USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 44, 30 May 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #44, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 30, 2003 Current Humanitarian Situation (Updated Daily) Regional Updates Baghdad and Central Iraq On May 29, the railroad system between Baghdad and Mosul was used for the first time for mail delivery. In order to mitigate international mail delivery issues, negotiations are underway with Jordan and Kuwait to act as surrogates for Iraq. The Ministry of Trade (MOT) in Baghdad has announced the details of the June Public Distribution System (PDS) ration, but due to shortages of milk powder, salt, and weaning cereal these items will not be provided in June. The announced ration for June is as follows: wheat flour (9 kg.); rice (3 kg.); pulses (0.5 kg.); vegetable oil (1.25 kg.); sugar (2 kg.); tea (0.2 kg.); infant formula (3.6 kg.); detergent (0.5 kg.); and soap (0.25 kg.). Northern Iraq According to the Coalition Joint Task Force (CJTF), a bumper crop of wheat is expected in the Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah governorates during this year’s harvest. An estimated 1.05 million metric tons (MT) are expected to be harvested, which is an increase from the 720,000 MT harvested in 2002. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division has formed a committee to manage and support the harvest, which is comprised of officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, Oil, and the Central Bank. The committee issued a letter to the Ministry of Oil requesting the provision of motor oil and gasoline for the 2,500 operating combines to be used in the harvest throughout the northern three governorates. The CJTF reported that the PDS distribution is set to begin on or around June 1. First flour and sugar will be distributed in Mosul, followed by other food basket commodities. The second PDS distribution of additional ration items will be made when the World Food Program (WFP) obtains sufficient quantities to undertake a full distribution. All flour distributed through the PDS in June will be from WFP imported stocks. Wheat from Iraqi stocks and the coming harvest will begin being milled in June for the July PDS distribution. The MOT made a television announcement that explained the June distribution and addressed the fraudulent list of 40 relief items that was incorrectly reported as being the expected list of ration items to be distributed by WFP in June. The announcement reiterated that the list was not an official or approved list. According to members of the USG Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), the old Iraqi Dinar, (also known as the Swiss Dinar), the currency used in the Kurdish-controlled regions of Iraq, has continued to appreciate against the U.S. Dollar, which has become problematic for the budgets of local families and international agencies. In January, the Dinar reached 18:1 USD, and on May 29, the exchange rates stood at 4.06:1 USD. Southern Iraq The Thor Mariner departed the Umm Qasr port at 0300 hours on May 30 after completing discharge on May 29, and was the first time a ship left Umm Qasr port under darkness. Also on May 30, the M/V Irazu will be completely off-loaded and is expected to depart, and subsequently the Thor Sky is expected to arrive. The Sea Express is scheduled to berth on May 30 but may be delayed because of the arrival of the Thor Sky. During a coordination meeting between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Office of the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI), participants were alerted to the presence of several intersections between Al Basrah and An Nasiriyah, and between Al Basrah and Kuwait, where unexploded ordnance (UXO) line the road and medians. UNOHCI warned against leaving the tarmac along these roads. UNICEF reported the delivery of 20 pallets of therapeutic milk to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Al Basrah on May 27, which were distributed by one hospital director to hospital staff as payment-in-kind. Western Iraq According to the CJTF, employees at the Al Qa’im water treatment plant report that the plant is operating at full capacity. All four pumps are operational, but only two are being utilized to meet the demand identified. Each pump produces 2,500 cubic meters of potable water per hour. The water treatment plant supplies water to Sadah, Ubeidi, Akashad, and the super phosphate plant. The employees stated, however, that they only had enough water treatment supplies to treat the water for another 10 to 20 days, after which time the plant would need chlorine from Al Hillah or Hindya and aluminum sulfate from Mosul or Mishraq. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 Sector Updates Displaced Populations On May 29, two members of the DART Abuse Prevention Unit (APU) traveled to Kirkuk for a meeting on the internally displaced persons (IDP) situation in northern Iraq. