UNAMI Newsletter United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

Newsletter - Issue 11 April 2011

IN THIS ISSUE SRSG Melkert to the UN Security Council: Iraqis have legitimate concerns that the Government SRSG Melkert to the UN Security Council: Iraqis have legitimate concerns that the needs to meet Government needs to meet ...... 1 SRSG Ad Melkert guest of Frost Over the World show ...... 2 Syriac museum revives memories and hope ...... 4 Protecting Iraq’s cultural heritage for future generations: First ICC plenary held in Iraq ...... 5 Iraqi Youth Conference: Making youth views and voices heard ...... 6 One woman’s battle with tuberculosis: Fighting off ignorance and stigma ...... 8 First distributions for school feeding in Iraq ...... 9 Assessing the Iraqi civil registration system ...... 10 IOM continues to support families affected !"#\%%&'()#*+,%-)+%-*#.,/0#111111111111111111#23 SRSG Ad Melkert briefs the Security Council on the work of UNAMI and on recent developments in Iraq. News Briefs ...... 11 UN Photo/Evan Schneider List of UN Acronyms ...... 12 Photo Essay: Inauguration of Syriac Mu- peaking to the UN Security Council “Unless these demands are addressed, the seum ...... 13 on 8 April, Mr. Ad Melkert, the Special political and democratic gains made thus SRepresentative of the UN Secretary- far may seem hollow to many ordinary General (SRSG) for Iraq and the head of Iraqis. And this will be no easy task for the UNAMI , updated the Council members on Government of Iraq,” he warned. the latest developments in Iraq. At the core of the protests Mr. Melkert also expressed the hope that that have been taking place “While Iraq has made remarkable strides the relevant authorities will look into vio- in its democratic transition in recent years, lent incidents that took place in di!erent across Iraq since 25 February of which included the adoption of a constitu- parts of the country resulting in the deaths this year are legitimate concerns tion, credible national elections, a broad and injuries of many Iraqi citizens and take around better employment op- national partnership government and steps to ensure that these basic rights are portunities, the delivery of basic an opening environment for media and protected. services and accountability. Unless civil society, the people of Iraq are now Mr. Melkert acknowledged the e!orts of demanding the dividends that were prom- these demands are addressed, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to act deci- ised by their leaders,” Mr. Melkert said. the political and democratic gains sively to meet these demands, including made thus far may seem hollow to Referring to the protests that have been the 100-day plan for job creation and ser- many ordinary Iraqis taking place in Iraq since 25 February as vice delivery and the announcement of part of a larger movement across the re- cuts in defence expenditures and govern- gion, Mr. Melkert said the protesters have ment salaries as well as tackling corruption. Mr. Ad Melkert, legitimate concerns about employment Highlighting the UNAMI and UN response the Special Representative of the opportunities, the delivery of basic servic- to support the government’s e!orts, UN Secretary-General for Iraq es and accountability. Mr. Melkert said: “Subject to the govern- a signi#cant decrease. the encouraging reports on the positive ment’s approval and co-#nancing support, atmosphere of the meeting as well as the Mr. Melkert also touched on the violent in- we proposed to implement a list of projects constructive discussions that took place on cidents that took place in Ashraf Camp last that could rapidly be expanded and fast highly sensitive issues for both sides. month resulting in death and injuries. He tracked to address in particular youth em- reiterated that e!orts are needed to stop “I have expressed the hope that both par- ployment, health and nutrition, solid waste violence and aim at peacefully resolving all ties will now seize this unique opportunity management, public distribution of food issues. to show leadership in settling a complex rations, and access to water.” and painful con%ict at a time the region is Referring to the deployment of the Pesh- Mr. Melkert also informed that bilateral do- searching for new perspectives of coopera- merga forces into Kirkuk province, which nors, the World Bank and the UN, will be tion and development as a substitute for occurred outside the Combined Security meeting in May with a cabinet delegation con%ict and stagnation,’ Mr. Melkert added. Mechanism framework, he stressed that to review the policy recommendations re- these events “underscore the need for dis- SRSG Melkert concluded his brie#ng to the lating to Iraq’s economic and social devel- cussion on the future of the triangular Com- Council with a personal note by saying he opment and institutional capacity building bined Security Mechanism and the process had observed “the start of removing end- which were presented to the Government to resolve the country’s disputed internal less lines of concrete T-walls over the past by the Iraq Partners’ Forum in The Iraq Brief- boundaries.” months. It is symbolic of considerable ing Book . progress to overcome years of wars, con- Mr. Melkert reported that some encourag- Turning to the delay in completing the %icts and sanctions that have plagued the ing preliminary progress has been made formation of the Government, Mr. Melkert country, and to bring normality to Iraq’s in- towards a negotiated political agreement. urged Iraqi leaders to “set aside their di!er- ternational standing and the daily life of its “With our assistance, on 27 March an agree- ences and bring the government formation people.” ment was reached by Government o$cials process to a close.” and representatives of the main political In his most recent report on the activities of The country’s stability is still under pres- parties to work with UNAMI on key out- UNAMI, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban sure, with terror attacks and sectarian ten- standing issues through a ‘Standing Con- Ki-moon commended Iraq’s political lead- sions continuing, he warned. “As US forces sultation Mechanism’ that would provide a ers for their commitment to dialogue and prepare to leave, Iraq should not be for- forum for preventive multilateral consulta- consensus-building and called on them gotten and the international community tion in cases of potential con%ict,” he added. to complete the formation of their new should stand ready to continue support,” he government and to establish the National Signi#cant progress has also been made stated, noting that the overall trend of se- Council for Strategic Policies. in the Iraq-Kuwait relationship in light of curity incidents in recent months suggests PM Al-Maliki’s historic visit to Kuwait and

