EDITORIAL Issue 128 – September 18, 2008

Humanitarian Principles at stake in Georgia

3rd September 2008

The 170 member alliance of international development and humanitarian organizations that comprise InterAction believes that it was wrong to put the U.S. military in charge of the GHT American government's humanitarian response in Georgia. I Despite the insistence of senior U.S. officials that the U.S. Agency L for International Development (USAID) is leading the

H humanitarian response, the reality on the ground continues to be influenced by President Bush's statement that it is a U.S. military- led humanitarian operation. InterAction members' ability to stay G

I true to their humanitarian mission to provide assistance to people in need without distinction of any kind, without political criteria, and without support for a particular government or political H movement is at risk.

Y

L According to Sam Worthington, InterAction President & CEO, the problem with violating these principles is threefold. "First, the U.S. K military is not set up to know the needs of populations in distress E or work with them on a daily basis to address those needs. It is

E providing assistance that is not appropriate to the situation and does not facilitate the local population's ability to care for itself." Some InterAction members have been pressed to accept and

W deliver military rations that are inappropriate for children, I women, and the elderly. Several agencies refused to do so, or did so only because their usual source of food in emergencies, the World Food Program, was discouraged from delivering food in the area around Tbilisi, where most of the displaced people still reside.

NCC Worthington continues, "Second, a military-led humanitarian response in a conflict zone tends to favor one side. If international relief agencies work with the military in this environment, their impartiality and ability to obtain access to all people in need are compromised. Linking the military with assistance in a conflict zone also lends credence to charges by

some governments and non-state actors who claim the humanitarian action is being undertaken to further political and strategic objectives." While the safety of NGO personnel is not as yet an issue, it is in other parts of the world where the U.S. military is involved in humanitarian work, including and Afghanistan. Four International Rescue Committee workers were killed recently in Afghanistan trying to meet children's educational needs there. These were not random killings. The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan has said that it views NGO workers as spies.

Worthington concludes, "Finally, military led U.S. humanitarian assistance hurts America's image abroad. It gives the impression that the United States does not care about the well-being of all people affected by conflict and that it is not particularly concerned about the development of vibrant civil societies capable of caring for themselves if given the opportunity. The Georgian government actually has considerable experience in disaster relief. It, and the numerous civilian humanitarian organizations working in Georgia, have the ability to involve the local population in those projects from which they will most benefit."

InterAction members believe this situation can be remedied by ensuring that the military stick with its mandate while the U.S. government agency best equipped to support humanitarian responses around the world, USAID, is the leader during the next phase of the official U.S. response in Georgia - and in future relief efforts around the world. Independent relief agencies working in partnership with USAID and other civilian U.S. Government agencies, U.N. organizations, and the Red Cross have the expertise, credibility, and impartiality to lead the recovery and reconstruction phases of the response. While the U.S. military has a valuable role to play in humanitarian response, it is most effective when supplementing assistance available from civilian agencies rather than supplanting it.

InterAction

------Sallaam, NCCI Team

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NCCI Weekly Highlight 2 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

