USAID Iraq: Fact sheet no. 39, 22 May 2003

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet #39, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 22, 2003 Current Situation (Updated Daily) Regional Updates Baghdad and Central Iraq According to a U.S. Coalition source, the repairs required at Baghdad International Airport will restrict the start of commercial civilian air service for an additional two to three months. One runway is operational while the second runway is being cleared of debris. All radar instrumentation and aeronautics equipment was destroyed during the conflict and will need to be replaced with equipment that meets 2003 civilian commercial standards (which are higher than U.S. military-accepted standards.) On May 21, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI) visited a number of sites around Baghdad, including a World Food Program (WFP) food warehouse, a power station, and a sewage treatment plant. The WFP warehouse and the power plant are under the protection of the U.S. Coalition Forces, which has halted looting of the facilities, according to a U.N. spokesman. Nevertheless, electrical technicians have had their vehicles and equipment stolen while repairing power lines. However, the situation is different at the un-protected Al Rustumia sewage plant. Local staff told a U.N. representative that looters operate on a daily basis, compounding the damage caused by the conflict and rendering the plant inoperable. As a result, one million tons of raw sewage is discharged into the Tigris and Diyala Rivers daily. Southern Iraq According to a Coalition source, the liquid propane gas (LPG) plant in An Nasiriyah is operating at 50 percent of its pre-conflict capacity. The plant is beginning to produce 5,000 (12kg) canisters of LPG per day. According to the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), rodent populations in Al Basrah have increased as a result of uncollected garbage on city streets. Many humanitarian actors report that one reason for the lack of garbage collection centers around the need for salary payments. In addition, most public works vehicles, including garbage trucks, were looted. The U.K. military is aware of the problem and has located some of the stolen garbage trucks. However, the garbage collection apparatus on the back of the trucks has been removed and apparently only the characteristic paint scheme identifies these vehicles. The increase in rodent populations is not a significant concern, but it is a reflection of the overall public hygiene conditions in Al Basrah. USAID implementing partner Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) will formally assume operation of the port from the British starting May 23. SSA is requested to provide information regarding port entry procedures. SSA have hired 200 security people and are in the process of hiring more than 3,500 local workers, many former port staff. Sector Updates Education USAID and CAII, working with UNICEF, are compiling assessment data for school rehabilitation purposes, which will be computerized so that USAID can prepare task orders for reconstruction under USAID’s Bechtel contract within the next two weeks. Work will be done during summer break so that the schools are ready for the new term in September. Two thousand of the most critically damaged schools will be targeted. USAID is meeting regularly with UNICEF, U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Save the Children U.K. to build a coordinated international organization (IO)/nongovernmental organization (NGO)/private sector partner approach to education reform and to avoid duplication of effort and overlapping of roles and responsibilities. More funding for the education system is needed from a variety of sources. Food According to WFP, full food distribution to the entire population of Iraq will begin on June 1, through 44,000 food agents in place across the country. WFP has already delivered more than 200,000 metric tons (MT) of food to Iraq, using five corridors through Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, and Iran. This is enough to feed approximately 14 million people – half the Iraqi population – for one month. From June to September, WFP’s objective is to ensure that 480,000 tons of food are available every month to feed all 27 million Iraqis under the existing public distribution system (PDS). Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 22, 2003 According to the DART, the M/V Irazou carrying 14,400 MT of bagged rice is scheduled to berth in Umm Qasr Port on May 22. The stevedore company hired by WFP is expected to discharge 1,500 MT per day with two 12-hour shifts and be paid $1.50 per ton discharged from the M/V Irazou. A second ship transporting 14,000 MT of USAID-funded WFP bagged rice, the Thor Mariner, is expected to arrive in Umm Qasr port on May 23. WFP set aside $42 million for the purchase of approximately 100,000 MT of wheat in northern Iraq. In Baghdad, efforts are underway to increase security at Ministry of Trade (MoT) warehouses, silos, distribution centers, and bakeries. The MoT is reactivating its guard force with support from Coalition forces in prioritized sites. This force will be accountable to the MoT, but will initially work under the direction of the local Coalition commander. The guard force will be armed, uniformed, trained, and issued with rules of engagement. In addition, the sites will receive concertina wire and sandbags to reinforce the security of site perimeters. Lighting will be enhanced as well as longer-term rehabilitation measures to improve security. Specific procedures will be used for the return of MoT sites, if they have been taken over by non-MoT personnel. WFP Baghdad reported that two rockets were found sandwiched between food bags in the Al Hurriya warehouse on May 21. Two of the sheds were closed until the rockets could be removed. Health On May 21, a team from World Health Organization (WHO) and local officials delivered two trucks of medical assistance worth $43,000 to Mosul governorate. The shipment included medical supplies, drugs, and laboratory items provided under the U.N. Oil-for-Food (OFF) program. At the health and nutrition weekly sectoral meeting in Al Basrah on May 20, a WHO representative reported that laboratory analysis has confirmed 7 out of 47 presumed cases of cholera in Al Basrah. Cholera management protocols stipulate that treatment of presumed cases take place without analysis once the presence of the organism is confirmed. Antibiotics and fluids will be provided to patients as soon as they are diagnosed. Meeting participants were careful to describe this as a "rise" in endemic cholera during the hot summer months and not an epidemic or an emergency at this time. The WHO representative reported that Al Basrah has adequate antibiotic therapy, oral re-hydration solution, and intravenous solution to last for a month or more, even if the number of cases continues to increase. Surveillance systems for diarrheal cases have been put in place within the Al Basrah hospitals. A WHO epidemiology team developed the survey forms and assessment protocols, with the actual forms placed, trained, and collected by Medecins Sans Frontieres, GOAL, and Medecins du Monde. Infrastructure USAID’s implementing partner, Bechtel, has issued five orders to repair the Iraqi electrical power system, although only one is related to damage caused by the war. All are essential to providing adequate generating capacity, restoring/preserving the operation of plants, and protecting the reliability of working units. In the case of Ash Shuwaba plant, located near Al Basrah, current plant operation is very hazardous and the repair work is necessary to preserve the plant operation. 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 internally displaced persons (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 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 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). In addition, Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 22, 2003 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 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. Local Governance A local governance technical expert with Research Triangle Institute (RTI) continues to implement the Neighborhood (Hai’) Advisory Council project, which includes 83 neighborhoods in Baghdad. These committees will select representatives to the nine municipal councils. These representatives will select representatives to the Baghdad City Council, which serves the needs of more than 5 million Iraqi citizens. 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 22, 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 22, 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 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 WFP Regional Purchase – 330,000 MT Countrywide $200,000,000 Iraq Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Fact Sheet - May 22, 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