Interview

SRSG Ad Melkert guest of Frost Over the World show

he Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Ad Melkert, was the Tguest of Sir David Frost in his Al-Jazeera Inter- national show, Frost Over the World on 15 April. The following is the full text of the interview on the overall situation in Iraq: Sir David Frost: Whilst the eyes of the world are on countries like Libya, Syria and Yemen, Iraq has also been having its own protests since late February. Unlike elsewhere though, Iraqis are not seeking regime change, but want more jobs, less corruption, better standards of living and, I suppose, more security too. Meanwhile, America is due to withdraw all its troops by December, but some say the country is SRSG Ad Melkert appears live on Al-Jazeera’s Frost Over the World show as a guest of Sir David Frost. not ready for that yet. So is it? I am joined right now Photo courtesy of Al-Jazeera International TV by the Special Representative in Iraq, Ad Melkert, who has just produced the latest of his three-times- a-year report on the situation. How is the situation

www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 2 right now? I mean, what is life like now were understa!ed after the war was SRSG Ad Melkert: It is di$cult to say. for the Iraqis? Good? Better? Not good technically won. There are still multiple sources of po- enough? tential violence around and, as I said, SRSG Ad Melkert: I think that there is we also see it on everyday basis. It may SRSG Ad Melkert: Not good enough consensus that there was no plan for be on the decline. There certainly may and better at the same time. Better after the invasion, and that it took the be also an impact from what is happen- when one compares it with some years international community a long time ing elsewhere in the region. Because, I ago when there was really bloodshed all to get the kind of support in place, in- think, many countries are now very fo- over the place. Although, still the aver- cluding reconstructing the fabric, so to cused also on their own business, which age number of incidents per day is cer- speak, of Iraqi governance. Now, that is may leave Iraq also, a bit more, to its tainly abnormal. But it is getting better. certainly in better shape, although there own business. Because there was a lot are capacity shortages in many areas, Sir David Frost: How many incidents? of interference from many sides and but increasingly Iraqis show determi- perhaps that o!ers the space and the SRSG Ad Melkert: There are 25 inci- nation to govern, to be more e!ective, opportunity for Iraq to show that is al- dents per day in the whole country. And investors are certainly more interested, ready one stage ahead after the consti- that is certainly not a situation that one particularly in the northern part of the tution, after elections, now trying to put would like to see in the future but the country. The oil industry is picking up proper seeds in place and that is impor- Iraqi security forces are imposing them- although still a long way to go. selves more. The Government, after a tant for the people. Sir David Frost: And you mentioned long time of government formation Sir David Frost: So, in a sense you are the Americans are due to leave in De- and after successful elections, is in place saying it is indeed what you produced cember and so on and so forth. Secre- and now tries to put an emergency pro- is a progress report rather than lack of tary Gates made comments recently gramme together in order to respond, progress report. Things are getting bet- that maybe the Americans or some of also to the demonstrations that you ter. Are they? the Americans should stay on. Could mentioned. Still, remains to be seen that happen? Should that happen? SRSG Ad Melkert: I am always very cau- how e!ective that can be. It is probably tious about that because setbacks are the toughest challenge ahead. And then SRSG Ad Melkert: Well, you know from looming everywhere, but when one re- with the American troops withdraw- the UN side we cannot and should not ally takes a longer term look, I can, one ing on the basis of the schedule that is take a position there because this is re- can be cautiously optimistic about what out there, it’s de#nitely, Iraq is de#nitely ally a bilateral matter between the Iraqi is going on. entering a new stage, but also a stage Government and the US Government. as a leader in the Arab world, chairing Clearly, it is a controversial issue in Iraq Sir David Frost: Good news, Ad. Thank the Arab League at this moment and itself, and importantly from an interna- you. Thank you very much indeed. somehow they o!er a better potential tional point of view, it is very necessary SRSG Ad Melkert: Thank you for having than one sees in other countries. So it is to look at the implications for the sta- me.” a mixed bag really. bility of the country, particularly in the north where there are disputed bound- Sir David Frost: A mixed bag really! aries in areas claimed by the Arab side And in terms of people living safe lives, In a Newsmaker interview with or the Kurdish side. That is something of or lives not worried by the number of the UN News Centre on 8 April, concern to us also as the UN to see how explosions or whatever in the course Mr. Melkert said that despite in- with the Iraqi army, but also with the of the day and so on. In your case, you Kurdish Peshmarga forces, something security, there is no doubt that were nearly killed by a bomb! Weren’t can be maintained that was progress things have changed in Iraq you? over the past few years with a so-called over the past few years, noting SRSG Ad Melkert: Well, we were pretty combined security mechanism over- the ongoing reconstruction ef- close in Najaf in October last year, but seen by the Americans. This obviously forts, increased investments and I would thought, even at that time, of is gonna change and we are looking at the willingness of Iraqi political the many Iraqis who did not survive in how we can make our contributions so leaders to meet the people’s de- many places, and it shows that rebuild- to have a kind of international engage- mands. “But it’s an uphill battle ing a country can really come at a price ment in place in order to avoid that to respond to all the demands to many people. And yet there are many things would run out of hand there in that are out there, such as better people that want to take that risk be- future. services, electricity, water, sanita- cause there is a strong motivation with tion, jobs and also many people Sir David Frost: And in terms the pres- the overwhelming majority of the Iraqis sures on the area, do you think that the are very concerned about cor- to get back to normal. insurgents are almost defeated or could ruption.” (The UN News Centre, 8 Sir David Frost: In retrospect, look- rise again? Pray to God not! April 2011) ing back, the big mistake was the allies www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 3 Feature Syriac museum revives memories and hope

