IRAQ

SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004

OVERVIEW ► On 30 January 2005, Iraqis participated in the first free elections in fifty years. The international community hailed the elections as a success and await the final outcome expected to be released in the near future. While most attention has been focused on the elections, the humanitarian community continues to express concern over the situation of displaced persons living in and around Falluja. The UNCT for is currently preparing the 2005 Strategic Plan outlining AQ AQ AQ expected projects and programmes for the period 2005-2007. The plan is based on a process of wide consultations with Iraqi partners and is in line with the National Development Strategy. IR HUMANITARIAN ► The situation of displaced persons in and around continues to be closely monitored as the

FOR return and recovery process inside the city gathers pace. UN and IOM partners continue to assess

humanitarian and protection needs and provide emergency assistance in the areas of food, water, non-food items, health, and education throughout the IDP locations. Moreover, the UN offered material support in the form of non-food items to the IIG’s relief and reconstruction plans for the city. Large numbers of residents are reportedly returning to stay inside Fallujah despite the harsh living conditions, which include a lack of adequate shelter, water, electricity, health, and education.

Internal displacements throughout the rest of the country, whether due to military operations or ethno-religious tensions, remain a major concern, especially in the areas of and .

UN ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE ► Public Outreach Material Distribution: Over the reporting period, 5,000 Civic Education Handbooks and 2,500 flipcharts which were printed in Amman and shipped to . Distribution within Iraq was taken over by Electoral Commission of Iraq’s (IECI) public outreach division. An additional 4,000 manuals are being distributed through the domestic observation networks.

SSISTANCE MISSION As sample materials, an English version of Civic Education is being distributed to donors and the diplomatic community in and oversees, as well as to NGOs and other associations. This version was produced for illustrative purposes only.

The public outreach graphic designer assisted in the production of two voter information leaflets which were printed in Baghdad. These leaflets were used to inform voters in Ninewa and Anbar

TIONS A Governorates that they could register and vote on polling day and to disseminate the message,

A “one person, one vote".

UNAMI Electoral Assistance continued development of web pages explaining the UN’s technical assistance role in the run-up to the January 30 Iraqi elections. Web pages have been uploaded to the UNAMI (www.uniraq.org ) website.

Electoral Material Logistics: The logistics operation of bringing in electoral material to Iraq was completed on the 25 January 2005. IECI logistics returned to Baghdad after the completion of the operation. All UN logistics advisors have returned to the Amman support office. UNITED N

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 A concept document on post elections activities has been prepared and will be revised by the Chief Electoral Officer and Electoral Assistance Division HQ. This will include a continuation of technical and capacity building of IECI staff in addition to assistance to the National Assembly on constitutional articles relevant to elections.

Staffing:Staffing: One Amman Logistics staff was deployed to Iraq on 26 January 2005 to support the UN team in Baghdad. It is expected that UN electoral staff will start leaving Baghdad in small groups

AQ AQ AQ for debriefings in February in order to allow for the return of the team into Baghdad by the first week of March 2005 for continuation of activities. IR ► As a follow up to the consultative meeting of forensic experts on enforced or involuntary disappearances in Iraq, held last 8-9 November 2004, the Ministry of Human Rights of the Iraqi FOR

Interim Government (IIG) and the UNAMI Human Rights Office convened a four-day Policy Group meeting from 14-17 January 2005 to consider the establishment of a National Centre for Missing and Disappeared Persons in Iraq.

The Policy Group called upon the IIG to establish a National Centre for Missing and Disappeared Persons in Iraq, for Iraqis and other nationalities, and for that purpose 1. Take the appropriate measures under the law by enacting the required legislation which will enable it to act in accordance with its mandate, which will guarantee its financial and administrative independence, and 2. Ensure that, initially, the National Centre is supported by the Ministry of Human Rights, pending the enactment of legislation establishing the Centre as an independent body.

The Policy Group also called upon Iraqi society, institutions, and individuals to cooperate fully with the National Centre to ensure that the fate of those who are missing or who have involuntarily disappeared is determined and that the information is given to the families. In addition, the Group called upon the international community to extend its support to the National Centre by assisting with the provision of the expertise and resources that it will require for the successful pursuit of its humanitarian objective.