______Iraq Context

JInternationalJ

Iraqi FM: SOFA draft text ready Syria appoints new ambassador to Source: PTV Iraq Document: Article Source : Xinhua Date: September 4, 2008 Document: Article Access: Open Date: Septmeber 17 , 2008 Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has Access: Open said that Iraq and the US have prepared a Syria on Tuesday appointed a new final draft of a controversial security pact. ambassador to Iraq for the first time in "We have now a single text, a final draft," nearly three decades after the two Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told neighbors severed diplomatic ties during journalists in Geneva on Saturday, "It is up the 1980s. Nawaf Abboud al-Sheikh Faris, a to the political leadership now to make a veteran politician who served as governor political decision," he said. The minister is in three provinces during the past 15 years, attending a global security conference in was sworn in before Syrian President Switzerland. Zebari said that if security Bashar al-Assad, the official SANA news continues to improve, this could see US agency reported. But the report did not and other foreign troops off the streets of say when Faris would take his post in Iraq. Iraqi cities from the middle of next year Syria and Iraq formally restored diplomatic and a complete withdrawal by 2011. ties in 2006 during a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Muallem to Iraq, who Petraeus set to hand over Iraq role pledged to help restore security in the Source : AJ war-torn country. Syria has been accused Document: Article of not doing enough to stop weapons and Date: September 15, 2008 fighters from crossing into Iraq, a charge Access: Open denied by Damascus. General David Petraeus, the commander of US forces in Iraq, has arrived in Turkey to extend mandate for Baghdad to prepare to hand over his role to general Raymond Odierno, his second- military incursion into Iraq Source : MET (AFP) in-command. Robert Gates, the US Document: Article defence secretary, will preside over a Date: Septmeber 17 , 2008 ceremony on Tuesday to mark the Access: Open handover in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. The Turkish government will ask parliament The new commander in Iraq must find to extend by one year its mandate to ways to keep improving security while order military strikes against separatist American troop levels are falling, he said Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, the on Monday. His remarks came hours deputy prime minister said Wednesday. after two car bombs exploded in the "We have decided to ask the parliament Baghdad district of , killing 12 again for a one-year authorization" when people and wounding nearly 40. Arriving lawmakers return from summer recess on for his eighth visit to Iraq since he took over October 1, Cemil Cicek, who is also the at the Pentagon in December 2006, Gates government spokesman, told reporters said the areas in which US forces would be after a cabinet meeting. "I believe the engaged in Iraq would continue to motion will be debated within the first few narrow. days of parliament reopening," he said without giving a date.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 3 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

Iraq Crisis Report (IraqHAR) January. Renewing the law may be Source: Centre of Excellence on Disaster difficult due to the opposition party, the Management and Humanitarian Assistance Democratic Party of Japan, which controls Document: Weekly report the upper house of Parliament, advocates Date: September 17, 2008 ending operations and is against Access: Open extending military missions. Reuters Political: Due to Iraq’s improving security reported that Washington’s ambassador situation, Japan announced on Thursday to Tokyo urged Japan in July to continue (September-11) that by the end of the its participation in both Iraq and year it may withdraw its military air force Afghanistan, but both missions are mission that has flown supplies and troops controversial in Japan, which has between Kuwait and Iraq since 2006 in developed a strong pacifist tradition since support of US-led coalition forces, the World War II. Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. According to the Associated Press, Foreign Minister Juan Cole’s informed comment’s Masahiko Komura said the official schedule for ending Japan’s mission was excerpt still being discussed in conjunction with Source: Informed Comment – Juan Cole’s Web Blog. Iraq, the US and the UN. Although this Document: Selection of daily comments decision would end Japan’s military Date: September 12-18, 2008 involvement in Iraq, Defense Minister Access: Open Yoshimasa Hayashi suggested that it was Juan Cole is a Professor of Modern Middle time to shift priorities to Afghanistan, where East and South Asian History at the violence fueled by the Taliban insurgency University of Michigan. As such he brings has been increasing. CNN reports that the daily much needed expertise and Japanese Navy continues to participate in historical perspective to issues surrounding refueling missions in support of the US-led Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. coalition in and around Afghanistan. Good reading to have a weekly review of However, the Afghan mission is also in the Iraq daily situation. question as the law currently authorizing it comes up for renewal in parliament in

JNationalJ

Iraqi deepwater port reopens Iraq re-entering the international Source: MET community," said Lt. Cmdr. Steve Document: Article Holloway, commanding officer of the HMS Date: September 9, 2008 Atherstone. Access: Open In a sign of improved security, the British Sadrists oppose anti-Qaeda fighters Royal Navy entered Iraq's only deepwater joining Iraqi forces port in Umm Qasr for the first time since the Source: Yahoo (AFP) U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The Umm Qasr Document: Article port is the reception point for about 80 Date: September 12, 2008 percent of all imports to Iraq. The HMS Access: Open Blyth and HMS Atherstone conducted Loyalists of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada operations in early 2008 to clear the port al-Sadr condemned on Friday a of unexploded ordnance, while Iraqi naval government plan to merge members of ships coordinated security efforts along the Sunni groups fighting Al-Qaeda into the coast, the British Ministry of Defense Iraqi security forces. Baghdad's Shiite-led reported. "It is a privilege to be one of the government plans to absorb into the first British Naval ships visiting Iraq since security forces 20 percent of around 2003. This provides the perfect example of 100,000 people -- mostly Sunni Arabs --

