Iraq HAR071603

July 16, 2003

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 Routes for Humanitarian Aid

Country Supply Routes Supply Routes Comments From: To: Iskenderun (port) Turkey Mersin (port) North Open for humanitarian supplies Silopi Bandar Imam Khomeni (Port) South Open for humanitarian supplies Iran Ahwaz Kermanshah Northeast Open for humanitarian supplies Shipping Iraq South, Central Accommodates shallow-draft vessels Umm Qasr (port) Open for humanitarian supplies; also Kuwait Kuwait City (port) South, Central military use Aqaba (port) Jordan Central Open for humanitarian supplies Ar Ruwayshid Latakia (port) Central Abu Kamal Tartus (port) Syria Beirut, Lebanon (port) Central Open for humanitarian supplies Al Tanf Al Yarubiyeh North Open for humanitarian supplies

2 Overview

Today’s Highlights

Humanitarian Situation: Continued concern about security, increasing attacks on coalition, sabotage, crime, lack of key infrastructure, and unemployment/salaries; Water and power improving slowly; Nation- wide food distribution proceeding smoothly; Interim Governing Council established;

Political: EU Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patton, indicates willingness to establish trust fund if not controlled by coalition¾$700 million for humanitarian aid and $100 million for reconstruction; International Criminal Court indicates coalition in Iraq does not fall under its jurisdiction and thus will not investigate allegations of coalition war crimes;

UN: Governing Council will send three representatives to July 22 special Security Council meeting on Iraq where it is expected to seek Iraq seat in UN—various views on whether council is independent enough from coalition to gain seat; Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, meeting with Iraq’s neighbors to build support for UN role and recognition of Governing Council;

Refugees: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to return 500 refugees out of 5,000 from camp in Saudi Arabia next week; UNHCR does not envision large-scale repatriation this year;

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): UNHCR, UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI), and coalition establish task forces in Mosul to develop strategies for returning IDPs from northern Iraq; Coalition puts priority on moving displaced Palestinians into apartments;

Civil Society/Rule of Law: Coalition Provisional Authority head, L. Paul Bremer challenges Governing Council to develop constitution, elections, and stability so that coalition forces can leave; Salaries distributed to professional soldiers of former Iraqi army and one-time payments given to conscripts; Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch push for impartial international role in any Iraqi war crimes tribunals;

Civil–Military Interaction: Deadly exchanges between coalition and Iraqis continue; US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld expects more attacks and opens possibility of need for additional troops;

Humanitarian Access to Iraq: World Food Program (WFP) routes are: Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Umm Qasr (Iraqi Persian Gulf port), Kuwait, and Iran, but Kuwait route suspended due to crime; World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health using Jordan route for medical supplies;

Economy: Domestic fuel production has been decreasing with more reliance on coalition-paid imports— 70% of gasoline now imported while diesel is in short supply and not improving;

Water/power: Sabotage continues to plague delivery of power and water; More power going to rest of country and less to Baghdad than before the war; Reports of only a few hours of power a day in Baghdad;

Food: July distribution through Ministry of Trade’s Public Distribution System initiated—over 160,000MT of food brought in during first 9 days; Cumulative food brought in since April is in excess of 1.4 million MT;

Health and Medical: Disease surveillance system being reestablished throughout country; No major disease outbreaks; International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says looting from nuclear facility south of Baghdad does not pose proliferation hazard—health hazards not yet assessed in response to high radiation level measured by Greenpeace. 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 Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

In Country Humanitarian Assistance Preparations

North Region

Erbil, Dahuk, Salaymaniyah Coordinator UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UOHCI) is aware of 36 NGOs in northern Iraq Affected Population IDP Movement 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; Approximately 175 Kurdish families are living just east of Mosul, and another 700 families are living in Zamar Food Food distribution is at pre-conflict levels; Trial plantings of winter cereals, summer vegetables, and industrial oil-seed crops has started in all three northern governorates Health In Dahuk, all hospitals are functioning normally; Two volunteer physicians with the US-based Northwest Medical Teams are teaching skills to doctors in hospitals in Erbil NFIs –Shelter Water & All water projects in urban and semi-urban areas in Erbil are functioning properly Sanitation Security Stable, but reports of radical elements regrouping, particularly in Sulaymaniyah Other/Comments Power in Dahuk has been restored; Electric power is available for 20-22 hours per day in Erbil; Telephone services were restored between Dahuk and Mosul

Kirkuk (Attamin), Mosul (Ninewa), Tikrit (Salahaddin) Coordinator Affected Population IDP Movement Three task forces have been established in Mosul to discuss issues related to the return of IDPs from the three northern governorates: Return and Resettlement, Land and Property Issues, and Mass Information Campaign on Land and Property Restitution Food Health NFIs –Shelter Water & A UN Security Assessment Mission to Mosul reported that the water and health Sanitation systems are in relatively good condition with facilities unaffected by looting, but the sanitation system remains a concern; 70% of Tikrit is connected to the sewage system and water is also available; UNDP is planning to build urban waste containers in Mosul Security Increased attacks mainly against coalition forces in Kirkuk; Security situation in Mosul reported as tense, and increased restrictions for UN staff movement are in 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].

