USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 2, 1 April 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 1, 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 the U.N. Oil-for-Food (OFF) Program 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, that the GOI has ordered and paid for an estimated $8.9 billion in 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 19, 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 U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution that allows the U.N. to administer Iraq’s OFF program for 45 days. 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 250,000-300,000 in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq 22,000 concentrated near Panjwin UNICEF (March 26, 2003) UNOHCI (March 26, 2003) Refugees from Iraq New refugees: 200 – Jordan Old caseload refugees: 203,000 – Iran 5,100 – Saudi Arabia 250,000-300,000 – Jordan 40,000 – Syria UNHCR (April 1, 2003) U.S. Committee for Refugees (2001) Umm Qasr On April 1, the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD) conducted a security assessment of Umm Qasr. If Umm Qasr is declared a permissive environment, in accordance with U.N. guidelines, U.N. personnel will be permitted to enter the southern port town. If no U.N. personnel enter within 48 hours of the declaration, another security assessment must be conducted. According to the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) in Kuwait, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-contracted convoys that left Kuwait on March 30 to provide potable water and water bladders to Umm Qasr, Safwan, and Az Zubayr experienced many difficulties. The water tankers were to fill water bladders in each town every few days. Three of the 13 contracted tankers successfully reached Umm Qasr, but the local population prevented the workers from filling the bladders. As a result, on March 31, UNICEF temporarily suspended the water tanker program. Al Basrah On April 1, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that the situation in Al Basrah remains tense, as fighting continues around the town. Northern Iraq On March 29, the World Food Program (WFP) re-supplied warehouses in Dahuk with three trucks of wheat-soya- milk blend (WSM) that were held at the Turkish border pending the passage of the U.N. resolution temporarily restoring the OFF program. The OFF-funded WSM will be used by WFP’s nutritional feeding program in Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, and Dahuk. Since these three northern governorates did not receive the two-month ration of wheat flour distributed throughout Iraq prior to the conflict, WFP plans to provide an additional 1,000 metric tons (MT) of flour to Dahuk, 2,000 MT to Arbil and 3,000 MT to As Sulaymaniyah. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UN OPS) continues to provide kerosene to 279 internally displaced person (IDP) families in 13 schools in Soran. The majority of the IDPs in Arbil and Soran returned home. The UN OPS camp in Delizian is ready to receive IDPs, but local authorities have not yet transferred any IDPs to Delizian. In As Sulaymaniyah governorate, local authorities have registered 258 families in Bazyan who fled Kirkuk before the checkpoints closed. In addition, IOM has registered 514 IDP families, or approximately 3,000 people, in Aghjalar, Qaradagh-Sangaw, and Darbandikhan-Kalar districts. In Dahuk governorate, UN OPS plans to distribute potable water to 122 families in Mangeshke sub-district who have been displaced from within Dahuk. In Bamarne, an UN OPS assessment revealed that local health center resources have been strained due to increases in respiratory problems, food poisoning, diarrhea, allergic skin disease, chicken pox, and mumps. UN OPS is coordinating with UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), local agencies, and the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Peace Winds Japan to contribute health assistance. According to WFP on April 1, WFP has distributed nearly 5,000 MT of food since the beginning of the conflict in northern Iraq including more than 2,000 MT of rice and more than 1,600 MT of sugar. UNICEF confirmed that no confirmed cases of cholera have occurred in As Sulaymaniyah as of March 31. Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector Internally Displaced Persons UN OPS registered 5,172 arrivals in northern Iraq who fled GOI territory between March 13 and 31. Refugees To date, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates indicate that 200 Iraqi refugees have sought refuge in Jordan. On April 2, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) plans to facilitate the return of 119 Sudanese migrant workers who fled to Syria from Iraq on March 31. During the past week, IOM assisted the return of an additional 50 Africans to Morocco, Sudan, and Egypt. Since March 30, UNHCR has issued 2,663 temporary protection documents in Syria to Iraqi nationals believed to have left Iraq prior to the current conflict. The temporary protection certificates, under the UNHCR mandate, protect the bearer from being returned to Iraq from Syria. No Iraqis have requested food or accommodations from UNHCR. According to UNHCR, four camps in Iran's western provinces of Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Ilam will have an initial capacity for 60,000 refugees. Six additional sites have been cleared of land mines and leveled, should supplementary capacity be required. UNHCR staff frequently travel along the Iran-Iraq border to evaluate the status of displaced Iraqis along the border. Iranian authorities and humanitarian assistance workers across the border in Iraq report that the populations have not attempted to cross into Iran. Health On April 1, WHO reported that medical stocks in central and southern Iraq are relatively sufficient. WHO reported that the water shortage is the most serious concern. The hospitals in Samarra, Najaf, and Nassiria may be seriously affected by the lack of water. There are no reports of any infectious diseases outbreaks anywhere in the country. In the north, WHO provided medicines and supplies to 12 health centers in Koya district, two hospitals in the city of As Sulaymaniyah, and 27 rural health centers. WHO distributed fuel tanks to seven hospitals on April 1 and is purchasing fuel for some hospitals on the local market in response to local fuel shortages. On April 1, WHO reported that five cholera kits and five trauma kits have arrived in Kuwait, which will be moved into Iraq as soon as they are needed. Another five cholera kits and five trauma kits delivered to Amman during the past few days will also be moved to Iraq as soon as possible. U.S. Government Response On March 25, the President submitted a wartime supplemental request to Congress for $74.7 billion, $2.4 billion of which would be used to create a new, flexible account for immediate humanitarian relief, reconstruction support, and to assist in the development of a free-market democracy in Iraq. The total USG commitment of resources for Iraq emergency relief and reconstruction is approximately $3.5 billion (including funding from the Department of State). USAID/FFP has made more than $560 million in emergency food assistance available to meet the emergency food needs of the