NCCI Weekly Highlight 4 Issue 128- 18/09/2008 who have been fighting the jihadists for Slow Sunni Integration Could Derail the past two years. From next month the Iraq Successes salaries of these 100,000 men, currently Source: IPS paid by the US military, will be taken over Document: Article by Baghdad. On Friday, Sadr followers Date: September 10, 2008 opposed the plan, arguing that most of Access: Open the fighters were former insurgents Amid reports that the government of Iraqi accused of having fought Iraqi forces. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has launched a campaign to disband the so-called Iraq Drive for Voters Lags Awakening Movement, or Sahwa, Source: WSJ concerns among analysts and policy Document: Article makers here is growing that such an effort Date: September 17, 2008 could result in a resumption of sectarian Access: Open violence, if not civil war. Only a fraction of As Iraq's parliament haggles over an the estimated 100,000 members of the election law, election officials say they are mainly Sunni Sahwa, or "Sons of Iraq", has disappointed by low voter registration been absorbed into the Iraqi security ahead of provincial polling that could forces. The slow pace fans fears that many take place this year. Last month, only 2.9 of the unintegrated fighters may resume million out of 17 million eligible voters went their fight against the Shi'a-led central to election centers during a registration government. Most Sahwa members are drive, according to election-commission former Sunni insurgents who broke with al figures. That was after officials extended Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and aligned their deadline by a week. Just 100,000 of themselves with U.S. forces, bringing about Iraq's internally displaced population of notable improvements to the security more than two million have applied for situation in Iraq. Many fear that they could absentee ballots. The low rate won't again reverse loyalties and, in turn, reverse necessarily translate into low turnout. Iraqis security gains. who voted in the last election, in 2005, اﻟﺼﺪر ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ اﻻﻃﻔﺎل واﻷزﻣﺎت didn't need to reregister if their personal details hadn't changed. More than eight million people voted then in Iraq's first free A city still in crisis elections in decades. Source: Niqash Document: Article

Date: September 18, 2008 Iraq army sets deadline for Kurds Access: Open ﻣﺸﻬﺪ ﻳﺘﻜﺮر ﻓﻲ آﻞ ﺷﺎرع وزﻗﺎق، ﻋﺸﺮات اﻻﻃﻔﺎل Source: PressTV ﻳﻌﻴﺸﻮن ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﺰل ﺿﻴﻖ ﻻ ﻳﻜﻔﻲ ﻻآﺜﺮ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻤﺴﺔ Document: Article اﺷﺨﺎص ﻳﻔﺘﻘﺮ اﻟﻰ اﻟﻤﺎء واﻟﻜﻬﺮﺑﺎء. هﻜﺬا هﻲ اﻟﺤﻴﺎة Date: September 17, 2008 ﻓﻲ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ اﻟﺼﺪر اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺨﻴﻞ ﻟﺰاﺋﺮهﺎ ان ﺟﻴﻮﺷﺎ ﻣﻦ Access: Open Iraqi army has once again called on اﻻﻃﻔﺎل اﺣﺘﻠﺖ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ وﻟﻢ ﺗﺘﺮك ﻣﻜﺎﻧﺎ ﻻﺣﺪ. Kurdish groups and forces to leave their remains in crisis. While people headquarters and bases in Jalula town in talk of greater security and the lowering of Diyala province. Iraqi armed forces arms by the Mahdi army - the military wing stationed in Jalula have set an eight-day of the Sadr movement -, its inhabitants deadline for the Kurdish forces to leave continue to struggle for the bare the region, according to a source in necessities. Each day remains a new Khanaqen's 12th Branch of the Patriotic challenge. On every street there are Union of Kurdistan (PUK). A number of Iraqi houses with no water and electricity; troops have reportedly been besieged by houses that can barely accommodate a the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan forces at small family and yet, which are filled with the Naqshbandi-Jalula crossroads. tens of children. Indeed, it seems that armies of children occupy the entire city.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 5 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