4 place Other/Comments The Mosul airport replaces Erbil’s airport as the northern destination for Boeing-737 landings; Passenger flights to Mosul are available on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays;

Central/West Regions

Anbar, Salahaddin, Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Wasit, Najaf, Qadissiya Coordinator Affected Population IDP Movement According to a recent visit by Medecins Sans Frontieres to Diyala, most of the approximately 15,000 IDPs in the governorate have not received June rations and their household food stocks are running low Food WFP and the Ministry of Trade agreed to provide 700 tons of food to IDPs in Diyala to be distributed to 44,000 IDPs by the Danish Refugee Council Health NFIs –Shelter World Vision is delivering more than 3,600 relief packages to residents of Ar Rutbah containing clothing, blankets, plastic sheeting, and water containers Water & Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has resumed work on the New Hella water-works Sanitation project in Babil to supply water to over 500,000 residents Security There has been a trend of attacks against the coalition from the Fallujah to Ramadi area; The rate of attacks on Highway 1 from Baghdad to Mosul remains particularly high; Anbar, Diyala, and Salahaddin are still inaccessible to UN staff due to poor security; The pro-American mayor of Hadithah, located about 150 miles northwest of Baghdad, was shot and killed on Wednesday (July 16) along with one of his sons Other/Comments

Baghdad

Baghdad Coordinator UNOCHI is aware of 40 NGOs operating in Baghdad Affected Population: 5.8 million Population IDP Movement An IDP working group has been established to coordinate a response to a reported total of 3,000 families in Baghdad who have been displaced; UNHCR has begun registering Iraq’s estimated 80,000 Palestinians, more than 1,300 of which have been living in a tent city established in Baghdad’s Haifa Sport Club Food The Ministry of Trade reports that 60% of food agents under the Public Distribution System (PDS) to date have picked up food rations for distribution to more than 3 million people in Baghdad Health NFIs –Shelter Water & UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq reported that there is adequate Sanitation water available for Baghdad residents; UNICEF is working to repair blocked sewage drains, and rehabilitate sewage pumping stations and water units; Sabotage of a main power line to Baghdad cause water supplies to be cut in recent days; Three sewage plants that treat about 50% of Baghdad’s sewage disposal needs are not functioning; The Coalition Provisional Office, USAID, Bechtel, ICRC and several UN

5 agencies are developing an interagency strategy to address sewage disposal in Baghdad Security Security in Baghdad continues to deteriorate; UN Office of the Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD) reports an increase in attacks on coalition forces on all access roads to and from the Baghdad area; The first 96 US-trained Iraqi police officers graduated from the new police academy on Wednesday (July 16); A US soldier was killed and two others wounded on Wednesday (July 16) when an explosive device detonated near a US convoy traveling west of Baghdad; A surface-to-air missile was fired at a US C-130 military transport plane as it landed at the Baghdad International Airport Other/Comments The UN is sending an electoral team to Baghdad in early August to assist the new Iraqi Governing Council to organize elections

South Region

Basrah

Umm Qasr, Basrah Coordinator Affected Population of Basrah: 1.5 million Population IDP Movement Assessments indicated that 612 IDPs are in Basrah Food Health To date there have been 68 confirmed cases of cholera in Basrah governorate and 1,549 cases of acute diarrhea, mostly among children under 5 years old NFIs –Shelter Water & Recent water samples show low levels of residual chlorine and high bacterial Sanitation contamination as a result of leakage, low power supply, and damage of equipment; UNICEF is continuing water deliveries to Umm Qasar town by tanker trucks; 25% of water leaks in Basrah have been repaired, but new breaks are occurring daily Security UNSECOORD reports an increase in criminal activity in the Basrah region, with criminal gangs becoming better organized; There has been a trend in kidnapping for ransom; WFP warehouses in Basrah have been subject to looting Other/Comments Electricity has been restored to about 60% of pre-war levels; The Umm Qasr port was officially opened for commercial freight on June 16, with priority given to vessels carrying humanitarian, reconstruction, and military cargo; WFP is increasing the number of shipments through the Umm Qasr port, which will gradually decrease the role of other transport corridors; British forces and Iraqi guards are now providing security at the Umm Qasr port

Al Muthanna, Nassiriyah (Dhi Qar), Amarah, Maysan Coordinator UNOHCI is aware of 22 NGOs operating in southern Iraq Affected Population IDP Movement Food Health The Patient Relief Fund announced a 3.5 ton shipment of medical supplies and medicine to Nassiryah NFIs –Shelter

6 Water & Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has resumed work on the Al Shatra and Al Islah Sanitation water-works projects in Dhi Qar to supply water to over 100,000 residents; Security Drug and arms trafficking has increased, especially in Amarah Other/Comments

Neighboring Countries’ Humanitarian Activities/Preparations

Jordan

The Government of Jordan has stated that borders with Iraq are open for the flow of goods. The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Center (HACC-West) has advised that it needs 24-hour advance notice of vehicle movement into Iraq from Jordan. Travel on this route in the short-term may be dangerous due to the threat of hijacking while on the road.