By Sabah Abdulrahman, UNAMI PIO

heritage, was full of jubilant visitors from all walks of life who came to im- merse themselves in ancestral memories. Some greeted each other with a kiss on each cheek. Others preferred the handshake. Dressed in splendid colorful traditional costumes and accesso- ries, the museum personnel also gave a glimpse of Syriac history. Benjamine Haddad, an 80-year-old writer, originally from Alqush, is now a Dahuk resident. He was one of the many visitors who couldn’t hide their joy, pride and surprise, while enjoying the museum’s most treasured pieces. “Interest in the cultural heritage of a people is a science on its own today and we have seen in this exhibition the professions of our ancestors, their folk- Habeeb Luka, from Ankawa town, attending the inauguration of the Syriac Museum. lore and cultural products which can Photo by Bikem Ekberzade / UNAMI PIO document all that could be read, heard or seen,” said Haddad with passion. The only one of its kind, the museum is he 68 year-old Habeeb Luka is a re- pioneers of theatrical art in Iraq. built on 1430 square meters in Ankawa’s tired teacher from Assyrian origins. T Like most of women, men and children Darga neighborhood. The two-story ex- His black eyes sparkle with wit and vi- who attended the inauguration of the hibition hall of 300 square meters area vacity in a wrinkled face, creased with #rst Syriac Museum in Iraq’s Kurdis- is a bit small for all its exhibits, said the years of hardship. Looking through his tan region, including a number of top museum director, Mr. Farouq Hanna. thick lenses into a series of photos dis- government o$cials, Habeeb traces Mr. Hanna, a proud Syriac himself, en- played in the cultural hall at the Syriac his origins back to the Syriac people, visages #nding a larger space and a Cultural Museum that was inaugurated frequently known as Assyrians, Syriacs, better location. He wants to make it on 10 April in Ankawa town, northwest Syriac Christians, or Chaldeans. With one of the best museums in the country Erbil, Habeeb seemed pleasantly over- the spread of Christianity in Mesopo- that would attract visitors from around whelmed with his ancestors’ heritage tamia around the #rst century A.D., the world. Hanna’s concern, however, that had #nally made it to a museum. the descendants of this ethnic group, is that none of his 50 sta! are properly Habeeb looked immersed in childhood whose origins lie in the Fertile Crescent, trained to work in museums. memories as he stared at an old photo converted to Christianity. An agro-engineer by profession, Han- of his own father standing up next to Since the Middle Ages, most of the Syri- na’s appointment as the Director of other students in front of one of An- ac people live as minorities under other the Syriac Museum was a mere coin- kawa’s mud school. He was slowly tour- ethnic groups’ rule mainly across Iraq, cidence. One sunny day in June 2009, ing the museum in awe and religiously Syria, Iran, and Turkey, while the rest he approached the Directorate-General examining old manuscripts of the Bible, has migrated to di!erent parts of the for Syriac Culture and Heritage, solicit- ecclesiasts manuscripts, text prayers, as world. Currently, the largest concen- ing their support for opening a cultural well as birth, marriage and school grad- tration of Syriac people is to be found exhibition for a Syriac collection he’d uation certi#cates. in Ninewa plain, between Erbil and worked passionately to put together “I feel like living those days again,” Ninewa, as well as in Ankawa, a small over years. Hanna didn’t know how said Habeeb as his eyes, glazed with town of Christian majority of about lucky he was. The Directorate-General emotion, were admiring several Syriac 30,000 population northwest Erbil. The had already obtained an approval for newspapers, audio records of Syriac Syriac Museum and ecstatic visitors cel- opening a cultural and heritage mu- folklore and hundreds of portraits of ebrated a glorious past and an asserted seum and was looking for the right notables, historians, musicians, singers, identity. person to run it. Without hesitation, the playwrights and actors known to be the The Museum, a small space for a great www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 4 Directorate o!ered Hanna the job that he gladly accepted. A small building was rented to kick o! the project before work on the main building for the museum would start later in 2009. As far as the story of this museum goes, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is to be credited for having made this dream come true. The KRG municipality of Ankawa o!ered a plot of land which would host the museum building while the KRG Ministry of Culture funded the museum furniture and covered the administrative costs. Within two years, and thanks also to do- nations of cultural and heritage pieces from 376 individuals and groups, over 3,000 pieces were collected from villages around Ankawa, Ninewa plain, Benjamin Haddad, taking a closer look at the handwritten manuscripts, featured in the Syriac Museum. Dahuk, Kirkuk and many other places, Photo by Bikem Ekberzade/UNAMI PIO including Hakkari in southeast Turkey. The collected materials tell the story in four languages—Syriac, Kurdish, we are on the right path for reviving our of Syriac heritage, from traditional Arabic and English. culture and heritage!” costumes to dishes, agricultural and handicraft tools and manuscripts, pho- Few hours after the inauguration, in- Habib couldn’t agree more as he com- tographs and voice records of folklore spired by what they saw in the muse- pleted touring the museum. An almost and traditional music and songs. Before um, six additional people donated new forgotten glorious past has been re- putting the materials to display, they pieces to the collection, said Mr. Farouq vived in the museum with a great deal were cleaned, catalogued and tagged with a glowing face: “This shows that of hope lying ahead, he thought.