اﻟﺴﻤﺎوة (280 آﻢ ﺟﻨﻮب ﻏﺮب ﺑﻐﺪاد) ﻟﻠﻤﺠﻠﺲ ﻋﺸﺎﺋﺮ اﻟﺠﻨﻮب ﻓﻲ ﻣﻮاﺟﻬﺔ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺎت ﻧﻔﺴﻪ، وﺑﺪأت ﻓﻜﺮة ﻣﺠﺎﻟﺲ اﻹﺳﻨﺎد ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖ اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﺠﻨﻮب اﻟﺸﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﺗﺜﻴﺮ ﺧﻼﻓﺎت داﺧﻞ اﻟﻌﺸﺎﺋﺮ ﻧﻔﺴﻬﺎ. Southern tribes provoke opposition The creation of tribal councils in Iraq’s Shia Source: Niqash south has become a source of growing Document: Article Date: September 17, 2008 tension between local government Access: Open authorities and tribal entities. The creation of these bodies has been met by أﺛﺎر ﺗﺄﺳﻴﺲ ﻣﺠﺎﻟﺲ إﺳﻨﺎد ﻋﺸﺎﺋﺮﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺟﻨﻮب considerable opposition from local اﻟﺒﻼد اﻋﺘﺮاﺿﺎً آﺒﻴﺮاً ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺎت اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، ﻓﻲ authorities who question their legitimacy اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺎت اﻟﺠﻨﻮﺑﻴﺔ، اﻟﺘﻲ ﺷﻜﻜﺖ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺸﺮوﻋﻴﺘﻬﺎ and effectiveness in the southern وﺟﺪواهﺎ. وﻟﻢ ﺗﻔﺾ اﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ﺿﻤﺖ ﺷﻴﻮخ provinces, while fearing that they pose a اﻟﻌﺸﺎﺋﺮ وﻣﻤﺜﻠﻴﻦ ﻋﻦ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪﻳﻮاﻧﻴﺔ .direct threat to their own authority (180 آﻢ ﺟﻨﻮب ﺑﻐﺪاد) ، إﻟﻰ إﻳﺠﺎد ﺣﻞ ﻟﻠﺨﻼف ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﻄﺮﻓﻴﻦ واﻋﺘﺮاف اﻷﺧﻴﺮﻳﻦ ﺑﻤﺠﺎﻟﺲ اﻹﺳﻨﺎد. آﻤﺎ إن

رﻓﻀﺎً ﻣﺸﺎﺑﻬﺎً أﺑﺪﺗﻪ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ

JViolence and Security IssuesJ

Gunmen kill 4 Iraqi TV staff in central town of Dujail, officials have said. Source: Reuters Another 40 people were also wounded in Document: Article the attack on Friday. Police said the Date: September 13, 2008 bombing occurred just before dusk, when Access: Open many people were on the streets before Gunmen kidnapped and shot dead three the breaking of the fast during the Muslim Iraqi journalists from Iraq's Sharqiya TV holy month of Ramadan. They said station along with their driver in the volatile casualties were a mix of civilians shopping northern city of Mosul on Saturday, the at a nearby market as well as police. The station and police said. It was one of the Dujail attack was one of the deadliest in single deadliest militant attacks on Iraq in recent months and comes at a time journalists in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion when the violence in Iraq is at a four-year in 2003. The shootings add to a violent two low. days in which dozens have been killed in gun and bomb attacks mainly in northern Iraq, U.S.-funded militia at Iraq. They underscore the security challenges the government still faces even loggerheads Source: LAT after violence has fallen to lows not seen Document: Article since early 2004. Two roadside bombs Date: September 12, 2008 killed at least eight people in Baghdad Access: Open and Diyala province northeast of the A meeting Thursday aimed at sowing faith capital on Saturday. Late on Friday, a car between Iraq's government and leaders of bomb apparently targeting people on the U.S.-funded paramilitary forces instead streets breaking their fast during the highlighted distrust between the sides, Muslim holy month of Ramadan killed 30 three weeks before Iraq takes control of people and wounded 47 in Dujail in the armed groups. Leaders of the so- northern Salahuddin province. called Sons of Iraq disputed Iraqi plans to absorb only 20% of the fighters into the Dozens killed in Iraq suicide blast Iraqi military and police, and they Source: Al Jazeera expressed doubts that their members Document: Article would be protected when the U.S. military Date: September 12, 2008 turned over responsibility for the units to Access: Open Iraqi officials. At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a police station in Iraq's

