USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 38, 21 May 2003

Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 21, 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #38, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 21, 2003 Current Situation (Updated Daily) Regional Updates Baghdad and Central Iraq • According to the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), the Baghdad-Bayji-Mosul and the Baghdad-Kirkuk -Arbil routes have been lowered from a Phase V to Phase IV security level. • According to the Coalition sources, a relative sense of the lack of security and a state of lawlessness seems to exemplify the feelings and conditions in the communities around Baghdad and many parts of central, southern, and eastern Iraq. Thieves and looters are still pervasive, although little remains in public buildings to loot, unless under occupation by Coalition forces. Residents who leave their home reportedly return to find it looted by neighbors . U.S. forces and Iraqi Police Forces (IPF) continue to increase the number of patrols. Northern Iraq • On May 19, Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) personnel visited villages in southern Arbil governorate. The team met with local villagers, newly arrived returnees, and U.S. military officials responsible for Coalition operations in the region. Water appears to be a concern, although in the villages visited there were hand-dug wells that could be easily cleaned to provide potable water. The water table in these villages was between 15 and 20 meters deep. Ethnic tensions are escalating in villages near the old green line. In the village of Shamamak, DART members met with Arabs who reported that on May 17, a local Kurdish commander had come with four armed men and told them they must leave the village. The Arabs fear that without Coalition intervention in the next few days, they will have to relocate to Mosul. The DART reported the incident to the U.S. military personnel, who indicated that this sort of incident was becoming increasi ngly common. • According to the DART, land tenure issues appear to be heating up with little noticeable action to systematically address the problem. The issues are complex but not difficult if the local leaders are involved with determining land ownership. Land rights may be more difficult. It appears that Saddam Hussein’s regime and the Kurdistan-Democratic Party (KDP) have taken land to be given to their followers. Western Iraq • On May 20, DART Team West personnel met with U.S. Military Police representatives who agreed to include Ministry of Trade (MOT) security guards in an upcoming police security training in Al Hillah. The MOT guards will be needed for security at the Al Hillah warehouse compound. Security will also be required at the Al Hillah grain silo facilities. WFP will inform the MOT of the process for obtaining training. • On May 20, DART members attended a CMOC meeting. They reported that the governorate support team representative in charge of agriculture will meet with the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) and the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) May 21 in order to begin tackling the date crop infestation that is occurring in Babil. The first 150 police recruits were to begin their police training by the U.S. army military police today. The governorate support team estimates that some propane gas will begin arriving in Babil governorate by truck in about a week. Sector Updates Coordination • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that their medical teams continued visits to evaluate the needs of various hospitals and medical structures. Hospitals continued to encounter security problems, lack of transportation for the staff (due to fuel shortages) and insufficient electricity supply. As a “one-time” stopgap measure pending reactivation of the central system of drug supplies to Baghdad hospitals and to the governorates, ICRC has placed a large order of pharmaceuticals to be distributed through the central pharmacy and monitored by ICRC. In most hospitals that ICRC visited in central Iraq, city electricity is available for a few hours a day. Back -up generators allow machines to function outside these hours. Most hospitals lack medical supplies, drugs, beds and fuel. Food • WFP, DART and ORHA have discussed the need to start planning for the phase-out of the current Public Distribution System (PDS) system. WFP proposes to continue its mapping of economic vulnerability that began with an assessment in late February and early March. In addition, WFP expects to add an expanded post- distribution monitoring process capable of providing detailed household food-economy data. WFP hopes to be Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 21, 2003 able to identify the causes of poverty in Iraq, and to identify key indicators that may be used to measure the impact of economic changes on these groups. • The DART reported that beginning May 20, WFP will hold a day and a half of meetings to discuss overall operations, local procurement, WFP role with the MOT and ORHA, management structures (regional vs. Iraq), and staffing. The meetings will include WFP’s Deputy Executive Director, Iraq Country Director, Regional Director, and Regional Operations Manager/Officer in Charge. It is expected that the revision of the Emergency Operations Plan (EMOP) will be finalized and approved for release by early next week. • WFP commodities have been released to 119 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), as well as 55 residents of social institutions, in the Al Basrah Governorate who were identified by Save the Children (U.S.). • According to the World Food Program (WFP) in Kuwait City, the M/V Irazou did not berth in Umm Qasr port on May 20 as scheduled. The ship is still adrift until the owners and crew can negotiate a pay-for-hire issue. The Irazou is transporting 14,400 metric tons of bagged rice. • WFP stated that Babil would begin distributions on June 1. WFP had informed the DART that the Babil area would not begin distributions until July 1, though WFP continues to prepare the warehouse for the arrival of food commodities for June distributions. WFP said it received more than 994 MT of rice and 96 MT of wheat flour at the Al Hillah silos on May 20. Health • According to the DART, representatives of the Government of United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) are willing to fund the rehabilitation of the Ba’ath party headquarters as a temporary town hospital in Ar Rutbah. World Vision, with U.S. Agency for International Development /Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/ OFDA) funding, had agreed to rehabilitate the Ba’ath party headquarters but will now use the USAID/OFDA funding to refurbish two public health centers in the Ar Rutbah area. Infrastructure • Electrical power throughout Iraq has increased 10 percent over previous weeks, with generation output now at 2,300 megawatts. The Iraqi work force continues to make repairs on the transmission lines and Iraqi electricity authorities plan on emerging substantial parts of the 400-kilovolt grid over the next four weeks. USAID/Iraq believes that the continued restoration of electrical power is possible because there are spare towers to replace the damaged ones. However, more substantial repairs will still have to be made under USAID’s contract with Bechtel. Population Movements • According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), up to 1,000 Iranians who left their long time refugee