November 23, 2004
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
November 23, 2004 Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected]. 1 Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font. Overview Humanitarian Situation: Continued concern about security, attacks on civilians, hostage taking, crime, and lethal exchanges between multinational force and Iraqis; Food distribution OK; Infrastructure improving very slowly; Reconstruction and humanitarian operations slow—security, supply, and bureaucratic impediments; Political: Final day of International Conference on Iraq hosted by Egypt includes UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer—sense of conference is that elections must be as inclusive as possible—Egypt, Jordan, and the Arab League raised the possibility of delay to increase participation—no specific mention of timely withdrawal of foreign troops; UN: Secretary-General Kofi Annan opens International Conference on Iraq in Egypt—reminds of UN election support role to Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq and calls upon all countries to work together under Security Council resolution 1546 for a secure, free, and stable Iraq; Annan meets with his Special Representative Ashraf Qazi; Qazi in frequent contact with Iraqi government on Fallujah humanitarian situation; Refugees: UNHCR has unverified report that about one third of 4,200 Iranian Kurds have left Al Tash camp near Ramadi and Fallujah fighting as utilities and security degrade; UNHCR calls for countries to refrain from forcing Iraqis to return home and discourages voluntary repatriation due to security concerns; However, over 100,000 refugees estimated to have returned from Iran—most returning from Iran to south have been unassisted with minimal problems; 80,000 to 130,000 Iraqi refugees are estimated to remain in Iran; Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Humanitarian organizations in Jordan estimate 250,000 IDPs from Fallujah moved to neighboring areas, including Baghdad; ICRC, Iraqi Red Crescent, Association of Islamic Aid, and other local affiliates of NGOs delivering assistance to IDPs outside Fallujah; The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) estimates between 650,000 and 900,000 longer-term IDPs in Iraq—most of these do not stem from recent war and most are in north; Civil Society/Rule of Law: Prime Minister Iyad Allawi talks up elections on schedule—January 30, 2005; Iraq will have trained about half the security forces needed for the 9,000 polling locations— source of additional security to be determined; Second Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars cleric assassinated in two days; Defense Minister Hazim Shaalan says Saddam Hussein trial will start this year; Insurgent attacks, bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations continue; Civil–Military Interaction: Multinational force is distributing humanitarian supplies from mosques inside Fallujah—residents not allowed to return—no timetable given for residents to return—water and power out, requiring major reconstruction—many buildings need to be repaired or demolished--about one third of 1,450 taken into custody during fight are released as non-combatants; Humanitarian Access to Iraq: International Committee of the Red Cross convoy gains access to Fallujah--no systematic, independent assessment of Fallujah and surrounding IDP humanitarian situation; Iraqi government and multinational force say no crisis in Fallujah and they are handling needs; World Vision Australia pulls out of Iraq in wake of murder of its director in September and CARE’s director this month; Economy/Oil: Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi calls for Paris Club to write off remaining 20% of Iraq’s debt and for Arab countries, with US$80 billion of Iraq’s debt, to write it off; Paris Club of 19 Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected]. 2 countries, including US, Russia, France, and Germany, writes off 80% of Iraq’s US$42 billion debt; Attacks on oil infrastructure continue; Oil exports not expected to exceed pre-war levels till 2005; Oil income of US$18 billion during 20 months since war; Water/power: Water and power remain out in Fallujah; Power generation slips to about 4,000 megawatts (MW) in October—prewar level was 4,400 MW—Baghdad has had nearly 18 hours a day of electricity—additional significant rehab will be complete in 2005; US military reports that more than half the Iraqi population has access to potable water and that less than half the sewage treatment plants are working; Food: World Food Program (WFP) worries that food supplies inside Fallujah cannot be moved to support Fallujah IDPs in neighboring towns; Public Distribution System (PDS) food