Cultural Heritage Protecting Iraq’s cultural heritage for future generations: First ICC plenary held in Iraq By George Papagiannis, UNESCO - Iraq

raqi officials took significant steps, with the support of UNESCO and international experts, to address threats I against the nation’s cultural heritage at the 5th Plena- ry of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Iraq, also known as the ICC. The meeting, held for the first time in Iraq, took place on April 3rd and 4th and resulted in a list of targeted recommendations intended to ensure the pres- ervation Iraq’s cultural heritage for future generations. The Ministry of Culture of Iraq representative, Deputy Minister Mr. Fawzy Al Atroushi, chaired the meeting of behalf of the Government of Iraq. As testimony to the importance of the ICC, the First Lady

Opening of the Fifth plenary session of ICC Iraq, organized for the #rst time in Iraq. of Iraq, Hero Khan, opened the session with words of Photo by UNESCO encouragement to the plenary. She did also voice her concern over potential lost heritage in the Marshlands of www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 5 southern Iraq, where an entire culture that allows the brightest international Babylon Museum, to be located in was nearly wiped out due to the poli- minds to join with their Iraqi counter- the former presidential palace, which cies of the last regime. parts. The other was to identify ac- would be based on the holistic ap- tions to be taken to safeguard and proach taken in the design of the Also present at the meeting was Mr. promote Iraqi cultural heritage. And Basra and Sulaymaniyah museum Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Direc- all of this to ensure that future gen- projects that include supportive, tor General of UNESCO for the Cul- erations can learn from the valuable yet strong roles for the international ture sector, who emphasized that lessons that first emerged from the community. “The reconstruction and future de- peoples of these lands.” velopment of Iraq must occur within The 5th Plenary marked the first time a framework, and culture provides Key programmatic recommendations the ICC has met on Iraqi soil. The sym- that framework. Our heritage tells us included: bolism was not lost on the ICC mem- where we’ve been, lighting the way bers who saw this as an important t $PPQFSBUJOH XJUI JOUFSOBUJPOBM FY - for our future endeavors.” transition to true and full Iraqi own- perts on the preparation of the Man- ership of this deliberative body. The The recommendations covered spe- agement Master Plan for the Marsh- next technical ICC meeting is to be or- cific policy and management areas lands for the potential of creating a ganized in Baghdad, and the next po- and actions to be undertaken to pre- mixed cultural and natural heritage litical meeting in Najaf, in view of the vent any further loss of Iraqi heritage, site, in light of the ongoing process celebration of Najaf as Islamic Culture a fact emotionally highlighted by the for its nomination to the World Heri- Capital in 2012. Advisor of the Ministry of Tourism and tage List; Antiquities, Mr. Bahaa Mayah. For more information please contact Ms. t &YQBOEJOH UIF &SCJM $JUBEFM NBJO - “This meeting had two primary objec- tenance Master Plan into a compre- Tamara Teneishvili, Programme Specialist, tives in support of one goal,” said Mo- hensive management plan within the Culture Sector UNESCO Iraq: hamed Djelid, Director of the UNESCO Citadel’s larger urban context; [email protected] +962 (6) 590 2340 Iraq Office. “One objective was to t %FWFMPQJOH B NBTUFS QMBO GPS UIF firmly establish a working mechanism

Development Iraqi Youth Conference: Making youth views and voices heard

By UNDP Iraq sta! he situation in Iraq in the last years has been character- ised by dynamic changes, with positive e!orts towards Treconciliation and economic recovery. However, signi#cant challenges remain within development and social integration that cause deep uncertainty about the future of the country. As in many post-con%ict contexts, one of the largest obstacles for recovery in Iraq is the lack of perspec- tive regarding opportunities that the country can o!er to its people. This is particularly true for the youth of Iraq who have been severely a!ected. Many have lost hope in the future and are frustrated by their limited potential to contribute to social and economic progress. At this turning point in the history of Iraq, when the forces of integration and inclusion are still being shaped, many youth feel disoriented. Yet youth represent the largest seg- ment of the Iraqi population. Iraq is one of the most youth- ful countries in the world with nearly half of its population Participants in the Iraq Youth Conference gather for a group photo. under 19 years of age; hence youth is the country’s largest Photo by Magic Carpet/ Spacetoon TV human capital resource . National statistics show that Iraq