SSISTANCE MISSION PROGRAMME ►

EDUCATION AND CULTURE (Cluster 1)

Cultural Heritage Training Course: The UNESCO Iraq Office, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Iraq Unit, Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Embassy TIONS A of Germany in Baghdad, and Embassy of France in Baghdad have signed the minutes of A discussions in Amman on 31 January 2005 on “Cultural Heritage Training Course for Iraq, Comprehensive Preservation/ Management”, due to take place in Amman from 15 February-23 March 2005. The trainees will include 10 technical experts in conservation, preservation, and management of archaeological sites and five conservation architects. UNESCO’s role in the training course will be to provide professional advice on the course programme, dispatch two experts on “International Standard on Conservation” from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and “International Law for Protection Practices” from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural

UNITED N Property (ICCROM), and to organize training course/sessions allocated for the UNESCO team according to training course schedule.

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 This workshop is considered as a follow-up to the previous “Workshop on Cultural Heritage and Museum Management in Iraq”, organized by JICA jointly with UNESCO last September 2004. It is part of Japan/JICA’s plan to implement a technical cooperation programme for Iraqis in Jordan for the coming three years.

Conservation Laboratories of the Iraqi National Museum: The Rehabilitation of the Conservation Laboratories of the Iraqi National Museum funded by the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust has

AQ AQ AQ been fully implemented. The project aimed at restoring the proper functional shape of the museum’s labs. Following this stage, there will be a provision of equipment to the laboratories IR and the organization of a training course for the lab’s staff in Japan.

Accelerated Learning Programme: ALP is a new programme in Iraq targeting those out of school children and youth who were excluded from or dropped out of schooling. This programme, FOR covering children aged 14 to 18 years, condenses six years of primary school study into three

years.

UNICEF organized a workshop for officials from the Curriculum Department at the Ministry of Education (MoE) from 18-20 January in Amman. The purpose of the workshop was for MoE and UNICEF to prepare a joint plan of action for an Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP).

This programme will first be piloted in 10 governorates in Iraq, benefiting 750-1000 children in each of the selected governorates. These governorates were chosen based on their relatively low school enrolment rates according to the 2003 school survey conducted by MoE and UNICEF. New ALP departments were established in the 10 Directorates of Education (DoEs) and are already functional. Special questionnaires were developed and a survey on eligible children in the selected governorates was conducted. A condensed curriculum developed by MoE is now under revision and will soon be printed.

School Survey: Volume III (School Atlas) of the school survey report is currently being prepared. MoE and UNICEF agreed that MoE will start preparing the Atlas outline to ensure delegates from

SSISTANCE MISSION the GIS section in MoE will come to Amman by mid-February to work with the UNICEF team on finalizing the design of the Atlas. Volume III is expected to be released by March.

Comprehensive School Rehabilitation: 10 schools in Baghdad were completely rehabilitated by UNICEF and implementing partners and handed over to Directorates of Education. Contracts for the rehabilitation of seven schools have been approved and rehabilitation works will soon begin. The rehabilitation of 74 schools is in progress and new contracts have been approved for an

TIONS A additional 10 schools. A Rehabilitation of Water and Sanitation Facilities: The rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities is ongoing in 20 schools in Missan governorate including providing new water tanks, replacing all damaged latrines and adding new latrines for crowded schools. Contracts for the rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities in 10 more schools have been approved in Dahuk and work will start soon.

Rehabilitation of Educational Facilities: UN-HABITAT completed the rehabilitation of the Teachers Training Institute for females in Samawa and two workshops in Basrah’s Technical UNITED N Institute. In addition, furniture was delivered to five schools in Nassriyah during the past two weeks. UNAMI Reporting Unit 3/13

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 HEALTH (Cluster 2)

Rehabilitation of Health Facilities: WHO and the MoH are now finalising the list of health facilities to be rehabilitated as part of the UNDG Iraq Trust Fund Primary Health Care Programme. This follows the rehabilitation needs assessment conducted in November 2004 of Primary Health Care facilities in the 19 districts (one in each governorate, with two in Baghdad).

