian interventions, the NGO Micro Grant with a limit of US$ 50,000 per grant supports small-scale projects. Current partners include: Premiere Urgence, SFHO, Disabled Children s Care Organisation, K4IWS and Italian Consortium of Solidarity Table 4: Ongoing projects funded by the NGO Micro Grant No. Governorate Sector / Activities Beneficiaries (approx.) 1 Baghdad Health / PHC Clinics 800 IDP families 2 Anbar, Najaf, Kerbala, Babylon, Qadissiya, Muthanna, Tameem, Diyala, Salah al Din, Ninewa, Baghdad Health / Medical supplies to Emergency Room in Hospitals 1,600 individuals 3 Qadissiya Shelter / NFI 310 IDP families 4 Qadissiya Food and Shelter / Food and NFI 5 Anbar Food and Shelter / Food and NFI 460 IDP families 1,000 IDP families - 4 -

5 II. Standardisation of Non-Food Items in progress Distribution of emergency assistance to the most vulnerable populations in Iraq has suffered from inconsistencies due to lack of proper coordination of the humanitarian response. Until now, NFI coordination among humanitarian organisations has taken place in a rather informal manner to avoid duplication to the extent possible. Whereas UN agencies, IOM and larger NGOs are in a better position to secure bigger quantities on a more reliable basis when dealing with suppliers, smaller NGOs have less opportunity and therefore often base their interventions according to the availability of materials and items on the local market. In an effort to further improve the humanitarian response in Iraq, UNHCR has taken the initiative to lead the coordination of all humanitarian actors involved in the of Non-Food Items (NFIs). The work aims to develop and agree on common standards for NFIs, which include i) a mapping of who distributes what and where in order to identify gaps and overlaps 7, ii) development of a common set of vulnerability criteria, iii) standardisation of kits among agencies, and iv) prioritisation of beneficiary groups. As a vast majority of the projects funded by the ERF and the NGO Micro Grant are dealing with NFI, this work will greatly help to strengthen and improve their project implementations. The will become more equitable and transparent and better coordination will ensure that aid is distributed in a more impartial way thereby reducing or avoiding negative impact, such as creation of tension within and among the receiving communities. III. Story from the field OCHA Iraq would like to welcome human interest stories from implementing organisations as contribution to this section of the Bulletin. There are no restrictions other than the stories must be in relation to the projects that are funded under either the ERF or the NGO Micro Grant programme. Of particular interest would be stories that highlight impact, e.g. how the projects have added to improve the daily lives of the people that were targeted, or stories that e.g. highlight the daily challenges of a single family / community in the midst of the humanitarian crisis. OCHA Iraq will reserve the right to choose the story of the month among those we receive. Distribution of Winterization items in Ninewa - September 2007 by Human Rights Centre in Iraq CONTACT DETAILS Kasper Engborg Humanitarian Affairs Officer LIna Sunna NGO Focal Point (0) engborg@un.org (0) sunna@un.org MAILING ADDRESS UNOCHA Iraq Office in Amman, Ridallah Al-Badawneh Street, Um Uthaina, P.O. Box , Amman 11194, Jordan, ochairaq@un.org 7 The work will take advantage of the database that IOM already has developed on mapping of NFIs