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Qandil, TODAV, MedAir, Mine Awareness Group (MAG), Ministry of Humanitarianism and Cooperation, Kurdish Economic Development Association, Kurdish Children Nest, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Kurdish Human Rights Watch, Counterpart International, and Coalition Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC) representatives from Kirkuk and Arbil attended. At the IDP meeting, the U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reported that 4,000 families want to return to Kirkuk, and 2,000 families within 90 days. Their primary concern will be shelter. IOM reported they are working with the Norwegian Refugee Council to register the IDPs and have started to train local staff for the registration initiative, which begins on June 2. Also at the IDP meeting, CMOC reported that there are 650 people living in the Kirkuk sports stadium: 13 families from As Sulaymaniyah, 38 from Chamchamal, 36 from Kirkuk, 11 from Arbil, 22 from Tikrit, and 3 from Ar Ramadi. CMOC also reported that 90 percent of IDPs in Kirkuk are returnees, and most claim they left their houses on their own initiative. However, MedAir claims returnees from Faluja and Tikrit were intimidated or forced to leave their homes. CMOC reported on their quick assessment of Kirkuk town at the May 29 IDP meeting. The assessment determined that more than 3,500 people live in abandoned housing complexes around Kirkuk. IDPs are living in “sustainable yet substandard” conditions. Coalition forces have been broadcasting radio messages asking IDPs not to return to Kirkuk until there is a comprehensive plan in place. The radio address explains there are no jobs, houses, or sufficient food or sanitation resources available. Food Once 135,000 MT of wheat in Syria is released, (pending bureaucratic processing), WFP plans to dispatch 60,000 MT to Iraq in bulk, and mill the balance in Syria. WFP received word that the budget for purchasing the Iraqi wheat harvest has been approved and that it may be signed by the U.N. Office of the Iraq Program (OIP) on May 30. The budget provides enough funding to allow the MOT to purchase 1.25 million MT of wheat ($152 million), which includes $131 million to purchase the wheat at $105 per MT, with a discount for lower grades received. It also includes $21 million in WFP's associated costs (transport, milling, direct, and indirect costs). OIP has also approved $236 million of WFP's budget for the associated costs of milling and distributing the Oil-for-Food (OFF) commodities pursuant to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1472. This budget is commensurate with the tonnage associated with the OFF and as more OFF contracts are re-negotiated, more money will be released to pay for the associated costs. The amount of the harvest to be purchased is slightly lower than the estimated total harvest, due to considerations of loss and commodities kept for livestock or seed. The MOT will soon announce the location of approximately 49 purchasing points, where farmers will be provided with a receipt. Once farmers bring the entire amount they plan to sell, MOT will issue a check that will be redeemable at designated Rafadeen or Rashid banks in each governorate. Humanitarian Demining According to the Office of the Coalition Provisional Authority (OCPA), humanitarian de-mining operations are continuing in southern and central Iraq, and during the past five days, RONCO Consulting Corporation has removed 206 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines from a single minefield. According to UNOHCI, there are now between 10-15 mine action coordination teams in Al Basrah carrying out the identification, marking, and transportation of UXO to be destroyed. A number of organizations including UNICEF, MAG, Save the Children, War Child, UNOPS, and local groups continue mine action activities such as mine education, training volunteers, and mine clearance. UNOHCI reported that between May 1 and 21, these organizations have permanently marked 16 minefields covering 11 villages, in an area of 1,323,790 square miles in Dahuk, As Sulaymaniyah, and Arbil Governorates. Current Reconstruction Situation (Updated Daily) Regional Updates Baghdad and Central Iraq OCPA reported on May 29 that 16 of 36 communications facilities in Baghdad are damaged, and 11 are critical to establishing landline communications. OCPA public service announcements have been released in Baghdad asking citizens not to fire on any planes flying into Baghdad International Airport. According to the CJTF, garbage collection in the central sector of Baghdad is still problematic due to unserviceable trucks, lack of pay for sanitation workers, lack of necessary equipment or the money to rent Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 equipment, and the unavailability of 14 sanitation trucks which have been commandeered by former sanitation workers. OCPA reported that power generation continues to improve; a total of over 3,100 megawatts (MW) was produced nationally and 1,150 MW in Baghdad, which is more than 46 percent of required demand and the highest amount of power delivered to Baghdad since the conflict ended. The majority of the city received power at a rate of 2 hours of power every 6 hours. Power is approaching the goal of 3 hours on and 3 off, with some sections of the city reporting much more than 12 hours of power in the last day. It is estimated that this number will remain relatively constant until the 400 kilovolts (kv) lines are repaired north of Baghdad. Southern Iraq A solid waste cleanup campaign is being coordinated in Al Basrah to rid the city of the piles of garbage and rodents that exist in the streets and to initiate regular solid waste collection services. Coalition authorities and the Al Basrah Municipal Government are assisting in the development of the campaign, which aims to empower the Al Basrah municipality to initiate waste collection services, draw Al Basrah public works employees back to work, inform and equip the sanitation workers, retrieve looted equipment and missing vehicles, and provide training for the proper disposal and solid waste items. Outstanding issues to be resolved include the determination of an appropriate landfill site at the outer limits of the city and security when attempting to reclaim stolen or looted equipment and vehicles. The initial concentration of the cleanup campaign will be on key locations such as markets, hospitals, and hotels. USAID’s private sector partner, Bechtel, is