1- U.S. Census International Database 2010. www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 6 is progressing towards what is called the “Demographic Gift”: The favourable state when the ratio of children and the aged to the working population diminishes. To maximize bene#ts and to address key issues faced by youth, Iraqi policy makers are focusing on the preparation of e!ective strategies to integrate youth issues into the national development agenda. UN Agencies in Iraq, such as the UN De- velopment Programme (UNDP) and the UN Population Fund, are providing support to these e!orts which acknowledge the role of youth and their contribution to a more sustainable development. These e!orts are in line with international community initiatives and timely as the United Nations on 12 August 2010 The conference brought government and civil society together to hear and in turn address the challenges the Iraqi youth launched the International Year of Youth, faces today. Photo by Magic Carpet / Spacetoon TV with activities and events throughout the world until 12 August 2011. The Youth Conference served as an open tion and implementation of a national In this context and under the strategic consultative forum. Participants listened comprehensive strategy for ensuring a objectives de#ned by the Iraq National to young people’s personal accounts safe, socially, economically and politically Development Plan for 2010-2014, Iraqi and collective experiences as well as productive future for youth, through the counterparts from the government and their concerns, aspirations and propos- combined e!orts of the state, private sec- civil society in partnership with UNDP or- als to address the many challenges lying tor and civil society. ganised on 30 April a National Youth Con- ahead. The conference provided also a Several ministers, parliamentarians and ference, held in Baghdad at the Sa#a Al unique opportunity to discuss with rel- senior government o$cials participated Souhail Cultural and Literary Salon. The evant actors how to respond to these in the Conference, including Mr. Abdul event attracted some 500 young women needs utilizing available instruments Latif Rasheed, representative of the Pres- and men who were selected through uni- such as the Government National Devel- ident of Iraq; Mr. Muhammed Tamim Al- versities, NGOs, and youth cultural or pro- opment Plan, situational analysis and re- Joubouri, Minister of Education; Mr. Nas- fessional associations across the country. ports by UN agencies. sar Al-Rubaiee, Minister of Labour and The National Youth Conference aimed The young participants were articulate Social A!airs; and Ms. Bushra Zouwaini, to provide a platform for youth to share and constructive in their discussions Minister of Women’s A!airs. their voices and open discussion with which inspired consideration among the The participation of MP. Saeed Khoshnow, relevant counterparts on priority issues audience. They stressed their strong and Head of Youth and Sports Committee; MP. addressed in the National Youth Strategy common desire to play an active role in Saleem Al-Joubouri, the chairman of the such as employment, access to services supporting the democratic progress. This Human Rights Committee was another and participation in governance. It also did not prevent critical issues from being testimony to the importance of the Youth aimed at initiating a consultation process raised, such as direct questions regarding Conference. Also present at the event on the Iraq National Human Develop- the lack of progress in the resumption of were Mr. Muhammed Bandar, Chairman ment Report, which proposes to focus on adequate basic services and other press- of the Investment Board; Mr. Zuhair Al- “youth” issues as the key theme. ing problems in Iraq. Potential tensions Ghraibawi, Head of Iraqi Intelligence; and on this issue were resolved in a com- Falih Al-Fayadh, National Security Advisor posed manner within the positive spirit and a large number of representatives of that pervaded the event as a whole. diplomatic missions and international or- The forum o!ered a rare and direct ganizations. glimpse into the world of the young For more information please contact Ms. people in Iraq and their potential. It was Arouna Roshanian, Economic Development successful in raising greater awareness Expert, UNDP-Iraq Telephone +926 6 5608330 on youth-related development issues. ext. 433: [email protected] The extensive discussions resulted in Young people from across Iraq making use of the confer- the identi#cation of 31 recommenda- ence opportunity to have their voice heard. Photo by Magic Carpet / Spacetoon TV tions that aim to promote the formula- www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 7 Health

One woman’s battle with tuberculosis: Fighting o" ignorance and stigma By Ruba Hikmat, WHO Iraq ed person continues to live with the family in the same household and has not undergone proper treatment, family members are endangered and need to take the precaution of seeing a doctor and getting a skin test. During the WHO-IATA workshop, Dmoee was informed that for patients who undergo full treatment including the Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine, the chances of full recovery are good. With so much hope for a good health and better future for her daughter and herself, Dmoee started taking TB drugs that are o!ered free Dmoee Ali and her four year-old daughter Abeer in one of Bagdhad health centres. of charge to all TB patients attend- Photo by Thamer Al-Hali" ing the primary health care centres in Iraq. She also took her destiny into her own hands. moee Ali is a 23 year-old Iraqi facing the same situation. I did my woman from Baghdad and a best to look after my daughter while As medications were putting Dmoee mother of two children. Re- trying to cope with my own infection. and Abeer on the path to healing and D recovery, the young woman started cently, the young woman’s smooth There were times when the psycho- life changed dramatically when she logical and physical pain was simply working for an NGO as an advocate was diagnosed with tuberculosis unbearable,” said Dmoee, painfully for women’s health and rights. This (TB), a disease she thought had van- describing the daily torment of un- job helped her care for the family ished. It was the shock of her life that certainty she had to go through until that the father had abandoned. made her literally lose her breath. she saw some light at the end of the Dmoee and Abeer recovered from What made matters worse for Dmoee tunnel. the disease mainly because the is learning that her four-year old Demoee’s hope for full recovery came mother was lucky enough to have daughter, Abeer, was also infected. during a workshop she attended in a been tested on time and bene#ted “It was extremely painful for me to primary health center in Al-Khadmia from the community mobilization see my daughter su!er from the in- district. The workshop was a commu- programme. fection. Many times I blamed myself nity mobilization event organized by In collaboration with the National Tu- for having caused the su!ering of my the World Health Organization - Iraq berculosis Programme, the Ministry own child just because I didn’t know o$ce, in partnership with the Iraqi of Health, WHO and other partners, enough about Tuberculosis,” said Anti Tuberculosis Association (IATA) IATA regularly holds such community Dmoee in a trembling voice. with the aim to raise awareness of events to reach out to those who are Dmoee’s su!erings didn’t stop there. Iraqis about every aspect of TB pre- in need and educate Iraqi women, Blame, abandonment and stigma vention and treatment, including women and children about how TB were looming large. When Dmoee’s how to deal with social stigma. can prevented and treated and how husband knew about TB infection, The young woman learned that TB is to face stigma and discrimination he left both his wife and daughter in a chronic infection mainly caused by that is prevailing in modern societies. fear of being contaminated. Dmoee’s the mycobacterium tuberculosis bac- Tuberculosis is a major public health own family did the same, leaving the teria that is transmitted from person problem in Iraq, ranking 44 out of young woman and Abeer in utter iso- to person by airborne droplets. She 212 countries and territories by esti- lation and despair. also learned that usually this infec- mated number of cases on the global “I did what any mother would do if tion is passed on as a result of very level. Iraq is considered among the close contact, therefore if the infect- nine high TB burden countries in