AQ AQ AQ Rehabilitation of Umm Qasr’s : WHO is to rehabilitate the only hospital in Umm Qasr, for which plans and drawings are soon to be finalised. The rehabilitation forms part of the IR “Community Support Project for Umm Qasr”, an inter-agency project being led by UNDP in collaboration with other concerned UN organizations (WHO, UN-HABITAT, and UNICEF) to adequately and effectively cover the basic education, health, water, sanitation, and infra-structural needs of Umm Qasr. FOR

HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan: WHO has conducted a review of a HIV/AIDS project proposal for Iraq. One of the main issues included in the proposal is a review of the national strategic plan for HIV/AIDS. WHO will support the process towards the finalisation of a full HIV/AIDS strategy, including the situation and response analysis, drafting the strategic plan, and resource mobilisation.

Vector Control Programme: WHO-Iraq and the WHO-Regional Office have completed a technical review of a proposed Vector Control Programme for Iraq. The proposed programme will include different activities, such as entomological surveillance, rodent control campaigns, spraying in waste dumping and garbage collecting sites, training workshops and meetings, raising public awareness, and enhancing the programme monitoring and supervision of activities.

Reproductive Health: The MoH-supported by WHO-participated in the WHO/UNFPA “Strategic Partnership Programmes Regional Workshop” in Cairo/ from the 14-18 January 2005, on making pregnancy safer and family planning evidence based guidance. An action plan was drafted to implement evidence based guidelines in Iraq, starting from April - December 2005.

SSISTANCE MISSION National Food Safety Training: WHO and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) met on 27 January 2005 to finalise the preparations of a series of national food safety training courses for food control managers, food inspectors, and food control laboratory technicians. The first course will be attended by 23 food control managers from the Iraqi Ministry of Health and all DoH governorates in February.

TIONS A Emergency Health Support: UNICEF, in coordination with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS)

A and the Ministry of Health (MoH), is providing emergency health support to children and their families in conflict areas. Support was provided in the form of Paediatric Scales for growth monitoring (at a total value of US$70,000 - part of the larger shipment) and emergency medicines consisting of a container of IV fluids at a total value of US$25,000 delivered to the MoH warehouse.

Following an urgent request from MoH, 500,000 doses of BCG (anti TB) vaccine, with a total value of US$50,000, will be delivered to Baghdad in March 2005.

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 Wheat Flour Fortification Project: A meeting was held with the Nutrition Director of the MoH in Jordan, where an agenda was approved for the Iraqi MoH/MoT delegation visit, to discuss training needs for the Wheat Flour Fortification Project.

Health Monitoring: UNICEF Health monitors carried out monitoring visits to the Departments of Health in Mosul, Kirkuk, and the 3 Northern Governorates, where they discussed needs and the health situation in general.

AQ AQ AQ Strengthening Immunization Services: A proposal on Strengthening Immunization Services (at a IR total value of US$8 million) was submitted to the Cluster for review.

Public Health Centre (PHC) Rehabilitation: The bidding process was completed for the installation of two cold chain rooms at the National Vaccine Store in Baghdad and the FOR construction of 13 PHC centres; three in Diwaniya, two in Kirkuk, one in Al-, one in

Ninewa, four in Diyala, and two in Wassit. Contracts will be awarded early February for a total value of US$2,112,807. It is expected that construction will be completed within 4-6 months.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING (Cluster 4)

Building Materials & Technologies for Iraq: Five senior level professionals from the Ministry of Construction and Housing, public construction companies, and the building research centre were part of a study tour on Building Materials and Technology, organized by UN-HABITAT under the UNDG Trust Fund (TF) approved project, “Strengthening the Capacity of the Housing Sector in Iraq.”

The delegates who explored the Bau 2005 International Trade Fair for Building Materials, Building Systems, and Building Renovation held in Munich were provided with an excellent opportunity to obtain necessary exposure to the world of building materials and technology and meet with hundreds of building materials and technologies exhibitors from around the world. In addition, the delegates were encouraged to adopt policies that liberalize trade and import, and

SSISTANCE MISSION private sector production of new, cheap, and labour intensive building materials which have positive impacts on the housing sector and housing production affordability.