Iraqi population. Pre-Positioning Prior to Coalition military activity in Iraq, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided more than $14 million for United Nations and NGO preparedness activities and USAID/OFDA logistics for the emergency response in Iraq. Specifically, USAID/OFDA supported the NGO Emergency Preparedness Initiative for Iraq (JNEPI) through Save the Children/US (SCF/US) to facilitate NGO humanitarian assessments in Iraq, as well as the Cuny Center’s contingency planning efforts. USAID/OFDA supported WFP’s efforts in logistics, telecommunications, air transport services, and pre-positioning of food stocks, UNICEF’s procurement of emergency health kits and activities in nutrition, water, and sanitation, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN OCHA) information and coordination efforts. USAID/OFDA pre-positioned emergency relief commodities in three warehouses in Jordan, Kuwait, and UAE. The commodities will be made available for use in Iraq as needed and include 15,170 rolls of plastic sheeting, 265,035 wool blankets, 130,700 10-liter and 5-gallon water containers, 85,618 hygiene kits, 87 water tanks, 8 water treatment units, and 97 WHO medical kits. USAID/OFDA has spent more than $6.3 million to acquire warehouse space, equipment for DART personnel, and for transportation costs. To date, USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) has provided $55 million to WFP to support planning and preparation efforts to meet the emergency food needs of vulnerable populations in Iraq. Emergency Relief The United States Government deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the region to assess humanitarian needs and coordinate the emergency relief effort. Nearly 60 DART members are located in 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 Centers (HOC) in the region. To date, USAID/OFDA supported more than $39.5 million in emergency assistance activities: $14 million prior to Coalition military action and more than $25 million since mid-March. In addition to the preparation and prepositioning efforts outlined above, USAID/OFDA supported quick-impact projects through International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children (SCF/US), and Mercy Corps, emergency logistical support through AirServ International; and IDP assistance through IOM. USAID/FFP provided an initial 161,000 MT valued at $84 million of emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust to WFP to meet the food needs of vulnerable Iraqis. In addition, WFP received $200 million from USAID/FFP to procure 324,000 MT of food commodities in the region for distribution in Iraq. USAID/FFP is providing 105,000 MT of P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance valued at $91 million to be distributed to food insecure Iraqis. IOM received $200,000 and Development Alternatives, Incorporated (DAI) received $473,253 from USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) to prepare for the implementation of the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI). ITI will support political stabilization and community recovery activities in post-conflict Iraq by providing immediate, tangible examples of improvement and change. In addition to USAID assistance, the State Department’s Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (State/PRM) has provided $21 million to UNHCR, $10 million to ICRC, $3 million to IFRC, and more than $2.6 million to IOM to support U.N. and international organization (IO) preparation efforts and to meet the emergency needs of Iraqis affected by the conflict. Reconstruction To date, USAID’s Bureau for Asia and the Near East (USAID/ANE) has provided a total of $22.8 million for reconstruction activities in Iraq. Of this total, UNICEF and WHO received $18 million to address a variety of health, water and sanitation needs. Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) received $4.8 million to assess and manage the Umm Qasr port. Other Donor and International Organization Assistance* On March 31, UNHCR received 160 10-person tents in Jordan from the Government of Japan. DONOR US $ (MILLIONS) DATE (2003) ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT China March 27 Tents Spain $20.0 March 27 Refugee assistance in Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey CIDA Canada $100.0 $5.6 March 26 ----- U.N. agencies, IOs, NGOs, CARE Canada for water and sanitation, food, shelter, and health Response to U.N. Preparedness Measures Appeal Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, NFIs Japan $112.5 March 25 Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction DFID $128 March 24 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs -- food, health kits, water units, winter supply kits Kuwait March 24 45,000 meals/day and an emergency medical center Australia $49.5 March 21 100,000 MT $7.5 March 20 U.N. Agencies and ICRC $10.0 --- Planning and preparation funding ECHO $3.2 March 21 ICRC Ireland $0.8 March 20 UN OCHA $15.9 U.N. Agencies for planning and preparation New Zealand $3.3 March 20 U.N. Agencies, IOs, and NGOs for humanitarian relief Norway $21.6 March 20 NGOs for humanitarian assistance France $10.7 Humanitarian Assistance Germany $10.7 U.N. Agencies and ICRC EMERCON March 22-23 150 MT humanitarian supplies for refugee preparation in Iran TOTAL DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** .....................................................................................$503.6 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 as transportation routes, 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. U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ Agency Implementing Partner Sector Regions Amount FY 2003 EMERGENCY RELIEF USAID/OFDA ...........................................................................................................................................$40,574,976 AirServ Logistics Country-wide $2,151,585 The Cuny Center Research studies Country-wide $40,260 IMC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $4,000,000 IOM IDP programs Country-wide $5,000,000 IRC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000 Logistics Commodity prepositioning and DART support $6,300,000 Mercy Corps Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000 NGO Cooperative agreements $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 Prepositioning 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 .....................................................................................................................................................$833,162 IOM ITI Country-wide $200,000 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 ..............................................................................................................................................$22,800,000 UNICEF Health $8,000,000 WHO Health $10,000,000 SSA Port Management $4,800,000 TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.......................................................................$493,008,138 TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.........................................................$529,638,138 *USAID/OFDA factsheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/hum_response/ofda/situation.html