www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 8 the Eastern Mediterranean Region, include three governorates in Kurd- and treatment network is not exten- contributing to 3% of the total cases. istan Region of Iraq, and increase sive. Vulnerable populations such as There are an estimated 16,000 TB cas- the management capacity of the Na- prisoners, internally displaced popu- es in Iraq, out of which 7,200 are in- tional Tuberculosis Programme. As a lation, marshlands population and fectious cases. The estimated deaths result, noti#cations of smear positive families and individuals in contact due to TB are more than 3000 every cases increased from 2950 in 2007 to with TB patients haven’t fully cov- year. 3150 in 2008 (from 37% CDR in 2007 ered. to 43% in 2008). Funding through the round 6 grant of For more information please contact Se- the Global Fund to #ght Aids, Tuber- However, despite the increase in the vil Husynova, medical o$cer, WHO- Iraq: culosis and Malaria helped improve case detection rate, the overal still [email protected] ; or Prof. the delivery of services for quality less than 50% and the speed of its Thamer Kadum Yousif Al Hilfy , Excutive Directly Observed Treatment TB care increase (2007 to 2008) is not fast Director of the Iraqi Anti TB Society and for poor and vulnerable populations, enough to ensure timely achieve- lung Disease : +9647703459903; the expansion of these services to ment of global targets. Laboratory [email protected]

Education First distributions for school feeding in Iraq

By Caroline Legros, WFP Iraq

and country. Recognizing the importance of school feeding, the Iraqi Coun- cil of Ministers decided to implement a National School Feeding programme and requested WFP to assist in making the transition to a sustainable programme that is nationally owned, nationally led and sourced. The first distributions for School Feeding in Iraq are now under- way. Locally produced, micronutrient fortified biscuits arrived to the school children on 23 April 2011 in Kifri, Sulaymani. Kifri is one the most vulnerable areas in Iraq as identified by the 2008 GoI/WFP Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment. It has Distributing micronutrient biscuits to Iraqi children. Photo by WFP a large number of female headed households and has been affected by recent droughts and is one of he World Food Programme tion in Iraq. Studies show that im- the 24 vulnerable districts targeted (WFP) is supporting the Min- proving nutrition can help increase under this programme. T istry of Education’s National student’s attention span and alert- School Feeding programme which ness, and enhance their opportu- School feeding is an integral part is designed to encourage children’s nities for personal development, of a cohesive social safety net sys- access to education and to reduce which can then help reduce pov- tem for Iraq. WFP is pleased that drop-outs during primary educa- erty for their families, communities the Government of Iraq has taken

www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 9 ownership of this school feeding Development activity, including a generous contribution of US $17 million to WFP for initial implementation. Assessing the Iraqi civil registration system WFP is supporting the Ministry of By Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Iraq Education with a transition strat- As part of the implementation of Iraq During this ten-day mission, the ex- egy that will provide the base for a Public Sector Modernization Pro- pert was able to have access to rel- future national strategy for school gramme, a United Nations multiagen- evant records and databases; which feeding. This will strengthen the cy initiative, the UN Population Fund enabled him to submit a #rst draft (UNFPA) organized on 6-16 April a report that includes an assessment of government’s capacity to de- functional review mission for the Iraqi the situation of the current civil regis- sign and implement similar pro- civil registration system in both Bagh- tration system, including the gaps and grammes in line with international dad and Erbil. priority areas of improvement to en- school feeding quality standards. hance its overall performance. This mission was facilitated by the WFP’s school meal programmes Amman-based Arab Institute for Train- The report is being reviewed by UN- work towards achieving several ing and Research in Statistics and car- FPA Iraq advisors and will later be dis- Millennium Development Goals ried out by a regional expert in this cussed with the concerned national (MDGs). The programmes directly #eld who visited the civil registration counterparts for their endorsement. related bodies at the Central and Kurd- contribute to the goals of reducing Through this robust Public Sector istan Region governments in Baghdad Modernization Programme coordinat- hunger by half and achieving uni- and Erbil to evaluate the civil registra- ed by UNDP, several UN agencies will versal primary education by 2015, tion system’s e$ciency especially in contribute to creating a public sector and of achieving gender parity in recoding births, deaths, marriages and that delivers high quality and equita- education by 2015. divorces. ble services, especially in the areas of For more information, please contact The Iraqi bodies visited during this mis- education, water and sanitation, and Ms. Manuela Reinfeld: sion included the directorates of civil health services. registration at the ministries of Interior [email protected] For more information, please contact Dr. and Health and the related judicial au- Luay Shabaneh, Chief Technical Advisor, thorities in Baghdad and Erbil as well as Population Census and PDS, UNFPA Iraq: the Central Statistical Organization and [email protected] Kurdistan Regional Statistical O$ce.

