USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 12, 15 April 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #12, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 15, 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 • 187,719 in Arbil* • 48,665 in Dahuk* • 29,439 in As Sulaymaniyah* • 30,000 in Badrah UNOHCI (April 13, 2003) UNOHCI (April 13, 2003) UNOHCI (April 13, 2003) UNHCR (April 12, 2003) Refugees from Iraq Old caseload refugees: • 203,000 – Iran • 5,100 – Saudi Arabia • 250,000-300,000 – Jordan • 40,000 – Syria U.S. Committee for Refugees (2001) *Estimates of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in public buildings, with host families, and in open air. Baghdad and Baghdad Governorate • The International Com mittee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on April 15 reported that ICRC engineers and technicians are working to repair damaged pipes at Sabaa Nissan water station, which provides water for the Rusafa area east of the Tigris River. ICRC is also working at the Qanat raw water-pumping station, which provides water to northern neighborhoods of Baghdad. ICRC has been providing potable water via tanker truck to these areas. • The non-governmental organization (NGO) CARE is working at Baghdad’s largest hospital, Yarmuk General, to repair generators and provide cleaning supplies. CARE reported on April 15 that critical needs in the city include law and order and the protection of critical public assets such as hospitals, warehouses of relief supplies, and public buildings. CA RE also reported diminishing supplies of bread and kerosene. • The Office of the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI) reported that WFP has surveyed two Ministry of Trade (MOT) warehouses in Baghdad and both have been completely looted. Al Basrah Governorate • On April 15, UNOHCI reported that preliminary findings of WFP assessments of the Public Distribution System (PDS) facilities in Al Basrah city indicate that one of the main warehouses in Al Basrah, called El-Hartha, is in good condition, contains more than 3,000 metric tons (MT) of mixed commodities. The warehouse is under the protection of Coalition Forces. The two other main warehouses are empty and in good condition. All nine mills in Al Basrah city are intact, in good working order, and have been serving the milling needs of the entire governorate. The milling capacity is 1,600 MT per day. • According to WFP, all 1,380 food agents in Al Basrah city are in place and are ready to complete an accelerated food distribution cycle for August. • The Kuwaiti Society for Joint Relief will send 30 trucks containing bottled water to Umm Qasr, Az Zubayr, Al Faw, and Al Basrah during the coming week. The society delivered 472,000 bottles of potable water and 201,000 meals to southern Iraqi sities during the week of April 8. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 15, 2003 Umm Qasr • The U.S. Government’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) reported that before the current conflict, food agents collected food from Al Basrah to serve 4,108 families (32,364 people, including 638 children aged less than one year) in Umm Qasr. • Since Coalition forces assumed control of Umm Qasr on April 12, British Coalition forces have hired 30 Iraqi truck drivers to fill water tankers from a Kuwaiti water pipeline and deliver potable water to residents in Umm Qasr. • The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is in discussions with Coalition forces to take over the water distribution system in Umm Qasr in the near future. According to the DART, UNICEF will provide water to residents of Umm Qasr and surrounding towns, plans to fill two 10 cubic-meter water bladders located in the town’s main hospital, and repair two pipelines that carry non-potable water from Al Basrah to Umm Qasr. Northern Iraq • A U.N. security assessment team visited Dahuk, As Sulaymaniyah, and Arbil on April 15 and reported “positive findings.” The U.N. flight carrying returning international staff is delayed, pending air corridor clearance from Coalition forces. • UNOHCI reported on April 15 that WFP wheat flour distributions continue. WFP distributed approximately 3,522 MT of wheat flour to assist 384,000 beneficiaries in northern Iraq since April 6. • The main power supply to Mosul continues to be interrupted, and the Department of Electricity Authority (DEA) technicians are working to repair the lines from Dahuk to Mosul dam, which is controlled by Iraqi Kurdish forces. The main water systems and health facilities receive priority power distributions, according to UNOHCI. • According to UNOHCI on April 15, World Health Organization (WHO) national staff and ICRC visited Kirkuk. According to WHO, three hospitals that were partially looted are working at 25 percent capacity. All health centers, the main health warehouses, and the Directorate of Health were also partially looted. The City Hospital (formerly called Saddam Hospital) was mostly undamaged, but 140 of 240 staff have left the hospital. WFP reported that transit warehouses in Kirkuk have been completely looted. ICRC reported that emergency water and generator power supplies are available. • UNOHCI reported on April 15 that the Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs gave an International Medical Corps (IMC) representative permission during April 12-13 to cross the border into Iraq. IMC will conduct a one-week assessment of humanitarian needs in northern Iraq. The IMC border crossing is the first crossing of an NGO via Silopi since the beginning of the conflict. Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector Displaced Populations • On April 15, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that third country nationals (TCNs) fleeing into Jordan from Iraq continue to arrive at the Karama border crossing. During the past two days, 108 people have arrived including 40 Yemenis, 15 Egyptians, and 12 Somalis. IOM officials contacted the Yemeni embassy in Jordan, which has assumed responsibility for the Yemeni TCNs. Since the beginning of the war, 917 TCNs have fled into Jordan from Iraq and IOM has assisted 684 to return home. According to IOM, 233 people reside in the Ruweished transit camp run by the Jordanian Red Crescent, with support from IOM, the IFRC, and NGOs. • On April 14, staff from IOM’s Tehran office and representatives of the Iranian immigration department, the Office of the U.N. Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), WFP, UNICEF, WHO, the U.N. Developm ent Program (UNDP), the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the U.N. Joint Logistics Cell (UNJLC), and Doctors without Borders (MSF) carried out an assessment of Badrah town located 16 kilometers from the Iranian border. Betw een 2,500 and 3,000 IDPs remain in the town, which has a population of 6,000 people. Other IDPs, initially numbering between 15,000 and 30,000, have returned to homes in Baghdad. The IOM team noted that the town has food supplies that will last until the end of May. The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also initially reported that five police officers have returned to Badrah and continuing needs exist for potable water, food, and medicines. Iranian authorities are providing ice, medicines, and other relief supplies to Badrah to assist IDPs and residents until power is restored. • Since April 11, 54 TCNs have arrived in Syria and are receiving assistance from IOM. Education • On April 15, UNICEF noted that all schools in the north have reopened, classes have resumed, and UNICEF has recommenced school health programs. However, schools in southern and central Iraq remain closed. Health • On April 15, WHO reported that seven international WHO staff plan to enter Arbil from Larnaca, Cyprus to re- establish support for activities in the three northern governorates, pending instructions from the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. WHO has positioned a six-person team in Amman, Jordan and will have a six-person team in Kuwait April 16. WHO has also placed staff in Iran and Syria on standby. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 15, 2003 U.S. Government Response Deployment • The United States Government deployed a 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). • On April 13, the DART deployed a two-person team to Baghdad to assess the health and pharmaceutical situation in hospitals and health clinics throughout the city. 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. • The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) provided assistance to 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 TCNs fleeing Iraq, and to pre-position supplies for the transportation of refugees and other migrants. Emergency Relief • USAID/OFDA is supporting NGO emergency assistance activities with quick -impact projects and IDP support. • USAID/OFDA obligated more than $2.5 million for administrative and travel costs on April 10 that have been in progress for during the past few months. • USAID/FFP provided emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust to WFP to meet the food needs of vulnerable Iraqis. USAID/FFP also provided P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance to WFP for distribution to food insecure Iraqis and cash to WFP 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, ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and IOM. Reconstruction • To date, USAID’s Bureau for Asia and the Near East (USAID/ANE) provided assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq. USAID/ANE supported the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO for health, education, and water and sanitation needs, and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) to assess and manage the Umm Qasr port. • USAID/ANE funded an initial $1 million, 12-month contract to Creative Associates International Inc. (CAII) to address immediate educational needs and promote participation of the Iraqi people in a sustainable, decentralized educational system. The U.S. Government’s goal is to ensure that children are prepared for the new school year beginning in September 2003.1 • USAID/ANE also funded an initial $7.9 million award to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to promote Iraqi participation in Iraq’s post-conflict reconstruction. Providing the people of Iraq, and in particular women, the opportunity to participate in public decision-making and stimulate local initiatives is a key component of the U.S. Government’s assistance program for Iraq. Under the USAID contract, RTI will provide technical assistance to strengthen local administrations and civic institutions. • USAID/ANE finalized an initial $4 million interagency agreement with the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program (AFCAP) to provide logistical support to all USAID/ANE sectors of operation. 1 New funding information is underlined. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 15, 2003 Other Donor and International Organization Assistance* • On April 15, the Government of Ireland released details regarding $5.3 million in humanitarian relief to Iraq. The GOI allocated approximately $2.7 million to the Red Cross and UNICEF. The balance of the GOI contribution will be disributed to NGOs including Concern, GOAL, and Trócaire, as well as to WFP and UNOCHA. [Note: Previous USG fact sheets indicated that the GOI contribution to assistance in Iraq totalled more than $16 million. This total incorrectly included funding to UNICEF, UNHCR, and UNOCHA that is not specifically allocated for Iraq.] US $ DONOR DATE (MILLIONS ) ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT (2003) Australia $60 April 12 100,000 MT of wheat and distribution costs, U.N. Agencies and ICRC, planning and preparation funding, reconstruction 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 Commission $22.5 April 9 ICRC, UNICEF, CARE, Première Urgence, and OCHA for medical, water and sanitation, health, and coordination. 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 $20.0 March 27 Refugee assistance in Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, NFIs 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** .................................................................................................. $713 MILLION *This compilation was drawn from ReliefWeb and 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 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 assi stance. • 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. *Factsheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet – April 15, 2003 U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN AND RECONST RUCTION ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ............................................................................................................................................................$44,454,845 Administrative CostsAdministrative $2,912,519 AirServ Logis tics 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 $6,300,000 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 preposition of food Country-wide $5,000,000 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 ITI Country-wide $1,700,000 DAI ITI 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 ...............................................................................................................................................................$43,800,000 AFCAP Logistics $4,000,000 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................................................................................$520,588,457 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.................................................................................$36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003................................................................$557,218,457