USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 43, 29 May 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #43, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 29, 2003 Current Humanitarian Situation (Updated Daily) Regional Updates Baghdad and Central Iraq The Coalition distributed 41,370 family canisters of liquid propane gas and 4,034,000 liters of gasoline to gas stations in Baghdad on May 28. The gasoline supplied is approximately 80 percent of Baghdad’s pre-conflict daily usage. A majority of gas stations receive only a one-day supply of gasoline, which they sell by the end of each day in order to avoid theft from station storage tanks overnight. Humanitarian flights are using the Baghdad International Airport, but there is limited runway availability. Eight flights arrived on May 28 including the International Committee of the Red Cross, AirServ, and the United Nations (UN). Northern Iraq Elections in Kirkuk culminated on May 28, when a newly installed city council chose a mayor. U.S. military authorities chose the council on May 24, which consists of 30 members, and represents each of the main ethnic groups (Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians, and Arabs). The council has also elected three assistant mayors: an ethnic Turk, an Assyrian, and a Kurd. Southern Iraq USAID personnel met with Bechtel, its private sector partner for capital construction, the Office of the Coalition Provisional Authority (OCPA) and formerly the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), the U.N. Development Program (UNDP), and UNDP’s Turkish representative to discuss the salvaging of the sunken vessels in the Umm Qasr port area. A Turkish savaging vessel is docked at the port under a pre-conflict UNDP contract for services. Sector Updates Abuse Prevention The APU met with the Human Rights Committee for former Political Prisoners and Missing Persons in Baghdad on May 27. The committee consists of more than 100 former political prisoners who volunteer their time to input information on former prisoners and missing persons into spreadsheets. On May 28, the APU returned to the mass grave near Musiyab, approximately 75 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. The British forensic team "In Force" arrived to conduct scientific assessments of the site. They also trained community volunteers in digging techniques that reduce loss of bones. According to In Force, more than 700 bodies have been disinterred from the site and 230 identified. Cooperative Agreements The DART approved three cooperative agreement implementation plans on May 26: a Mercy Corps plan to repair water and sewage systems at schools in Khaniqeen, and two Save the Children plans to provide essential drugs and supplies to two obstetric and gynecology, and pediatric hospitals in Mosul. Food The total amount of wheat available through World Food Program (WFP) in Iraq is 260,000 metric tons, which is enough wheat flour for the entire June distribution, without using any Iraqi wheat already in storage. Iraqi grain in storage could be used to fill the July public distribution system (PDS). According to the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) Shipping Cell, the M/V Irazou has completed 75 percent of offloading of 14,700 MT of bagged rice. The M/V Thor Mariner also continues its discharging and has completed 77 percent of its offloading of 14,000 MT of bagged rice. On May 28, the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) met with the WFP staff in Al Hillah and An Najaf to discuss the upcoming PDS food distributions in June. WFP staff reported that public announcements on local television stations have indicated that non-registered PDS beneficiaries should go to the registration center in Al Hillah and register for the June PDS ration. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 29, 2003 Current Reconstruction Situation (Updated Daily) Sector Updates Infrastructure Looting of and damage to power lines remains a serious challenge to the restoration of power to all citizens. Bechtel has reported the destruction of several substations of the National Grid in the last week. In one case, 17 large transformers were damaged, and an estimated two tons per transformer of copper was cut out and stolen. The electrical situation in the south is more stable but not continuous. The closing of the metal “foundry” recently found by Coalition forces where copper is being stolen could allow the flow of power to become more manageable. Bechtel and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviewed the Baghdad-area power plants (South Baghdad, Doura, Taji, Al Qudas, and Moussaib) to find a way to promptly bring as many megawatts to the grid as possible before the beginning of the summer peak. Despite ongoing repairs, a number of factors could still put the power situation for the Baghdad region in jeopardy: (1) the demand in the Baghdad area is in excess of the regional generation and is expected to increase through the summer; (2) many generating facilities around Baghdad are old, lack regular maintenance, and should not be expected to operate with high reliability throughout the summer; (3) the security of the transmission lines used to import power from northern and southern Iraq cannot be readily guaranteed; and (4) much of the generation in the Baghdad area is dependent on natural gas as a fuel and is subject to unavailability caused by low gas pressure in the pipeline network. The Coalition reported that there is electricity being provided throughout the Al Qa’im area of Al Anbar governorate. Therefore, only 20 to 25 megawatts can service the entire area between Al Hadithah and Al Qa’im. This supply is sufficient to support most residential activities, but is not enough to support industry in the area. The super phosphate factory in the governorate and its supporting mine at Akashat require 32 megawatts to operate. The Coalition was informed that the Al Hadithah Dam hydroelectric power plant cannot operate at normal capacity due to low water levels in the Euphrates River. To increase the power required to run the plant and mine, the super phosphate plant electrical engineer reported that the Bayji and West Baghdad stations may be capable of providing additional megawatts through the Al Hadithah dam hydro-electric plant. USAID and private sector partners Bechtel and Skylink prepared a detailed program and schedule of all necessary actions required on order to reopen and operate Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) for limited civil aviation operations by mid-June. The “BIAP Working Group” of stakeholders will use this USAID- developed plan to manage the project. Key issues are passenger and worker screening, and security; regulatory and legal issues; electricity; and communications. Bechtel has found in its evaluation of the Al Fatha highway bridge, located over the Tigris River on Highway 19, that one span of the bridge appears to be destroyed. The bridge also carries a crude oil pipeline, which is reported to have been damaged. This is a very important link in the crude oil flow and a temporary pipeline has been put in place. The Bechtel assessment team met with the railway ministry in Baghdad to coordinate priorities for repair efforts to rail lines. At the top of the repair list is a damaged section of track north of Umm Qasr on the only route for rail grain shipments to Al Basrah and Baghdad from the port. Local Governance USAID local governance private sector partner, Research Triangle Institute (RTI), has made secure arrangements for grant project funds and will begin dispersing those funds for grant projects. These include $20,000 for restoring the al-Ma`qil primary health center and the affiliated regional administrative support center in Al Basrah, which serves 50,000 citizens; and $100,000 for restoring 20 schools in Umm Qasr that has more than 7,000 students. A RTI representative continues to hold neighborhood meetings to explain the concept of forming interim Neighborhood Advisory Council (NACs), assisting communities in forming these councils, and guiding them in appointing members to their respective interim District Advisory Councils that is one tier above the NAC. RTI is also working with local communities to identify appropriate locations for meetings, and arranging for their restoration. RTI is working to establish 83 Baghdad NACs within the coming weeks. Representatives from these councils will be selected to move to the next tier of local government, the district. These councils have the potential of organizing community action to address local problems such as neighborhood sanitation, security, improved welfare, health and education. RTI will provide assistance to develop a plan of action and procedures on how to convene successful meetings, how to develop proposals to address community needs, and how to get councils in touch with funding sources and project grants. RTI is also helping to identify community-based organizations such as women's and professional groups. In Baghdad, RTI is planning to award grants to furnish meeting halls for the councils. Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 29, 2003 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. The DART is providing assistance on policy guidance to the Iraq Ministries of Water, Irrigation and Health in Baghdad. The DART will also collaborate with USAID/Bechtel water and sanitation reconstruction projects, and coordinate with USAID partner U.N. Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) on the capacity building component of the water sector. 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. USAID has awarded an additional $1 million to its local governance private sector partner RTI. 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 29, 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 Czechoslovakia $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 29, 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 29, 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.