USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 35, 16 May 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #35, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 16, 2003 Current Situation (Updated Daily) Sector Updates Abuse Prevention In Al-Amarah, southern Iraq, the U.S. Government Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)/Abuse Prevention Unit (APU) reported that the judicial system is being rebuilt. Local judges and court staff had taken most of the important documents home to protect them. The DART/APU collected a few logbooks at a prison as samples and will turn them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Al Basrah for further investigation. The DART/APU organized the translation of an incident report form into Arabic and Kurdish designed to gather and analyze information about human rights abuses. This form will be distributed to local human rights groups and other interested parties, as a tool to assist in documenting abuses. Members of the DART/APU, along with a representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, visited the main Mosul courthouse to investigate the condition of legal documents and to confirm the extent of looting. Much of the courthouse was looted and damaged and many of the documents were incinerated during the looting. Capacity-Building A May 15 report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced that the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has become the first national institution in the country to elect post- war leadership. IRCS representatives from 17 branches chose a five-member transitional executive board to lead the society for the next six months. Education According to a May 16 report from the U.N. Office for the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (UN OHCI), measures have been taken to ensure that students can take their exams on time and not lose a whole school year due to the conflict. UN OHCI is also developing a long-term education strategy that will focus on returning the Iraqi educational system to internationally satisfactory levels. Food On May 15, DART members traveled to Karbala in central Iraq to meet with local officials and gather information. DART members met with World Food Program (WFP) staff and the Ministry of Trade (MOT) silo manager to discuss the overall food needs in the Karbala area, confirm a positive WFP assessment of Public Distribution System (PDS), observe initial arrivals of WFP rice deliveries, and assess wheat grain stocks in the Karbala grain silo. WFP’s 10-person national staff is established and operational at the MOT warehouse. Two additional staff, office and communications equipment, and other operational support are due to arrive soon. WFP has assisted MOT in planning initial PDS activities including the release of wheat grain for milling, followed by a flour delivery to beneficiaries beginning on May 17 and a rice distribution to begin in early June. The DART reports that with the increased security of Baghdad warehouses, WFP's Baghdad storage capacity is now estimated to be 20,000 metric tons (MT), with an expectation that more will be identified when additional staff arrive this week. On May 15, DART members visited the Makhmour (Arbil Governorate) grain silo, with a capacity of more than 100,000 MT together with 60,000-70,000 MT of open storage. The silo has been assessed by WFP and will need some minor repairs to become functional, and larger repairs to be fully operational. The open storage is usable immediately. The surrounding fields of wheat and barley appear robust, and barley has just begun to be harvested. WFP reported that the offloading of the 14,000 MT of rice from the M/V Rise in Umm Qasr port was completed on May 15. Local Governance On May 15, British forces formally turned over control of Umm Qasr to a civilian government, the first such handover since the war ended. The handover to a 12-member council came in a small ceremony in the town. The current council is made up of volunteers, including professionals and religious leaders. It was announced that elections would be held May 22 to confirm the people's choice. Some of the current council members will not run for election. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 16, 2003 Population Movement The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is preparing for the return of up to 500,000 Iraqi refugees, mainly from Iran and Jordan. UNCHR has recently held discussions with Shi’a leaders in An Najaf in southern Iraq to send messages to tribal leaders to ease pressure on Iranian refugees living in the area. U.S. Government Response (New information is underlined) Emergency Relief USAID/OFDA is supporting U.N. and NGO emergency assistance activities through quick-impact projects and IDP support. USAID/OFDA supports projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security, health, logistics, nutrition, shelter, and water/sanitation. USAID/DART has approved an implementation plan under its cooperative agreement with Mercy Corps to provide support to the water distribution/purification system of the city of Al Kut through the provision of replacement back up pumps, valves, engines and other spare parts, as well as the provision of water testing equipment and purification chemicals, to be used in close cooperation with the water department technicians and employees of Al Kut. The program will increase access to adequate quantities of safe potable water for an estimated 250,000 people. USAID/DART has approved an implementation plan under its cooperative agreement with Mercy Corps to provide minor but critical repairs to water/sanitation systems that have failed in the last six weeks due to the impact of conflict and prolonged neglect. Small-scale high-impact repairs will restore adequate drinking water in the towns of Al Numania, Al Ahrar, Al Swera, Sheik Sa'ad, and Al Hai, benefiting an estimated 400,000 people in Wasit Governorate. USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) is providing 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. The ITI program is implemented through Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). USAID/OTI-funded clean-up efforts continue in the former Saddam City, Baghdad. 