Training for Iraqi Professionals on Housing Finance: Twelve Iraqi professionals were trained in housing finance practices and tools towards strengthening the UNDG TF project, “Capacity of the Housing Sector in Iraq”. The training was organised by UN-HABITAT and the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Science. TIONS A

A Distribution Planning: Presentations by potential suppliers of distribution planning software packages were undertaken in the UNDP offices in Amman to assist the Ministry of Electricity (MoE) planning department and UNDP to select the most suitable package. This software and other ancillary items such as work stations (which have already been delivered) will assist in strengthening the planning capacities of the Ministry using modern planning techniques and software.

Under the same project, ten working stations (computers), eight hand-held microcomputers, ten

UNITED N GPS units, and many accessories were delivered. Initially, these are to be used to train a core

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 MoE team and will eventually be transferred to the MoE offices in Baghdad to be utilized for planning purposes.

Provision of Office Equipment to the MoE: To strengthen the capabilities of the MoE and replace equipment looted during and following the war in 2003, office equipment such as computers, scanners, and printers were delivered to the Ministry offices in Baghdad. These were procured with funds provided from a DFID-sponsored project in support of the electricity sector. AQ The donor community, as well as the UN, was experiencing difficulties in communicating

IR electronically with the MoE. Therefore, through UNDP core funds, office equipment was procured and delivered to the MoE departments in southern Iraq most affected by the last war.

AGRICULTURE, WATER RESOURCES, AND ENVIRONMENT (Cluster 5)

FOR Water Resources: The implementation of an UNDG TF programme, worth US$35 million, is progressing as scheduled. This programme includes three irrigation projects which aim to rehabilitate pumping stations, community irrigation schemes, and the drain. In addition, a training programme budgeted at US$1.1 million has been drawn up and submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture for review. The proposed programme aims to strengthen basic irrigation and drainage engineering and agronomic skills, update professionals on the latest developments in irrigation and drainage, encourage professionals and technicians from different disciplines to work together for the benefit of irrigation farmers, encourage stronger links between irrigation engineering (in the MoWR) and irrigated agriculture (in MoA), and to encourage professionals and technicians to communicate with farmers and work in a participatory manner.

Distribution of Fertiliser: Despite the instability resulting from the elections, FAO national field staff in Iraq distributed 500 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer urea to 3,898 beneficiaries in the lower southern governorates of , Missan, Muthanna, and Thi-Qar.

Restoration of Veterinary and Livestock Services: Under an UNDG TF supported project, FAO is SSISTANCE MISSION proceeding with the procurement of animal health equipment, artificial insemination equipment, and live animals worth US$6.8 million. The second training module on animal health is being organised in collaboration with the Iraqi veterinary staff. It aims to develop institutional and executive approaches to national livestock diseases such as Brucellosis and FMD. FAO also identified a large number of pertinent technical publications to be translated into Arabic and handed over to the Iraqi veterinary staff in order to serve as a resource.

TIONS A

A Capacity Building in Water Institutions Project: In preparation for the establishment of a local training facility within the Ministry of Water Resources, the procurement process of IT equipment for GIS and local training is under way. In addition, FAO is organizing the training- of-trainers workshop, “Integrated Water Resources Management”, to be held in March.

This workshop will provide training materials on international water sharing to prevent potential water-related conflicts and to build regional cooperation, incorporating cases and examples specific to the and Euphrates Rivers in collaboration with experts in this field.

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 The Cottage Industry Project: The evaluation of the bids to conduct a baseline survey is under review at UNIDO Head Quarters.

Rehabilitation of Iraq’s Diary Sector: UNIDO held a one-day project inception workshop entitled, “Pilot Project for the Rehabilitation of the Dairy Sector in Iraq” on 17 January 2005. Participants included Iraqi delegates from the Ministry of Industry, and Ministry of Agriculture. The project is funded by the Italian Government contribution to the United Nations Development Group

AQ AQ AQ (UNDG) Iraq Trust Fund Facility. The project, which is worth $4 million, aims to set up a pilot project at one of several major dairy facilities and use that project experience as the basis for IR planning other dairy plant rehabilitations. The goal of the workshop was to determine implementation modalities and assign responsibilities for the project.