settlements in eastern Iraq because of security problems and incidents of looting in late April remain encamped in makeshift border sites, waiting for the approval of the Government of Iran (GOI) to return to Iran. More than 4,500 of the 23,000 Iranian refugees residing in Iraq have previously been cleared by the GOI to return home. Some of these refugees are among those waiting at the border. UNHCR has asked the GOI to permit these 4,500 refugees to cross into Iran as soon as possible. There are indications following discussions a May 20 meeting with BAFIA, Iran's refugee agency, that the GOI may repatriate these refugees later this week. UNHCR staff in Al Basrah is on stand-by to help assist this return movement. The largest group waiting to go home are the more than 500 Iranians encamped at the Al Charani (Bazirghan) border crossing, 240 km north of Al Basrah. This group was initially larger, but hundreds of Iranians went back to their settlements when they were refused entry. Nineteen Iranians are at the Shiramsheh border crossing, while a group of 80 Iranians who fled their refugee settlements elsewhere in southern Iraq are sheltered at a transit center on the outskirts of Al Basrah also hoping to return to Iran. 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’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/FFP recently finalized the initial commodity contributions to WFP's Emergency Operation (EMOP) in Iraq. As a consequence, in earlier fact sheets, USAID/FFP used estimated figures for both the Emerson Trust and Title II accounts. Figures have now been revised to reflect actual rather than estimated values. In addition, as more Oil-For-Food (OFF) contracts are renegotiated with the extended June 3 deadline outlined in U.N. resolution 1472, WFP has successfully resourced over 1.3 million MT of commodities including large amounts of wheat. The Emerson Trust wheat is no longer required for Iraq but will be drawn down to meet urgent Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 21, 2003 humanitarian needs in the Greater Horn of Africa. Future Title II contributions to Iraq will include complementary commodities to meet shortfalls in oil and pulses for the PDS ration in Iraq. • 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). • 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). • USAID/OTI signed an interagency agreement with the Broadcasting Board of Governors to continue enhancing the capacity of Radio SAWA to broadcast humanitarian and reconstruction reporting. Current funding for the program is $400,000. 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. Economic Governance • USAID met with Central Bank of Kuwait officials, who have authorized the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to open a branch in Baghdad. USAID representatives will initiate discussions with U.S. Department of Treasury colleagues regarding Iraqi Central Bank and foreign direct investment policies. Health • Five times a day, messages on diarrheal disease, hand washing and breastfeeding are being broadcast to the Iraqi people on Radio Sawa. USAID Mission personnel were instrumental in developing the message. Infrastructure • USAID/Bechtel launched its water and sanitation activities and is working to repair a water pumping station at Safwan in the Basrah Governorate. • Countrywide, there is generation output of 2,300 megawatts, an increase of 10 percent over previous weeks. The Iraqi work force continues to make repairs on the transmission lines and Iraqi electricity authorities plan on reconstituting substantial part of the 400 kilovolts grid in four weeks. • USAID/Skylink is looking into methods to upgrade air traffic systems, install electronic systems, and improve the water, power and sewage facilities at the Baghdad International Airport. The Skylink Team leader will present a report in Washington and determine its next movements in coordination with USAID. In addition, a Skylink airport manager will deploy to Al Basrah on May 22, and coordinate with current airport operators, the British Royal Air Force (RAF), on integration issues in preparation for an eventual handover. • USAID/Bechtel is discussing plans to send five assessment teams to Al Basrah to begin rapid assessments of roughly 500 priority schools, hospitals, and health clinics. Working with ORHA regional staff, priorities would be set, and rehabilitation work could start soon after the assessment. Local Governance • With technical assistance from USAID personnel, the development of the Baghdad City Advisory Council, starting at the neighborhood level, is underway. Initial neighborhood councils were formed on May 19, in 16 of the 83 neighborhoods in the city. In Al-Rashid, one of the 9 municipalities in Baghdad City, all 14 of the neighborhood councils have been formed. The first meeting of representatives from each neighborhood was held on May 19, to form the Municipal Advisory Council. At their next meeting, the Municipal Advisory Council will select representatives from their members to represent the Municipality at the Baghdad City level. The rollout strategy involves close coordination with civil affairs officers in order to take advantage of their knowledge of the neighborhoods and personnel across the city. The goal is that within two weeks, all neighborhood councils will be formed, selection of representatives to municipal councils will be made, and initial municipal advisory council meetings will be held throughout the city. City Advisory Councils will provide a forum through which citizens’ concerns are represented at a higher level of administration. Concerns will be re layed to the administration of Baghdad to influence their priorities in managing and delivering services in the city. • USAID/RTI is continuing its rapid response grant making activities in the ORHA Southern Sector. Grant applications have been approved for activities in Umm Qasr and Al Basrah. Work is expected to begin immediately in areas such as school rehabilitation, repairing transportation services and rehabilitating a Primary Care health center. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 21, 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, 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 Other Donor and International Organization Assistance* - May 21, 2003 US $ DONOR (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 Assi stance 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 21, 2003 Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet U.S. Government Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq - May 21, 2003 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 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 Pre-positioning funding 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 Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 21, 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 ...............................................................................................................................................................$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, Water and Sanitation 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................................................................................$541,708,249 TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.................................................................................$36,630,000 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003................................................................$578,338,249