180 trucks removed garbage from neighborhoods on May 14 and May 15. Of the 10 large pumps that make up the neighborhoods' sewage system, five are not functioning; two of these have been repaired and the other three will be repaired shortly. Sixteen sub-pumps are also being repaired. The Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (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 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. Agriculture A USAID Agriculture/Irrigation Specialist based in Washington has been deployed to the region and is planning quick impact projects in agriculture in coordination with the former Ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation. Education The USAID education contractor, Creative Associates International Incorporated (CAII), is finalizing sourcing and procuring the various components of school and student kits that will be distributed to 700 schools in Al Basrah at the start of the school year, September 2003. The USAID/CAII team has been meeting with the interim coordinator of the Al Basrah Governorate to discuss the nature of the school kits based on student/school needs. In addition, CAII is coordinating with other USAID contractors, Research Triangle (RTI) and Bechtel to identify and prioritize rehabilitation of schools and provide furniture to schools. Student kits are being prepared for primary and secondary students. Both kits include a school bag with the USAID logo, pencils, pens, and crayons, copybooks, drawing books, erasers, rulers, and pencil sharpeners. The secondary school kits will also include protractor, calculator and a compass. The USAID-supported UNICEF back to school project is providing school materials for 20,000 children in the area of the As Sulaymaniyah Governorate. Infrastructure Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 16, 2003 The USAID Infrastructure Team and Bechtel project management are accelerating deployment to Baghdad despite ongoing concerns about security and constraints on mobility. A Bechtel advance team is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on May 18 to begin setting up camp. USAID and Bechtel have developed deployment schedules and assessment plans to deploy into Al Basrah, Hillah, and Arbil during week of May 19 Bechtel has made substantial progress in evaluating the 400 kilovolt power grid, Baghdad power plants, Al Basrah water problems, and critical bridges. Local Governance USAID local governance contractor RTI is exploring possible learning and training activities related to the up- coming Umm Qasr local town council elections scheduled for May 22. This would be done in coordination with the current interim town council and could include activities such as holding a town meeting type information session on basic election processes. The team is scheduled to travel to southern Iraq May 17-20 to make initial USAID local governance small grants in Al Basrah. 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, 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, Jordan, Cyprus, and Qatar and are working closely with U.N. agencies, Non- Governmental Organizations, and in coordination with U.S. Military Civil Affairs personnel. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 16, 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 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 Kingdom $382 April 29 U.N. agencies including WFP, IOs, and NGOs – food, health kits, water units, winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance OTHER DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** ............................................................................................$1,144 MILLION *This compilation was drawn from the 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. *Fact Sheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 16, 2003 U.S. Government Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ...........................................................................................................................................$51,232,905 Administrative Administrative Costs Countrywide $3,406,209 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 SCF/US Quick-impact projects: Food Security, Health, Shelter, Nutrition, Non-Food Items, Water/Sanitation Countrywide $4,000,000 Nutrition Mosul Health, Transportation Mosul Non-Food items, Shelter, Water/Sanitation 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 ..............................................................................................................................................$430,000,000 WFP Pre-positioning funding Countrywide $55,000,000 WFP Emerson Trust – 161,000 MT Countrywide $84,000,000 WFP P.L. 480 Title II emergency food commodities – 105,000 MT Countrywide $91,000,000 WFP Regional Purchase Countrywide $200,000,000 Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 16, 2003 Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF (cont.) USAID/OTI ..................................................................................................................................................$5,042,344 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 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 ..............................................................................................................................................$95,700,000 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 $7,900,000 CAII Education Countrywide, Al Basrah $1,000,000 UNICEF Health Countrywide $8,000,000 UNICEF Education 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 .......................................................................$581,975,249 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 ........................................................................$36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.........................................................$618,605,249