Date Palm Sector Rehabilitation: UNIDO held another one-day project development workshop FOR entitled, “Date Palm Sector Restoration Program” on 18 January 2005. Participants included

Iraqi delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade. The project, which is being developed, is estimated to be worth US$10 million and aims to set up a project at the Iraqi Date Palm Company. The goal of the workshop was to determine project design, preparation for a site assessment, and discuss implementation modalities with stakeholders, which will be a joint FAO-UNIDO effort.

FOOD SECURITY (Cluster 6)

School Feeding: The first quantities of High Energy Biscuits, to be distributed as part of WFP’s current emergency operation, have arrived in Iraq. The biscuits will be distributed to primary school children as part of WFP’s school feeding activities. The commodities had been previously delayed due to the closure of the Iraq/Syria border.

Vulnerability Assessment: The second round of vulnerability assessment and mapping (VAM) training for Iraqi officials is scheduled to be held in Cairo from 6-10 February. The workshop will build on a previous WFP training workshop to build capacities among Iraqi officials in

SSISTANCE MISSION statistical analysis with respect to assessing food security and vulnerability.

MINE ACTION (Cluster 7)

Mine Risk Education: UNICEF continued to provide technical support to the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA). In addition, UNICEF is currently discussing the possibility of sharing the costs of providing technical advisors to NMAA with UNDP, based on UNICEF

TIONS A funding one Mine Risk Education technical advisor to NMAA.

A NMAA Training: A mission training session was conducted in Amman from 16-20 January 2005 for the technical advisors provided by UNDP to the National Mine Action Authority through a contact with Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation (VVAF).

Landmine Impact Survey: The UNDP contracted Landmine Impact Survey Team Leader continued with the survey in the three northern and four southern governorates. To date, of the 2,258 villages visited in the north, 536 villages were found to be contaminated. In the south, of UNITED N 946 villages visited, 142 were found to be contaminated.

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 Conference on Mine Support: The mine action cluster representatives, together with the NMAA, conducted the first preparatory meeting for the “Conference on the Support to Mine Action in Iraq”, scheduled for 16 February 2005 in Amman. The necessary arrangements and responsibilities were discussed and agreed upon.

Mine Clearance Activities: UN supported clearance activities continued in Basrah. A total of 6,400 items of explosive ordnances, weighing 17.6 tons, were destroyed in an area of 30,900

AQ AQ AQ square meters of land. UNDG trust funding has been approved for an UNOPS proposed project for continuation and expansion of the mine/UXO clearance operations in southern Iraq. IR REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS - IDPS (Cluster 8)

Humanitarian Response Activities for Falluja FOR Assistance to Returnees: UNHCR received from its partner a preliminary report on the survey on

Return to Fallujah. The assessment lasted 9 days and covered locations such as Karma and surroundings, Habaniyah, Rawa, Saklawiyah and surroundings. 4,500 interviews were conducted as well as 1,533 questionnaires were processed, analysed, and entered into the database. At this stage, the final report is still pending.

The security measures established with regard to the elections held on January 30, 2005 in Iraq also suspended for some time implementation of the project activities in central Iraq. From its warehouse in Baghdad, UNHCR released 44,500 blankets and 12,836 cooking stoves that were distributed in Al Anbar province through an implementing partner. The distribution targeted IDPs displaced from the Fallujah crisis. The above NFIs were a part of the joint distribution with IOM.

IDP Non-Food and Food Distributions: IOM has completed the distribution of non-food and food items to over 9,000 IDP families who fled Fallujah to Baghdad. The families are located in six sites: Abu Gharaib, Taji, Karkh, Tarmiya, Adamiya and Khadmiyah.