NCCI Weekly Highlight 6 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

Strip of Iraq 'on the Verge of bombs and roadside bombs, and target Exploding' areas which used to be very safe. Now Source: WP they are assassinating people with pistols Document: Article that have silencers. The offensive was not Date: September 13, 2008 as successful as expected," said Doraid Access: Open Kashmoula, the provincial governor. Kurdish leaders have expanded their authority over a roughly 300-mile-long Sunni Proponent of Reconciliation Is swath of territory beyond the borders of Killed their autonomous region in northern Iraq, Source: NYT stationing thousands of soldiers in Document: Article ethnically mixed areas in what Iraqi Arabs Date: September 14, 2008 see as an encroachment on their Access: Open homelands. The assertion of greater A Sunni Arab leader of a citizen patrol Kurdish control, which has taken hold group in Baghdad who had been a gradually since the war began and proponent of reconciliation in his caused tens of thousands of Arabs to flee neighborhood was assassinated over the their homes, is viewed by Iraqi Arab and weekend. The killing of the leader, Fouad U.S. officials as a provocative and Ali Hussein al-Douri, a Sunni mosque imam potentially destabilizing action. "Quickly who directed a group of about 65 guards moving into those areas to try and change in the Jihad neighborhood in western the population and flying KRG flags in Baghdad, is the latest in a string of attacks areas that are specifically not under the on members of the so-called Awakening KRG control right now -- that is Councils. Relations between the counterproductive and increases Awakening Councils and the Shiite-led tensions," said Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, government have become increasingly commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq, strained. Administration of the Awakening referring to the Kurdistan Regional program, which is made up of almost Government, which administers the 100,000 mostly Sunni men countrywide on autonomous region. the American military payroll, is expected to be handed over to the government Al-Qaida intensifies its stranglehold starting Oct. 1. in the world's most dangerous city Source: Guardian Female bomber kills many in Iraq Document: Article Source: Al Jazeera Date: September 15, 2008 Document: Article Access: Open Date: September 16, 2008 It is the most dangerous city in the world's Access: Open most dangerous country, a sad, half- A female suicide bomber has blown empty relic whose rich and middle classes herself up among police officers who were have long since fled. To reach it, one has celebrating the release of a friend from US to travel incognito in convoys of rundown custody, killing at least 22 people, Iraqi small cars whose drivers conceal their officials said. Separate bombings in Iraq walkie-talkies and weapons under the killed another 13 people on Monday, they seats. Their bodyguards sometimes switch added. Monday's attack happened as to dented taxis with shattered windshields Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, as an extra disguise. Mosul - the de facto met US and local commanders in Iraq. He capital of northern Iraq - should have flew in unannounced to promote General been as safe as and Baghdad if a Raymond Odierno to his fourth star and massive military offensive by Iraqi and US attend a military ceremony on Tuesday forces, which was launched in May, had when Odierno takes over command of succeeded. But most al-Qaida insurgents the 146,000-strong US force in Iraq from slipped away before it began - and they General David Petraeus. are now slipping back. "They use car