working to supply replacement of water treatment systems to four generating stations in the Al Basrah region. Without the electrical generation that these plants produce, water service to the people of Iraq will be impaired. These water treatment systems (reverse osmosis systems, potable water, and demineralization systems) are required to support continued plant operations and the supply of electrical energy to the region and the national electrical grid. USAID’s local governance private sector partner, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), deployed an information technology team to Al Basrah to install existing office equipment, conduct an in-depth needs review of the project office currently under construction, and to prepare for the installation of satellites and other equipment. Sector Updates Infrastructure The USAID ports technical advisor, Bechtel, OCPA, and the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) are working together on the salvaging of sunken vessels in the Umm Qasr Port area. U.S. Government Response (New information is underlined) Emergency Relief USAID/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is supporting U.N. and NGO emergency assistance activities through quick-impact projects and internally displaced persons (IDP) support. USAID/OFDA supports projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security, health, logistics, nutrition, shelter, and water and sanitation. USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) is providing emergency food commodities through the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust (BEHT) 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/Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is supporting the implementation of the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI). The ITI program supports the process of political stabilization and community recovery in post-conflict Iraq by providing small grants designed to build confidence among Iraq's diverse ethnic groups, increase citizen participation in decision-making, and rapidly respond to community needs, while establishing and building trust for long term reconstruction efforts. The ITI program is implemented through Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In addition, USAID/OTI works with the Broadcasting Board of Governors to enhance the capacity of Radio SAWA to broadcast humanitarian and reconstruction reporting. The Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) contributed assistance for the pre-positioning and emergency response activities of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Reconstruction In addition to the emergency relief assistance provided through the DART by USAID and the Department of State, USAID’s Asia and Near East Bureau (USAID/ANE) has provided assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq in a broad range of sectors. USAID supports reconstruction projects in education, governance, health, infrastructure, and logistics. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 Background Since 1991, the Iraqi population has subsisted on the brink of a humanitarian disaster due to the lingering effects of war, sanctions, and drought. Between 1991 and 1996, the U.S. Government provided nearly $794 million in humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in northern Iraq. In 1996, the Government of Iraq accepted the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program (OFF), after which humanitarian conditions improved. Revenues from the OFF program provided food, medicine, and other civilian goods to assist vulnerable Iraqis through the Public Distribution System. However, widespread corruption by Iraqi officials limited the effectiveness of the OFF program. On March 20, 2003, Coalition forces began military operations in Iraq. On May 1, 2003, 42 days after the conflict began, U.S. President George W. Bush announced that combat operations in Iraq have ended. Although the recent conflict did not result in the large-scale humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement many had envisioned, the conflict and subsequent disorder has exacerbated the Iraqi population's vulnerable circumstances. In March 2003, the United States Government deployed a multi-agency Disaster Assistance Response Team to the region to assess and respond to humanitarian needs and to help coordinate the emergency relief effort. In Iraq, the DART has established offices in Al Basrah, Arbil, Baghdad, and Al Hillah. In addition, DART members are located in Kuwait and Cyprus, and are working closely with U.N. agencies, NGOs, and in coordination with U.S. Military Civil Affairs personnel. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 Other Donor and International Organization Assistance* DONOR US $ (MILLIONS) DATE (2003) ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT Australia $64.9 April 29 U.N. agencies, ICRC, and NGOs Austria $1.1 April 1 UNICEF Bangladesh $2 April 4 Food Assistance Belgium $4.4 April 29 ICRC, UNICEF Canada $74.6 March 26 WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, OCHA, ICRC, NGOs China March 27 Tents Czech Republic $41 May 22 UNHCR, WFP, and assistance for refugees, health, education, and reconstruction activities Croatia $2.8 May 2 Blankets, sleeping bags, flour, sugar, water purification disinfectants European $117.7 April 22 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs Commission Finland $5.13 March 25 ICRC, UN OCHA, WFP France $10.7 UNICEF, WFP, NGOs Germany $50 May 5 UNHCR, WFP, ICRC Greece $4.6 May 5 UNHCR, ICRC, NGOs Iceland $3.75 April 8 ICRC, NGOs, UNCHR, WFP India $20 April 4 WFP and U.N. Consolidated Appeal Ireland $5.1 March 31 U.N. agencies and NGOs for humanitarian assistance