Return and Reintegration of IDPs and Iraqi Refugees in the Northern Governorates

SSISTANCE MISSION Vocational Training: UNOPS has completed the revision of the Memorandums of Agreement with implementing partners for the provision of vocational training for some 100 beneficiaries and conducting a specialised training for teachers. Upon the signing of these MoAs the selected partners, Department of Education, the Centre for Women Activities, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, will commence skills building programmes in sewing, hairdressing and interior completion construction works. Out of the first group of 100 participants, more than 70 % will be women.

TIONS A

A Shelter Assistance: In Sarsink, the new locations for provision of shelter assistance were selected and proposed by the local authorities. The list has been submitted to UNOPS for revision and approval and is currently being discussed.

District Planning Committees, established under the project last year, continued to meet on a frequent basis and worked with UNOPS staff in order to prepare land and construction materials distribution to beneficiaries. However, the standards for the settlements designs are still being discussed. Once these are agreed, the process of shelter assistance provision will commence and the construction materials will be distributed to the selected beneficiaries. A further procurement UNITED N of construction materials was carried out. As of 31 January 2005 the total cumulative number of

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 the housing units procured internationally amounts to 1,568. These units have been delivered and stored in the project warehouses.

IDP Assistance Emergency Distributions and Winterization: Over 25,000 IDP and vulnerable families to date have received Winterization packages from IOM. Distribution has been completed in Tameem, Ninewa, Salah El Din, Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala, and Kerbala and is ongoing in the rest of the

AQ AQ AQ south, and will be finalised in the coming weeks.

IR Expansion of Mobile Health Teams and Water/Sanitation Projects: In southern Iraq, IOM is engaging with partners to expand coverage of mobile health teams for IDPs in the marsh areas.

Assistance to Returnees FOR

Voluntary Repatriation/Returnees: A total of 214 Iraqi refugees in returned under UNHCR’s auspices during January 2005, bringing the total of organized returnees from Iran alone to 13,260 since July 2003.

2005 Project Proposals: During the second half of January, the UNHCR Team continued to review the 2005 proposals from prospective implementing partners in Iraq. A number of meetings were held with these NGOs to discuss in detail issues related to the selection of beneficiaries and their legitimate titles to the land/property in the proposed locations.

Comprehensive Assistance Approach: By the end of January, most of UNHCR's 2004 projects in Northern Iraq have been completed or are in their final stages. Some 1,000 families of returning IDPs or Iraqi refugees in Qushtapa and in Shekhan received shelter materials and built or are finalizing the building of their homes. An additional 500 families received some shelter materials in Qushtapa and Qaladza who started with the building of their homes. The houses for 277 Iranian refugee families were completed in Sulaymaniyah and soon the refugees will move in.

All of the above projects ensure also beneficiaries' access to basic services (primarily water,

SSISTANCE MISSION health, and education) through implementation of community based Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) with the assistance of the Community Action or Steering Groups. These groups are representing the targeted communities as well as the local authorities. QIPs also created public works opportunities among the beneficiaries and existing communities. In addition, the returnees are supported with start up of small scale agricultural activities through distribution of seeds or seedlings, fertilizers, sheep, and chicken. In addition, by the end of the project, 21 village schools were rehabilitated in Dahuk and seven teacher's houses were rebuilt to enable improved access to TIONS A education for over 3,000 children.

A Refugees Iranian Refugees: Access to the Al Tash camp that was resumed in December of 2004 was maintained for the period under report. According to UNHCR's partner information, the basic facilities in the camp were operational. Some of the refugees requested for an improvement of their living conditions, in particular an increase in food items supply. The partner also reported that the local authorities in Ramadi were planning to construct a new water tank at the booster station (outside the camp) and lay a new pipe from there to the camp station located inside the camp. The volume of water pumped to the houses as well as the electricity supply was reported to UNITED N be enough. The schools and health clinic in the camp were operational.

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 Given the overall volatile security situation in the Anbar Governorate and the lack of adequate security in the Al Tash Camp, a total of 81 Iranian refugees (15 families) are currently stranded at the Iraqi/Jordanian border. Since there are no adequate facilities and support structures in place, the situation for this group is quite concerning, particularly considering that five women are pregnant, the majority of the refugees are children, and allegedly two disabled persons are in need of urgent medical assistance.