NCCI Weekly Highlight 7 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

Bombs kill 34 in Iraq, Gates visits Britain over where the weapons end up, Baghdad Amnesty International says today. There is Source: Reuters no clear accountable audit trail for some Document: Article 360,000 small arms supplied to the Iraqi Date: September 15 , 2008 security forces, many by the US and UK, it Access: Open says. Subcontracting makes the arms Three bomb attacks killed 34 people and trade even less transparent. Among wounded dozens more in Iraq on Monday, examples cited by Amnesty are the supply underscoring the security challenges of 63,800 Kalashnikov assault rifles from facing the next U.S. military commander in Bosnia to Iraq and the dispatch via the UK the country who takes over this week. U.S. of thousands of Italian Beretta pistols, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who many of which ended up in the hands of earlier arrived in Baghdad on an al-Qaida insurgents in Iraq. "The easy unannounced visit, said Lieutenant- availability of small arms and lack of General Ray Odierno must find ways to accountability in Iraq has contributed to keep improving security while American sectarian killings by armed groups, as well troop levels are falling. Gates will preside as torture and other ill-treatment; extra- over a ceremony on Tuesday to hand judicial executions by Iraqi government command of U.S.-led forces in Iraq to forces and the continuing arbitrary Odierno from General David Petraeus, detention of thousands of suspects by Iraqi whose term was marked by a "surge" of soldiers backed by US armed forces since 30,000 extra U.S. troops and big falls in 2003," says Amnesty. violence. Female Suicide Bombers Are Latest Iraqi police: bombs kill 3 north War Tactic of Baghdad Source: WP Document: Article Source: IHT Date: September 17, 2008 Document: Article Access: Open Date: September 16 , 2008 Access: Open Shortly after the Muslim sunset prayer, the A bicycle laden with explosives exploded beggar approached Naeem Jabbar as near a military truck in a market north of he stepped out of his car. She was no Baghdad on Tuesday, killing two civilians more than 19 years old. He was a leader and wounding 19, Iraqi officials said. The of the Awakening, a U.S.-backed force bicycle was left near the truck parked at that has helped improve security in Iraq. the main market in Taji, 12 miles north of For the past four months, Jabbar had Baghdad, said a police officer who spoke given the young woman food and money, on condition of anonymity because he enabling her to survive until the next day. was not authorized to speak to the media. "He trusted her," said Jabbar's brother, The soldiers from the truck were patrolling Muntasar. "We never searched her." On the market on foot when the blast went this evening in July, hidden under her off. The truck was badly damaged. black garments, she wore a vest filled with explosives, nails and ball bearings. As her benefactor greeted her, she triggered the US and UK failing to monitor flood bomb, killing him, four others and herself. of arms into Iraq, Amnesty warns U.S. and Iraqi officials say Sunni insurgent Source: Guardian groups, especially al-Qaeda in Iraq, are Document: Article using religion, money and empty promises Date: September 17, 2008 to persuade sometimes vulnerable women Access: Open to conduct suicide attacks, highlighting Iraq is being flooded with weapons the movement's desperation at a time despite human rights violations by all when its influence and ranks have parties in the conflict there, and without declined. any proper monitoring by the US and

NCCI Weekly Highlight 8 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

Baghdad bombs kill nine, wound policeman was also killed in a separate dozens - police bomb blast in Baghdad's Zayouna Source: Reuters Alertnet neighbourhood, police said. Bomb attacks Document: Article have killed dozens of people in Iraq in the Date: September 17, 2008 past several days, bucking a trend Access: Open towards lower violence. U.S. military Two car bombs exploded in quick officials say violence in Iraq is at four-year succession on Wednesday, killing eight lows, but militants have shown they are still people and wounding 25 others in western capable of carrying out large-scale Baghdad's Harithiya district on attack. Wednesday, Iraqi police said. A

______-----__ Iraq Environment and Space

JIDPs and RefugeesJ

Death of Palestinian boy highlights tiered to seat tens of thousands of soccer dangers at Iraq border refugee fans. Odai Hussein himself, son of Saddam, attended, and on that day in 1986 Iraq's camp national team thumped Saudi Arabia 2-1. Source: UNHCR Now Rasoul lives in the stadium along with Document: Article Date: September 10, 2008 2,500 others, mostly Kurds. They inhabit Access: Open mud and cinder-block huts beneath the The death of a nine-year-old boy in a road stands, in the parking lots and the luxury accident on the Iraq-Syria border has boxes, and it's no longer beautiful. It's a focused attention once more on the dirty, sewage-ridden slum and Rasoul is extremely dangerous and harsh living of the unofficial mayor." hundreds of Palestinian refugees stranded at a makeshift desert camp. The young U.S. Goals for Iraqi Refugees are refugee, Mohamed Kamal Ibrahim, was Inadequate due to be resettled soon in Sweden with Source: RI his family. He died late Tuesday afternoon Document: Article in an ambulance headed for a hospital in Date: September 12, 2008 the suburbs of Damascus after he was hit Access: Open by a reversing truck in Al Tanf, a rag-tag Refugees International expressed gathering of tents and makeshift shelters disappointment today at the State housing some 920 Palestinians, including Department's goal of resettling only 17,000 355 children, in the no man's land Iraqi refugees for the 2009 fiscal year, between Iraq and Syria. which begins October 1. While the United States achieved its target of resettling over 12,000 Iraqi refugees in 2008, the needs Displaced Iraqis live under stands in are far greater. The Office of the UN High soccer stadium Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Source: McClatchy estimates that in 2009, 90,000 Iraqi Document: Article refugees in the region will be in urgent Date: September 10, 2008 need of resettlement. This number does Access: Open Qader Abdullah Rasoul visited not include vulnerable Iraqis who remain Stadium the day it opened and thought it inside their country, or Palestinian refugees beautiful. The lush turf was newly laid, and from Iraq, who live in desperate conditions the stands were smooth concrete, steeply at the Syria-Iraqi border. The U.S. certainly