Japan $212 May 1 U.N. Agencies, NGOs, Bilateral Assistance Korea $10 April 3 U.N. agencies and Korean NGOs Kuwait $30 March 14 UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, ICRC Netherlands $20.5 April 2 U.N. Consolidated Appeal and ICRC New Zealand $2.3 April 22 U.N. agencies including WFP, IOs, and NGOs Spain $56.7 April 22 U.N. agencies, bilateral refugee assistance, and NGOs Sweden $38 April 11 OCHA, UNICEF, ICRC, IFRC Switzerland $21.9 April 16 ICRC, UNCHR, IOM, IFRC, OCHA Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, nonfood items United $382 April 29 U.N. agencies including WFP, IOs, and NGOs – food, health kits, Kingdom water units, winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance OTHER DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** ............................................................................................$1,185 MILLION *This compilation was drawn from Department of State tracking of donor government 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. *Additional Fact Sheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 U.S. Government Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq* Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ...........................................................................................................................................$51,601,793 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $3,775,097 AirServ Logistics Countrywide $2,151,585 The Cuny Center Research studies Countrywide $40,260 International Dispensary Association Health Countrywide $711,850 InterAction Coordination Kuwait City $92,860 IOM IDP programs Countrywide $5,000,000 IMC Capacity building Countrywide $202,900 Logistics Commodities and DART support Countrywide $8,044,110 SCF/US NGO Consortium Countrywide $883,131 UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 UN OCHA Coordination and Information Countrywide $1,200,000 WFP Logistics and pre-positioning of food Countrywide $5,000,000 Cooperative Agreements IMC Quick-impact projects: Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 Health Al Basrah, Maysan, Wasit, Kirkuk Health, Water/Sanitation An Nasiriyah IRC Quick-impact projects: Health, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $3,000,000 Mercy Corps Quick-impact projects: Health, Non- Food Items, Shelter, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $3,000,000 Water/Sanitation Kirkuk Water/Sanitation Diyala Water/Sanitation Wasit Water/Sanitation Al Basrah SCF/US Quick-impact projects: Food Security, Health, Shelter, Nutrition, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 Nutrition Mosul Health, Transportation Mosul Water/Sanitation Al Basrah Health Mosul Health Baghdad Nutrition Baghdad Water/Sanitation, Health Al Basrah IDP Support Al Basrah World Vision Quick-impact projects: Health, Logistics, Non-Food Items Countrywide $2,500,000 Water/Sanitation Al Anbar Hospital Rehabilitation Al Anbar CARE Quick-impact projects Countrywide $4,000,000 Water System Rehabilitation Al Anbar Blankets, Hygiene Kits Baghdad USAID/FFP ..............................................................................................................................................$389,333,000 WFP Operations Countrywide $55,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 81,500 MT Countrywide $45,633,000 WFP P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 105,000 MT Countrywide $88,700,000 WFP Regional Purchase – 330,000 MT Countrywide $200,000,000 Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 30, 2003 Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF (cont.) USAID/OTI ..................................................................................................................................................$5,442,344 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $708,732 IOM Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide, Umm Qasr $1,700,000 DAI Iraq Transition Initiative Countrywide, Baghdad, Mosul, Umm Qasr $2,473,253 Internews Media Countrywide $160,359 SAWA Media Countrywide $400,000 STATE/PRM..............................................................................................................................................$36,630,000 UNHCR Emergency assistance Countrywide $21,000,000 ICRC Emergency assistance Countrywide $10,000,000 IFRC Emergency assistance Countrywide $3,000,000 IOM TCN – transportation assistance Countrywide $2,630,000 RECONSTRUCTION USAID/ANE ..............................................................................................................................................$97,700,000 ABT Health Countrywide $10,000,000 AFCAP Logistics Countrywide $8,000,000 Bechtel Capital Construction Countrywide, Mosul, Arbil, Umm Qasr, Baghdad, Al Basrah $34,600,000 IRG Reconstruction Support Countrywide $9,800,000 RTI Local Governance Countrywide, Al Basrah, Baghdad $8,900,000 CAII Education Countrywide, Al Basrah $1,000,000 UNICEF Health, Water and Sanitation Countrywide $8,000,000 UNICEF Education Countrywide $1,000,000 UNESCO Textbook Printing Countrywide $1,000,000 WHO Health Countrywide, Mosul, Baghdad $10,000,000 SSA Port Management Umm Qasr $2,900,000 SkyLink Logistics Baghdad $2,500,000 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 .......................................................................$544,077,137 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 ........................................................................$36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.........................................................$580,707,137 *Figures in funding sheet are subject to change and do not represent a final official accounting of USG obligations.