USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 20, 25 April 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #20, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 25, 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 • 94 – Jordan Old caseload refugees: • 203,000 – Iran • 5,100 – Saudi Arabia • 250,000-300,000 – Jordan • 40,000 – Syria UNHCR (April 22, 2003) U.S. Committee for Refugees (2001) *Estimates of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in public buildings, with host families, and in open air. Northern Iraq • According to an April 24 U.N. Office for the Humanitarian Coordination for Iraq (UNOCHI) report, local authorities and humanitarian organizations in Dahuk organized a 200-vehicle aid convoy to Mosul, carrying food, medicine, water treatment items, and other emergency items. • According to UNOCHI, to date, the U.N. has distributed more than 12,150 metric tons (MTs) of wheat flour and pulses to more than 1 million beneficiaries in the three northern governates of Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah. Western Iraq • On April 25, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that road conditions between Baghdad and Jordan are calm and stable. Public transportation rates from Baghdad to the Karam a border crossing have decreased significantly in recent days. However, isolated incidents of highway robbery have been reported east of Ar Rutbah. Southern Iraq • UNSECOORD, the U.N. agency responsible for security of U.N. employees, conducted a security assessment in Al Basrah on April 24. Based on a positive security environment, WFP will send a humanitarian team to Al Basrah on April 26. Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector Food • On April 24, the U.N. Security Council approved an extension of WFP's management of the Oil-for-Food program from May 12 until June 3. This will provide WFP and vendors with three additional weeks to access additional pre- existing contracts commodities before the mandate expires. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 25, 2003 • On April 24, a nine-truck WFP convoy crossed into Iraq from Jordan, carrying 214 MT of wheat flour for Baghdad. This is the first WFP convoy along this route since a 50-truck convoy came under fire in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi on April 19. WFP is planning frequent convoys along this route in order to build up a large stock in Baghdad and other major urban centers. • The Yellow Rose, carrying 28,500 MT of Emerson Trust wheat, is scheduled to arrive in Mersin, Turkey on April 25. Once this commodity is milled into wheat flour, WFP plans to program it prim arily in Mosul and Kirkuk. The Free Atlas, also carrying 28,500 MT of Emerson Trust wheat, is scheduled to arrive in Al Aqabah on or about April 29. • On April 25, WFP opened its fourth corridor for humanitarian supplies into Iraq when more than 2,700 MTs of wheat flour, carried on 54 trucks, crossed the Syrian border at the Yaroubia border post for the town of Mosul. In addition to the new corridor through Syria, WFP emergency food assistance also arrives from Turkey, Iran, and Jordan. Water/Sanitation • CARE and ICRC plan to jointly assess the water and sanitation situation throughout the 15 central and southern governorates of Iraq over the next two weeks. The CARE/ICRC assessments are expected to take three weeks to complete once started. Health • According to an April 24 report, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already begun work to reestablish health systems in Mosul and Kirkuk, as well as urban centers throughout the country. WHO and the Iraqi Department of Health epidemiologists are concentrating their efforts on reestablishing the country’s capacity to analyze blood samples and other specimens. Humanitarian Assistance • According to the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Operations Summary of April 23, some International Organizations (IOs) and NGOs are categorizing Iraq as a political rather than a humanitarian emergency. These organizations are beginning to re-examine their position and weigh the requirements against other emergencies where there continue to be overwhelming humanitarian needs. • A preparatory team from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) will travel to Baghdad early next week to assess the humanitarian situation and examine the possibility of opening an ECHO office in Baghdad. Population Movements • In a statement on April 25, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicated that the organization is shifting its primary focus from contingency preparations for a potential refugee influx into neighboring countries to preparations for the return of refugees to Iraq. UNHCR’s preliminary repatriation and reintegration plan estimates more than 500,000 refugees will return to Iraq. 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). A portion of the DART has deployed to Arbil, and other DART members are preparing to establish an office in southern Iraq. • USAID deployed staff to the region to prepare for reconstruction efforts. Several members of the USAID Reconstruction Team are now co-located with the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) in Baghdad. 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) 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. • State/PRM contributed assistance for the pre-positioning and emergency response activities of UNHCR, ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and IOM. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 25, 2003 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 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* US $ DONOR (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 disinfectants Croatia 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 Greece $4.3 April 4 U.N. agencies and NGOs 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 Kingdom $330 March 24 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs – food, health kits, water units, winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance OTHER DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** .....................................................................................................$ 924.4 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 25, 2003 U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN AND RECONST RUCTION ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ............................................................................................................................................................$49,224,514 Administrative CostsAdministrative $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 Commodities and DART support Country-wide $8,008,719 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 $8,000,000 UNICEF Education $1,000,000 WHO Health $10,000,000 SSA Port Management $4,800,000 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003................................................................................$559,958,126 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.................................................................................$36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003................................................................$596,588,126