USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 18, 23 April 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #18, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 23, 2003 Background Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated in Iraq since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Government of Iraq (GOI) manipulation of international sanctions. In 1996, the GOI accepted the U.N. Oil-for- Food Program (OFF), after which humanitarian conditions improved. Between 1991 and 1996, the U.S. Government provided nearly $794 million in humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Iraq. Since 1996, revenues from OFF have provided food, medicine, and other civilian goods to assist vulnerable Iraqis. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan noted in a letter to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), that the GOI has ordered and paid for food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies under OFF that have not yet been delivered. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 16 million Iraqis—approximately 60 percent of the total population—rely solely on food rations distributed through OFF in order to meet household needs. On March 20, 2003, Coalition forces began military operations in Iraq. As a result of the conflict, the U.N. Secretary General suspended the OFF food distribution system. On March 28, the UNSC unanimously passed resolution 1472 that allows the U.N. to administer Iraq’s OFF program for 45 days (until May 12). As the U.N. takes over the OFF program, WFP’s first priority is to contact recently active suppliers able to rapidly provide food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies. NUMBERS AT A GLANCE SOURCE Internally Displaced in Iraq 3,414 in Arbil* 6,379 in Dahuk* 54 in As Sulaymaniyah* 3,000 in Badrah 1,000 at Al Karama border with Jordan UNOHCI (April 16, 2003) UNOHCI (April 16, 2003) UNOHCI (April 16, 2003) UNOHCI (April 17, 2003) UNHCR (April 20, 2003) Refugees from Iraq UNHCR (April 22, 2003) U.S. Committee for Refugees (2001) 94 – Jordan Old caseload refugees: 203,000 – Iran 5,100 – Saudi Arabia 250,000-300,000 – Jordan 40,000 – Syria *Estimates of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in public buildings, with host families, and in open air. Baghdad and Baghdad Governorate On April 22, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it is working to reestablish the health sector coordination group, which includes non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Baghdad, in order to facilitate the delivery of suitable medical supplies and equipment to appropriate hospitals and health centers. WHO is also arranging the delivery of hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS kits from Jordan to the Baghdad blood bank, as well as providing oxygen cylinders and external fixation sets to area hospitals. Northern Iraq WHO reported on April 22 that Tikrit’s drugstores, blood bank, and tuberculosis center are intact, but have sustained some damage and lost stocks to looting. All vaccine stocks in the Salah ad Din Governorate have been damaged, and the lack of oxygen cylinders in hospitals is a continuing concern. Tikrit’s two water plants are functioning, but the sewage disposal system is not. In Mosul, most hospitals sustained little or no damage, according to WHO. Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector Food On April 22, WFP sent the first convoy of food commodities from Damascus, Syria to Mosul, Iraq. The convoy of 20 trucks containing 1,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat flour is expected to enter Iraq at the Yarubiyeh border crossing on April 23. The wheat flour is sufficient for monthly rations for more than 110,000 beneficiaries. Humanitarian Assistance According to the U.N. Office of the Iraq Program (UNOIP), $454.6 million in priority goods and supplies is in the OFF pipeline, and will be shipped to Iraq by May 12. The supplies are en route to Iraq and were processed through Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 23, 2003 160 contracts in the following sectors: food ($236.4 million); electricity ($119.3 million); and, health ($53.1 million). In addition, the Security Council Sanctions Committee has given the OFF approval to contract $19.7 million for two dredgers and spare parts that will be uses to clear silt from the entry channels and main berths at Umm Qasr, Al Basrah, and Khor El Zabair, according to UNOIP. World Vision International (WVI) provided 50 family hygiene kits to 219 refugees in the El-Hol refugee camp in northeastern Syria after discovering a need for additional supplies in the camp. Each hygiene kit contains shampoo, sanitary napkins, combs, razor blades, shaving cream, soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Population Movements WVI reported on April 23 that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has appointed WVI to be the focal point NGO for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ninawá Governorate in northern Iraq. WVI will identify and register IDPs in the governorate and oversee IDP camp management. U.S. Government Response Deployment The United States Government deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the region to assess humanitarian needs and coordinate the emergency relief effort. DART members are located in Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, Jordan, Cyprus, and Qatar and are working closely with U.N. agencies, NGOs, and in coordination with U.S. Military Civil Affairs personnel at the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC). USAID deployed staff to the region to prepare for reconstruction efforts. Pre-Positioning Prior to Coalition military activity in Iraq, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided funding to assist U.N. and NGO preparedness activities. In addition, USAID/OFDA has pre-positioned relief commodities in three warehouses in Jordan, Kuwait, and UAE. USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has supported WFP’s planning and preparation efforts to meet the emergency food needs of vulnerable populations in Iraq, including administrative costs and food procurement. The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) provided assistance to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and IOM to pre-position supplies for 600,000 potential Iraqi refugees and IDPs located at Iraq’s borders, to establish transit camps for third-country nationals (TCNs) fleeing Iraq, and to pre-position supplies for the transportation of refugees and other migrants. As part of the USG contingency plan for Iraq, USAID’s Asia and Near East Bureau (USAID/ANE) began the process for limited competitive procurement for eight contracts, including seaport management, airport management, logistics, capital construction, education, local governance, health, and staff support. Emergency Relief USAID/OFDA is supporting NGO emergency assistance activities with quick-impact projects and IDP support. USAID/FFP provided emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust and P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance to WFP for distribution to food insecure Iraqis. WFP also received a cash contribution from USAID/FFP for the purchase of commodities in the region. USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) supported IOM and Development Alternatives, Incorporated (DAI) to prepare for the implementation of the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI), which supports political stabilization and community recovery activities in