There may be delays over the next 2-3 weeks at the Trebil border crossing as Iraqi border officials take over border control responsibilities from coalition forces.

Many NGOs are shifting staff and supplies from Jordan into Iraq, especially Baghdad. All NGO staff intending to travel to Iraq should obtain a visa from the Iraqi Embassy in Amman.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) has constructed latrines and is responsible for sanitation and solid waste management in the Ruweishid refugee camp A. There are approximately 1,100 refugees currently residing in the camp.

According to UNHCR, 1,240 people, mostly Iranian Kurds from the Al Tash refugee camp, are currently residing in no-man’s land at the Iraqi border with Jordan. Jordan has refused entry to the refugees. A refugee camp has been set up for them, using some structures that were relocated there from the Ruweishid camp.

Iran

The Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) has stated that requests of convoys crossing the Iranian border could be processed within 24 hours, once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides clearance.

UNHCR is planning to help move a few hundred Iraqi refugees from Iran to Basrah in the coming weeks, but only if the refugees had identified a place to stay and a form of backup support in Iraq. UNHCR said that due to the lack of basic services and security, Iraq was not yet ready for large-scale returns.

According to UNHCR staff in Basrah, about 50-100 Iraqi refugees are returning each day from Iran over the Shalamsha border crossing. There are currently about 200,000 Iraqi refugees living in Iran either in host communities or in 22 camps near the border.

Turkey

The border with Turkey remains open to diplomatic and press missions only. Discussions are underway with the government of Turkey to open the border to enable returnees to go home.

7 As there have been no reports of refugees crossing into Turkey and requesting asylum as a result of the recent war, UNHCR has said it is scaling down its operations along the border between Turkey and Iraq in order to focus on relief efforts already underway in Iraq. Turkey has said it would continue assistance to Iraqi refugees who fled Iraq prior to the recent war and who now wish to return to Iraq. UNHCR said it could facilitate such repatriations, but could not guarantee the returnees’ safety upon return and thus would not encourage them to do so at this time. IOM is also scaling down their operations in Silopi, but said it would be ready to assist in the repatriation of Iraqis.

The World Food Program (WFP) has signed an agreement with Turkey to reopen its office in Ankara to organize and coordinate aid for Iraq.

Kuwait

The Umm Qasr border is now closed for civilian traffic. Entry and exit of Iraq is possible only in Abdali. There have been reports that people moving in and out of Kuwait may be screened for infectious disease with a health center in Abdali now being reactivated for this purpose. There are reports of increasing attacks against humanitarian and commercial trucks at the Abdali/Safwan border with Kuwait.

The Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) in Kuwait requests a maximum of 96 hours to issue a clearance to agencies to carry out cross-border operations. Humanitarian flights are now exempt of all landing and parking fees. The Government of Kuwait has issued a statement that it must be notified 24 hours in advance to issue approved legal passes.

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) has agreed that Iraqi refugees staying at the Rafha Camp since the first Gulf war will be the next group to be repatriated to Iraq with assistance from UNHCR. There are currently about 5,000 refugees, mostly men, living in the camp.

The HOC, originally scheduled to close on June 30, will now continue to operate until September 30, 2003.

WFP recently had to suspend direct transport of goods from Kuwait due to insecurity and looting, bringing in goods through Umm Qasr instead.

Syria

The Government of Syria has granted UN agencies and IOM a number of exemptions for fees, taxes and levees related to the import/export of humanitarian transit cargo to Iraq. New border crossing procedures are improving cross border movements. UNICEF is encouraging the use of Syria as a corridor for entry of humanitarian aid into Iraq.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARC) is continuing operations at the Al Tanf and Al Bukamal transit camps on the border with Iraq. The Al Tanf camp is now empty while the Al Bukamal camp population continues to decline. SARC has asked the Syrian government to consider closing the camps and is awaiting a response.

Saudi Arabia

The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GoKSA) has issued a blanket authorization for overflight and landing for an unspecified period of time. These clearances apply to flights between Kuwait and Amman.

8 UNHCR announced that on Saturday (July 29), UNHCR would carry out the first repatriation of 450 Iraqi refugees living in the Rafha refugee camp in Saudi Arabia. About 5,000 Iraqi refugees, many of whom are army deserters from the 1991 Gulf War, remain in the camp. The group will be initially transported to Basra. Additional groups will be repatriated every week depending on the security situation.