Relief IOM continues to support families a"ected by #ooding throughout Iraq

By Courtney Webster – IOM Iraq

he severe storms that occurred in Northern and Central Iraq in mid-April caused massive T%ooding and damaged the homes of hundreds of families. The Rawanduz District and Warte sub-district of Erbil were particularly a!ected on Friday, April 22, with severe rainstorms %ooding a large portion of the Erbil governorate. IOM responded to the crisis in these districts rapidly, as #eld sta! had already been monitoring the situation created by the %oods, and thus were well-prepared to conduct a rapid assessment of the damages and needs of the %ood victims. IOM, along with the Governorate Emergency Cell and the mayor of Rawa- nduz district and Warte sub-district, found that 21

IOM aid reaches regions a!ected by %ooding. families living in Rawanduz and Warte were in need Photo by IOM of urgent humanitarian assistance to help them re- cover from the damage wrought by the storm. www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 10 IOM immediately mobilized supplies while they work to rebuild their dam- spond to the needs of vulnerable popu- and distributed relief packages to the aged homes and communities. lations, should %ooding occur in other 21 families on Tuesday, April 26, in coor- areas of Iraq. The distribution was attended by repre- dination with UNHCR and UNICEF. From sentatives from the local media, as well As a member of the UN Country Team the IOM emergency warehouse, fami- as the mayor of Rawanduz. In addition, (UNCT) for Iraq, IOM Iraq works closely lies received bed frames, pillows, plastic many local community members vol- with the United Nations system and the sheets, plastic furniture, an ice chest, unteered to help IOM with the distribu- Iraqi authorities in support of the Iraqi and a gas stove. UNICEF contributed tion, adding to the overall success and National Development Plan 2010 - 2014, hygiene kits to the distribution as well, e$ciency of the endeavor. and is integrated into all sector outcome as part of an ongoing partnership with teams of the UNCT Coordination Struc- IOM in this regard. These supplies will By utilizing the funding for IOM’s emer- ture. ease the most acute burdens created gency distributions provided by USAID’s by the %ooding, and will drastically im- O$ce of Foreign Disaster Assistance For more information please contact Ber- prove quality of life for a!ected families (OFDA), IOM remains prepared to re- tram Chambers: [email protected]

News Briefs Standing Consultation immunization services through Primary been in close contact with the Iraqi au- Health Centers, targeting unreached thorities with regard to the events of 7-8 Mechanism met under and unvaccinated children in low cover- April in Camp Ashraf. Following a moni- UNAMI auspices age areas in addition to outreach pro- toring visit to the camp on Wednes- grammes and mobile activities across day13 April, UNAMI met with the Iraqi On 25 April 2011, a meeting held in the country. authorities and shared with them the Baghdad in line with the framework of Additionally, 2,000 volunteers visited initial #ndings, con#rming the death of the Standing Consultation Mechanism houses in all Iraqi governorates to edu- 34 people with dozens injured. under UNAMI auspices to advance a res- cate families and mothers about the olution to the Disputed Internal Bound- new and improved vaccines and the ary issues. This meeting was dedicated UNAMI expressed deep concern over importance of immunization. Series of to Kirkuk, with special focus on condi- the events and repeatedly urged the events took place in schools, academic tions necessary to hold the provincial Government of Iraq to refrain from the institutions, and civil societies. council elections. use of force and informed that it will con- According to the Ministry of Health esti- tinue to assist the Government in search In the discussions, the parties empha- mates, 93% of infants received the #rst of a permanent solution to the issues of sized the importance of local participa- DPT1 dose, whereas, 84% received the Camp Ashraf in line with international tion and agreed to hold an expanded DPT3 dose. However 9.8% of infants humanitarian and human rights law and meeting in the coming weeks with the were not brought in to take the third seeks the support of the international participation of Kirkuk stakeholders to dose. community in these e!orts. begin to addressing the outstanding concerns. Iraq has made great strides towards ex- Earlier in the month, UNAMI called for panding immunization for preventable restraint and respect for humanitarian The meeting was facilitated by SRSG Ad diseases. The country has strengthened and human rights and urged the Iraqi Melkert and attended by Dr. Rowsch its surveillance system as hundreds of authorities to provide humanitarian Shawis, Deputy Prime Minister, Council Iraqi health workers received training assistance in this regard and access to of Representative members: Mr. Hassan on detection, reporting, investigation medical services. Al-Sunaid and Dr. Salman Al-Jumaili. and conducting necessary vaccinations. Iraq launches the second The Iraqi media also conducted aware- Four districts in Iraq nomi- ness campaigns to support these e!orts nated to implement the basic vaccination week with the government’s full participation. On 24 - 30 April, Iraqi women, men and In the last few years, Iraq has shown package of health services children across the country were en- a signi#cant change towards measles The implementation of Basic Health gaged in advocacy, education and com- outbreak, which resulted in the decline Service Package through improving the munication activities during the coun- measles’ cases from 30,328 in 2009 to performance of District Health System try’s second immunization week, which 462 in 2010. based on family practice approach, is also included vaccination services. a new WHO Eastern Mediterranean Re- During this week, the Ministry of Health UNAMI concerned over gion initiative recently adopted by the with the support of WHO and UNICEF events at Camp Ashraf Ministry of Health in Iraq. To ensure a expanded its vaccination services. More universal, equitable and e$cient ac- On 16 April, UNAMI issued a press state- than 1,600 vaccinators provided routine cess to essential health services for ev- ment indicating that the mission has www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 11 ery Iraqi especially the most vulnerable the WHO Iraq, launched an awareness impact of landmines and explosive rem- people, the initiative will be introduced raising campaign in all Iraq governorates nants of war on the people of Iraq. It as a pilot in four Iraqi districts, including where educational materials were distrib- also showed how, with support from the Baghdad, Kirkuk, Missan and Erbil gov- uted in addition to organizing lectures, international community, the Govern- ernorates. exhibitions and awareness raising events ment and the people of Iraq are working On 16- 21 April, the Ministry of Health for teachers, academia, doctors and phar- to overcome the tremendous di$culties of Iraq, in cooperation with WHO, Iraq macists in primary health care centers. caused by unexploded devices. Programme, held a workshop in Bei- WHO’s new policy package sets out the NGO-Authority relations rut (Lebanon), on the implementation measures governments and their na- of Basic Health Service Package. High tional partners need to combat drug re- breakthrough in Iraq’s Kurd- level government o$cials along with sistance. The policy steps recommended representatives from USAID and United by WHO include: (1) developing and im- istan Region Nations Relief and Works Agency for plementing a comprehensive, #nanced On 7 April, the Kurdistan Parliament Palestinian Refugees participated in the national plan; (2) strengthen surveillance passed a draft law aimed at improving workshop. and laboratory capacity; (3) ensure unin- transparency of relations between regional authorities and civil society and Facilitated by WHO experts from the terrupted access to essential medicines clarifying the legislative framework for regional o$ce and country o$ces of of assured quality; (4) regulate and pro- NGOs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, the work- moting rational use of medicines; (5) en- shop aimed to reach an agreement on a hance infection prevention and control; UNOPS and the International Centre for roadmap for the implementation of the and (6) foster innovation and research Not-for-Pro#t Law 9 (ICNL), welcomed Health Package in Iraq and on the neces- and development for new tools. this as a signi#cant step towards the em- sary #nancial and human resources and powerment of civil society in the region. to identify the four districts following Moving ahead to improve The text of the draft law, which remains standard criteria and mechanisms for lives of Iraqis affected by to be endorsed by the President of the implementation. Kurdistan Region, is in line with interna- landmines tional best practices and is the result of a WHO and Iraq Ministry of To commemorate Global Mine Action civil society who drove the process. Health joined international Day, the Iraqi Ministry of Environment UNOPS and ICNL have supported the and the United Nations in Iraq held a process of developing an NGO law for call for combating drug resis- press conference on mine action in Iraq the Kurdistan Region of Iraq over several on 5 April at the UN Headquarters in years. Support rendered included expert tance Baghdad. Representatives of national, advisory, raising awareness of interna- Antimicrobial resistance is not a new regional and international media outlets tional best practices of NGO regulations, problem, but one that is becoming more in Iraq interacted with Deputy Minis- and coordination amongst regional dangerous. On the occasion of 2011 ter of Environment, Dr. Kamal Latif, the stakeholders from civil society, Govern- World Health Day, marked every year Head of Humanitarian and Develop- ment, Parliament, and the Presidency on 7 April, WHO introduced a six-point ment O$ce at UNAMI, Mr. Daniel Aug- Council. policy package to combat the rising stburger, and Major General Hadi Athab, threat of drug resistance and called for Director of Military Engineering at the UNAMI Newsletter is published urgent and concerted action by govern- Ministry of Defence. monthly by the UNAMI Public Informa- ments, health professionals, industry and The panel briefed the media on Iraq’s tion O$ce. Contents do not necessarily civil society and patients to slow down continued commitment to building re%ect the o$cial position of the United its global spread, limit its impact today awareness on the dangers of landmines Nations or that of UNAMI. Articles may and preserve medical advances for future and clearing the country from explosive be freely reproduced, with credit to generations. remnants of war, while supporting mine UNAMI Newsletter. For comments and In Iraq, the Day was marked by the Min- victims. suggestions, contact [email protected] istry of Health and WHO Iraq, under the The event also included an exhibition Editor-in-Chief: Radhia Achouri slogan: “Save lives and protect health of photographs by acclaimed landmine Managing Editor: Aicha Elbasri by keeping precious antimicrobial medi- photographer Giovanni Di$denti and Sta! Writer: Randa Jamal cines e!ective to combat diseases”. The well-known Iraqi photographer Jamal Photo Editor: Bikem Ekberzade Ministry of Health, with the support of Penjweny. The exhibit illustrated the Graphic Designer: Salar A. Brifkani