post-conflict Iraq. State/PRM contributed assistance for the pre-positioning and emergency response activities of UNHCR, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and IOM. Commodity Movements On April 20, USAID/OFDA delivered 5,004 hygiene kits to the American Refugee Committee to assist 37,530 vulnerable people in Al Basrah. On April 22, USAID/OFDA provided U.S. Marine Expeditionary Forces with one medical kit to be used in Al Kut. Each medical kit provides supplies to 0meet the health needs of 10,000 people for three months. USAID/OFDA loaned three medical kits to British Civil Affairs forces, and contributed one medical kit to the Governate Health Authority and local hospitals in Dhi Qar, respectively. Earlier in the conflict, USAID/OFDA provided 1,080 hygiene kits to UNHCR to assist 8,100 beneficiaries. Reconstruction To date, USAID/ANE provided assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq. USAID/ANE supported the United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF) and WHO for health, education, and water and sanitation needs, Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) to assess and manage the Umm Qasr port, Creative Associates International to address education issues, the Research Triangle Institute to pursue local governance initiatives, and the Air Force Contract Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 23, 2003 Augmentation Program (AFCAP) to provide logistical support to all USAID/ANE operations. USAID/ANE also supported Bechtel National, Incorporated for emergency infrastructure repair and rehabilitation. Other Donor and International Organization Assistance* DONOR US $ (MILLIONS) DATE (2003) ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT Australia $62.5 April 22 100,000 MT of wheat, U.N. agencies, ICRC, and NGOs CIDA $67.5 March 26 U.N. agencies, international organizations (IOs), NGOs, CARE Canada for water and sanitation, food, shelter, and health Canada $3.8 ----- Response to U.N. Preparedness Measures Appeal China March 27 Tents Republic of $2.75 April 3 Blankets, sleeping bags, flour, sugar, water purification Croatia disinfectants European $109.8 April 22 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs Commission Finland $1.7 March 25 ICRC and UN OCHA France $10.7 Humanitarian Assistance Germany $11.77 April 8 UNHCR and ICRC India $20 April 4 WFP and U.N. Consolidated Appeal Ireland $55.3 April 15 U.N. agencies and NGOs for humanitarian assistance Japan $100 April 9 Humanitarian Assistance Korea $10 April 3 U.N. agencies and Korean NGOs Kuwait March 24 45,000 meals/day and an emergency medical center Netherlands $19.6 April 2 U.N. Consolidated Appeal and ICRC New Zealand $3.3 March 20 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs for humanitarian relief Norway $21.6 March 20 NGOs for humanitarian assistance Russia March 22-23 150 MT humanitarian supplies for refugee preparation in Iran Spain $58.6 April 22 U.N. agencies, bilateral refugee assistance, and NGOs Sweden $5.4 March 27 Switzerland $21.5 April 16 ICRC Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, nonfood items United $330 March 24 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs – food, health kits, water units, Kingdom winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance OTHER DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE**....................................................................................$ 920.1 MILLION *This compilation was drawn from donor government web sites and may represent pledged or committed funding. The list may not be comprehensive. ** This total is approximate as the value of donated commodities is not available in some cases. Public Donation Information The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash donations to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for their activities in the Gulf can be found in the “How Can I Help” section at [www.usaid.gov/iraq]. USAID encourages cash donations because they: allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance. General information on making donations and volunteering can be found at: o USAID: www.usaid.gov/iraq -> “How Can I Help?” o The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or 703-276-1914 o InterAction: www.interaction.org -> “Guide to Appropriate Giving” o Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.org. *Fact Sheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 23, 2003 U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ...........................................................................................................................................$49,936,364 Administrative Costs Administrative $3,433,209 AirServ Logistics Country-wide $2,151,585 The Cuny Center Research studies Country-wide $40,260 IDA Health Country-wide $711,850 IMC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $4,000,000 IMC Capacity building Country-wide $202,900 InterAction Coordination Country-wide $92,860 IOM IDP programs Country-wide $5,000,000 IRC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000 Logistics Commodity pre-positioning and DART support Country-wide $8,720,569 Mercy Corps Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000 NGOs Cooperative agreements Country-wide $4,000,000 SCF/US Quick-impact projects Country-wide $4,000,000 SCF/US NGO Consortium Country-wide $883,131 UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Country-wide $2,000,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Country-wide $200,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Country-wide $1,000,000 WFP Logistics and pre-positioning of food Country-wide $5,000,000 World Vision Quick-impact projects Country-wide $2,500,000 USAID/FFP ..............................................................................................................................................$430,000,000 WFP Pre-positioning funding $55,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 161,000 MT $84,000,000 P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 105,000 MT $91,000,000 WFP Regional Purchase $200,000,000 USAID/OTI ..................................................................................................................................................$2,333,612 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Country-wide $1,700,000 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Country-wide $473,253 Internews Media Country-wide $160,359 STATE/PRM..............................................................................................................................................$36,630,000 UNHCR Emergency refugee assistance $21,000,000 ICRC Emergency assistance $10,000,000 IFRC Emergency assistance $3,000,000 IOM TCN – transportation assistance $2,630,000 RECONSTRUCTION USAID/ANE ..............................................................................................................................................$78,400,000 AFCAP Logistics $4,000,000 Bechtel Capital Construction $34,600,000 IRG Reconstruction Support $7,100,000 RTI Local Governance $7,900,000 CAII Education $1,000,000 UNICEF Health, Education $9,000,000 WHO Health $10,000,000 SSA Port Management $4,800,000 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003....................................................................... $560,669,976 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 ........................................................................ $36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003......................................................... $597,299,976