delivery running smoothly-- insecurity hampers distribution in some areas; October food distribution complete with some shortages; Ministry of Trade takes over from WFP in contracting for food; WFP acquiring food supplies to implement one-year emergency program for most vulnerable; Health and Medical: Fallujah wounded evacuated to Baghdad; Dr Salih al-Isawi, acting director of the Fallujah General Hospital, says military operations during conflict kept out medical staff, supplies, and equipment sent by Health Ministry; Continued shortage of medical supplies reported in conflict cities-- Ramadi and Samarrah, in Najaf, site of earlier conflict, in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, and in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad. In Country Humanitarian Assistance Information By Region North Region Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah Coordination UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI) is aware of 36 NGOs in northern Iraq. International Rescue Committee (IRC) phasing out humanitarian assistance programs in Iraq due to security concerns after completing nearly all of its initial projects – has worked in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk. (Tuesday, Nov-09-04) Population Population of Erbil: 1,334,176 Population of Sulaymaniyah: 1,605,506 Population of Dahuk: 817,376 IDPs Estimated 350 Assyrian Christian families in Baghdad ready to return to northern Iraq after attacks against churches in Baghdad and Mosul in August and October. However, Kurdish Muslims living on land Christians occupied before resettlement by Saddam Hussein do not want to leave. Ministry of Displacement and Migration, Christian and Kurdish groups discussing possible solutions. (Monday, Nov-22-04) According to UNHCR, there are approximately 42,000 IDPs living in Dahuk Governorate, 5,000 of which are living under the care of UN agencies. Included are Syrians fleeing Kurdish violence and Iranian Kurds from Al-Tash camp in Al-Anbar Governorate. Food No New Information Health Sulaymaniyah Minister of Health says the governorate has fewer than 200 doctors. Authorities are trying to encourage specialist doctors back to the region and train current medical staff. (Tuesday, Oct-05-04) Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected]. 3 Non-Food Items – No New Information Shelter Water & No New Information Sanitation Security Demining NGOs estimate more than 3,000 minefields remaining in the three northern governorates with 10 million mines. Nine demining organizations working, including four local ones. Mine awareness and removal being addressed. (Wednesday, July-7-04) Other/Comments No New Information Al-Tamim, Ninewa, Salahaldin Coordination World Vision Australia, based in Mosul, says it is pulling out of Iraq due to security concerns. Head of operations was shot dead in Mosul on September 29. NGO had been operating for nearly 18 months and assisted nearly 600,000 people. (Friday, Nov-19-04) Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) says it is sending humanitarian aid to Tal Afar in coming days. (Thursday, Nov-18-04) International Rescue Committee (IRC) phasing out humanitarian assistance programs in Iraq due to security concerns after completing nearly all of its initial projects – has worked in Kirkuk. (Tuesday, Nov-09-04) Population Population of Mosul: 1.7 million Population of Kirkuk: 755,700 Population of Tikrit: 28,000 IDPs International NGOS planning IDP projects in Kirkuk suspend work after agreement by city’s three main Kurdish, Turkoman and Arab communities to form an IDP committee collapsed. (Monday, Oct-25-04) An estimated 14,000 families have arrived in the city since last year’s war. Over 3,000 mainly Kurdish families are living in tents, the city stadium and 20 schools. (Monday, Oct-25-04) Kirkuk has about 15,000 IDPs. The City Council sets up commission to coordinate IDP-related matters. Local Kurdish NGOs nearing end of project to provide aid to poor IDP families that have returned to Kirkuk since last spring. (Monday, Oct-11-04) According to reports, Salahaldin has over 70,000 IDPs, including 65,747 Kurds, 4,757 Turkmen, and 2,226 Arabs. Al-Tamim has some 84,000 IDPs, including 77,000 Kurds, 5,000 Arabs, and 2,000 Turkmen—most are in 44 camps. (Friday, Sept-03-04) Food UNICEF has been helping to deliver food supplies to Samarrah through (International Red Crescent Society) IRCS and UK-based NGO, Islamic Relief. (Tuesday, Oct-19-04) Health Samarrah Central Hospital reports severe shortage of medicine since fighting began in beginning of October despite interim deliveries by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). (Tuesday, Oct-19-04) Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information.