List of UN Acronyms There are 16 UN organisations, programmes, agencies and funds working in Iraq. They are the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organiza- tion (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Educational, Scienti#c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), O$ce of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), UN O$ce for the Coordination of Humanitarian A!airs (UN OCHA), UN O$ce for Project Services (UNOPS), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO). www.uniraq.org UNAMI Newsletter 12 Photo Essay: Inauguration of Syriac Museum The April 10th inauguration of the Museum for Syriac Heritage in Ankawa town, Erbil, is the #rst of its kind in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The opening ceremony attracted not only the residents of this Christian neighborhood, but also some high level guests such as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Minister of Culture, Dr. Kawa Mahmoud, and the Archbishop of Ankawa, Mr. Bashar Mati Warda. Photos by Bikem Ekberzade/UNAMI PIO

Preparing to receive the guests: The opening for the Syriac The small hall where the opening speeches are delivered The Archbishop of Ankawa Basha Warda (L) and the Minister Heritage Museum in Ankawa, Erbil, is a momentous occasion by the director of the Museum as well as honorary guests is of Culture for KRG Dr. Kawa Mahmoud (middle) take a for the local Christian community. Museum personnel in crowded with visitors. moment to discuss the regional dresses used by Syriac com- traditional dresses welcome the guests. munities in towns and villages in the region.

Not the smallest component of daily life in Ankawa goes From old to new, historical to the mundane, not a detail goes The manuscripts as well as old Syriac documents, originals in unnoticed in the Museum, where even the simplest con- unnoticed by visitors. glass cabinets are on display… tributions are backed up by old photographs showing the artifacts customarily used in daily life.

... as well as the historical breakdown of the Syriac alphabet From weapons, to cameras, to toys for small children, every A moment of fun... to decipher them. single item is a contribution by residents of Ankawa.

... and a moment of exhaustion. Each dress is di!erent from the other with regional orna- ... and every document at the Syriac Heritage Museum tells ments distinguishing them from each other. part of the story of one of the most colorful cultures in the diverse cultural landscape of Iraq.