AQ AQ AQ UNHCR Jordan has requested the Jordanian Government for admission of the refugees into the No Mans Land Camp, and pending the response to the admission request, UNHCR requested IR authorization to send a medical team of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization across the border to provide emergency medical assistance. In addition to the above, UNHCR attempted to provide the stranded refugees with non-food items. However, pending the Jordanian Government's review of the request for admission, border authorities have been unable to extend FOR their co-operation to the medical mission and the delivery of non-food items. UNHCR Iraq has

had several meetings with the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration and its implementing partner and is currently devising a plan of action to deal with the refugees at the border, the improvement of the situation in the Al Tash camp and how the caseload could be assisted in a concerted effort to achieve a durable solution.

Syrian Refugees: Due to the extremely bad security situation, another UNHCR partner dealing with the Syrian refugees was not able to have full access to Haifa Street, the location where the majority of Syrian refugees are residing. This resulted in delaying the delivery of assistance.

Palestinian Refugees: UNHCR sought assistance from the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) in order to resolve and ameliorate the situation of the five refuges detained from Haifa club/Baladiat residence. In the framework of an UNHCR-funded project, the MoDM assisted 276 (out of the total of 396) evicted Palestinian refugee families with rental subsidies.

MoDM Capacity Building Programme (CBP) Grant to Facilitate Working Group Session for MoDM Officials: In direct consultation with the

SSISTANCE MISSION MoDM, IOM and UNHCR have approved a capacity-building grant in conjunction with the Coordination Group on Capacity Building for the MoDM. This grant will facilitate a working group session for MoDM officials to draft an official document to the revised and approved organizational structure focusing on the main functions of the Ministry. This four-day discussion will work towards producing the general agreements on the overall organization design last endorsed on 22 December 2004 to develop organigrams, reporting lines, and main activities under each department/unit and section within the Ministry.

TIONS A

A Working Session to Propose Organizational Models for the MoDM: In coordination with the MoDM and under the guidance of the Coordination Group on Capacity Building for the MoDM, UNHCR and IOM have conducted a four-day session in Amman with MoDM personnel. The working sessions sought to propose various organizational models to be reviewed by the MoDM based upon the revised mandate of the Ministry.

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY (Cluster 9)

UNITED N Child Protection: UNICEF continued supporting a number of child protection projects in Baghdad, Basra, Nassriyah, and Dahuk Governorates of Iraq through implementing partners and

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 in coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA). Based on a meeting with government and NGO partners that took place earlier in January, UNICEF’s Child Protection section developed a programme plan of action for 2005. The plan will be shared with concerned partners for comments and finalization.

Polling Iraqi Public Opinion Regarding Social and Economic Issues of Relevance to the National Development Strategy (NDS): In 2005, Iraq has the opportunity to elect for the first time, a AQ AQ AQ democratically elected government – the National Assembly and the State Governorates. The Ministry of Planning & Development Coordination (MoPDC) wished to hear the opinion of the IR Iraqi public on socio-economic, political, and cultural issues and sought UNDP’s support to provide the technical and financial assistance. In response to this request, UNDP contracted the Norwegian Research Institute (Fafo) to support the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT) of MoPDC in this activity. The poll aimed to help engage the FOR

public, the media, and government officials at all levels, in a constructive and informed dialogue during the elections on specific issues covered by the NDS.

At the end of December 2004 to beginning January 2005, 3,313 Iraqi households in all governorates, participated in the national survey. The poll was directed at a random selection of individuals over 18 years and above. The questionnaire contained 95 questions, covering social, economic, and cultural issues.

This is the first time in Iraq’s history, the Government has gauged the opinion of Iraqis on such issues as poverty, security, women’s rights in the constitution, sources of information and news coverage of public issues, as well as assessed priority issues concerning them during and after the election. The Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation held a press conference on the results of the poll and released the Arabic version in Baghdad on 17 January 2005.

Capacity Building in Migration Management Programme (CBMMP) Migration and Development Workshop: As part of the activities aiming for the integration of SSISTANCE MISSION concerned Iraqi authorities in regional and international migration policy forums and trainings, CBMMP is supporting the participation of an Iraqi representative from the Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) in the IOM Workshop on Migration and Development, to be held in Geneva on 2-3 February 2005.

Finalization of the First Phase of the CBMM Programme: IOM has finalized the first phase,

TIONS A August 2004 – January 2005, of the CBMM programme implementation. The main objective for this phase was to support the Government of Iraq to further define ministerial migration portfolios A and to identify immediate needs of concerned individual ministries in order to respond to their most urgent technical assistance requirements. IOM has produced a draft report that analyzes the current status of migration management in Iraq and recommends migration issues to be addressed urgently.

Preparation for Second Phase of the CBMM Programme: The CBMM programme is preparing for the activities of Phase II to cover the period of February to July 2005 and will build on findings and outcomes of Phase I. UNITED N

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SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 Iraq Property Claims Commission (IPCC) IPCC receives over 35,000 claims: The Iraq Property Claims Commission (IPCC) has received more than 35,000 claims to date. The Regional Commissions, mandated to decide the claims in the first instance, have issued over 355 decisions.

IPCC Statute and Interpretative Guidelines: IOM and UNHCR are advising on the IPCC’s constituent documents, including contemplated future amendments to the current IPCC Statute AQ AQ AQ and the issuance of interpretative guidelines.

IR Interim Claims Database developed: IOM has developed an interim claims database to assist the IPCC on registering, tracking, deciding, and reporting on the many claims it receives. The hand- over of the database will be accompanied by extensive training of a group of IPCC IT experts. FOR

IPCC Public Information Campaign: UNHCR and IOM are assisting the IPCC in preparing materials for its public information campaigns and in developing a cost-effective strategy for such a campaign. A PI leaflet in Arabic and Kurdish, jointly prepared by the PI experts of IOM, UNHCR, and the IPCC is ready for print. It will be distributed to the general public after the Iraqi elections.

IPCC Website to be established: IOM and UNHCR are assisting the IPCC in establishing a functional website that provides basic information to prospective IPCC claimants and allows them to download all IPCC forms and the requisite directions for their completion.

POVERTY REDUCTION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (Cluster 10)

Update on the Living Conditions Survey: Fafo-AIS, the Norwegian NGO that was contracted to do the design of the survey, the data compilation, and the analysis of the results has now submitted the final products of this survey which covered a total of 21,688 Iraqi households. The survey products include a Tabulation Report, an Analysis Report of 260 pages, and a Socio- economic Atlas. UNDP and its partners are currently engaged in the translation and printing SSISTANCE MISSION process of the reports and making preparations for the launch of the survey.

Iraqis Rebuilding Iraq (IRI): A version of the website for the IOM-UNDP joint project "Iraqis Rebuilding Iraq (IRI)"has been uploaded to the website of the contractor. The content of the website can now be edited and tested on-line. The website is being developed in order to establish the Iraqi Skills Roster and to match the demand and supply of human resources. The

TIONS A Roster will assist the Iraqi government in recruiting and placing qualified nationals for the

A reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country.

ELECTORAL SUPPORT (Cluster 11)

Support on Media Election Coverage: In preparation for the elections, the UNESCO Iraq office has been working on the programme, “Support for Fair, Safe & Professional Media Election Coverage”. The project focuses on provision of guidelines and safety training for journalists and media staff in Iraq. The activities involved included:

UNITED N a) Publications related to the programme, “Support for Fair, Safe and Professional Media Election Coverage” have been delivered by the UNESCO Iraq Office through the electoral

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IRAQ UNITED NATIONS

SITUATION REPORT 17 - 30 January 2004 commission. The hand-over of publications came in line with the discussions made by the UNESCO Electoral Support team with the Cluster 11 Manager made during their meeting on 19 January 2005. The publications will be used in training journalists on the election process.

b) UNESCO has delivered the translation of documents from Article 19 into Arabic to Iraq. These documents have been sent to the training course held in Sulaymaniyah Governorate.

AQ c) UNESCO Iraq Office has ensured the delivery of books and guides on freedom of expression in Arabic to Iraq. IR

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SSISTANCE MISSION TIONS A A UNITED N

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