NCCI Weekly Highlight 9 Issue 128- 18/09/2008 met its goal for this year, but next year's Displaced Sunnis face uncertain target of resettling 17,000 Iraqi refugees Baghdad homecoming falls far short of what is needed," said Source: Yahoo (AFP) Senior Advocate Kristele Younes. Document: Article "Ultimately there can be no stability in Iraq Date: September 16, 2008 and the wider region without resolving the Access: Open situation for the nearly five million Iraqis Sunni families chased from their Baghdad forced from their homes. homes by Shiite militias in 2006 are beginning to return, some welcomed by their Shiite neighbours and others facing اﻟﻼﺟﺌﻴﻦ ﻣﻠﻔﺎت ﺟﻤﻴﻊ ﺣﺴﻢ ﻗﺮرت واﺷﻨﻄﻦ hostility and threats. Dressed in a white واﻷردن ﺳﻮرﻳﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻘﻴﻦ اﻟﻌﺮاﻗﻴﻴﻦ headscarf and long black robe with yellow patterns, Sunni grandmother Um 2009 ﺧﻼل Source: Fatehoon Ismail sits back in her velvet armchair and Document: Article Date: September 15, 2008 lets her glistening eyes wander around her Access: Open family heirlooms and ornaments. From the soft velvet drapes framing the window to اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت إن اﻷﻣﺮﻳﻜﻴﺔ اﻟﺨﺎرﺟﻴﺔ وزارة ﻗﺎﻟﺖ the bouquets of artificial flowers and the أﻟﻒ 12 ﺑﻘﺒﻮل ﺣﺪدﺗﻪ اﻟﺬي اﻻﻗﺼﻰ اﻟﺤﺪ ﺗﺠﺎوزت mirrored dish covered with costume اﻟﻤﺰﻳﺪ اﺳﺘﻘﺒﺎل وﺗﺘﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻌﺎم هﺬا ﻋﺮاﻗﻲ ﻻﺟﺊ jewelry, this lady in her 60s always relished اﺑﻠﻎ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ .اﻟﻤﻘﺒﻞ اﻟﻌﺎم ﻓﻲ اﻵﻻف ﻋﺸﺮات ورﺑﻤﺎ each of the creature comforts she feared ﻧﺪﻣﻬﻢ ﻋﻦ واﺷﻨﻄﻦ ﻓﻲ (ﻓﺎﺗﺤﻮن ) ﻣﺮاﺳﻞ ﻋﺮاﻗﻴﻮن she might never see again.Instead, she ﺟﺮى ﺣﻴﺚ اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت اﻟﻰ آﻼﺟﺌﻴﻦ ﻟﻠﺬهﺎب returned home in June to find everything ﺑﻌﻨﺎﺻﺮ ﻣﻮﺑﻮءة ﺳﻜﻨﻴﺔ ﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖ ﻓﻲ ﺗﻮﻃﻴﻨﻬﻢ .just as she left it اﻟﻌﺮاﻗﻴﻴﻦ اﻟﻼﺟﺌﻴﻦ اﺑﻼغ ﺗﻢ آﻤﺎ . واﻟﺪﻋﺎرة اﻟﺠﺮﻳﻤﺔ اﺷﻬﺮ ﻟﺜﻼﺛﺔ ﺗﻜﻔﻲ ﻟﻬﻢ ﺗﻘﺪم اﻟﺘﻲ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪات ﺑﺎن Call for end to deportations to Iraq ﻣﺒﺎﻟﻎ دﻓﻊ ﺧﻼﻟﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺆﻣﻨﻮن ﻋﻤﻞ اﻳﺠﺎد ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢ وان Source: IRR اﻟﻰ وﻋﻤﺎن دﻣﺸﻖ ﻣﻦ اﻗﻠﺘﻬﻢ اﻟﺘﻲ ﻟﻠﻄﺎﺋﺮات اﻟﺘﺬاآﺮ Document: Article ﺗﺘﺮﺗﺐ ﺑﺎﻟﺪﻓﻊ ﻳﺘﺄﺧﺮ اﻟﺬي وان اﻟﻤﺘﺤﺪة اﻟﻮﻻﻳﺎت Date: September 16, 2008 . ﺳﺠﻠﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻘﻄﺔ وﺗﺴﺠﻞ ﺟﻤﺔ ﻓﻮاﺋﺪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ Access: Open A protest calling for an end to the ﻣﻘﺘﻞ ارﺑﻌﺔ ﺻﺤﻔﻴﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻮﺻﻞ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ اﻻﺧﻄﺮ continuing policy of deportations to Iraq ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺴﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﻌﻤﻞ اﻟﺼﺤﻔﻲ was held outside the Home Office on 11 Source : JFO September 2008. Organised by the Document: Article International Federation of Iraqi Refugees Date: September 13, 2008 Access: Open and the Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq, it not only called for an end to the ﺑﺒﺎﻟﻎ اﻟﺤﺰن واﻻﺳﻰ ﻳﻨﻌﻰ ﻣﺮﺻﺪ اﻟﺤﺮﻳﺎت اﻟﺼﺤﻔﻴﺔ ﻓﺮﻳﻖ ﻋﻤﻞ ﻗﻨﺎة policy of deportations to Iraq, but also اﻟﺸﺮﻗﻴﺔ اﻟﻌﺮاﻗﻴﺔ اﻟﺬﻳﻦ اﺧﺘﻄﻔﻬﻢ ﻣﺴﻠﺤﻮن ، ﻇﻬﺮ اﻟﻴﻮم ، ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ commemorated the recent deaths of two اﻟﺰﻧﺠﻴﻠﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻮﺻﻞ ﺛﻢ ﻋﺜﺮت اﻟﺸﺮﻃﺔ اﻟﻌﺮاﻗﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺜﺜﻬﻢ ﻣﻠﻘﺎة Iraqi asylum seekers. Hussein Ali committed ﻋﻠﻰ ﺟﺎﻧﺐ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺒﻮرﺻﺔ ﻏﺮﺑﻲ ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ suicide two days after being deported to اﻟﻤﻮﺻﻞ.وﻗﺎﻟﺖ ادارة اﻟﺸﺮﻗﻴﺔ ﻟﻤﺮﺻﺪ اﻟﺤﺮﻳﺎت اﻟﺼﺤﻔﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﺗﺼﺎل -, Iraq on 7 August 2008. The 35-year هﺎﺗﻔﻲ ، ان ﻓﺮﻳﻖ ﻋﻤﻞ اﻟﻘﻨﺎة ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻮﺻﻞ ﻗﺪ ﺧﻄﻔﻮا اﺛﻨﺎء ﻋﻤﻠﻬﻢ old shot himself in the cellar of his home in ،ﻇﻬﺮ اﻟﻴﻮم ، ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺰﻧﺠﻴﻠﻲ ﻋﻨﺪﻣﺎ آﺎﻧﻮا ﻣﺘﻮﺟﻬﻴﻦ اﻟﻰ ﺗﺄدﻳﺔ Kurdistan. He had been in the UK since ﻋﻤﻠﻬﻢ ،ووﺟﺪت ﺟﺜﺜﻬﻢ وهﻲ ﻣﺼﺎﺑﺔ ﺑﺎﻃﻼﻗﺎت ﻧﺎرﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺘﻲ Mohammad Hussain died from .2002 اﻟﺮأس واﻟﺼﺪر . ﺑﻌﺪ ﺳﺎﻋﺔ ﻣﻦ اﺧﺘﻄﺎﻓﻬﻢ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺒﻮرﺻﺔ ﻏﺮﺑﻲ cancer on 3 August 2008. He sought اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ. refuge in the UK in 2000, following threats from the Kurdish Democratic Party because of his political campaigning. Earlier this year, in May 2008, he narrowly avoided deportation after an order was successfully challenged by his lawyer.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 10 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

The Looming Crisis: Displacement proverbial elephant in the room: U.S. and Security in Iraq administration officials may acknowledge Source: Brookings Institute it as an important issue but lack a serious Document: Article long-term plan to address the crisis. There Date: August 31, 2008 is a risk that ignoring this humanitarian Access: Open dimension will be yet another in a series of Lost in discussions of the military surge, the strategic blunders by the U.S. government pace of troop drawdowns, and political with far-reaching political consequences. benchmarks are millions of displaced Iraqi After all, the displacement of less than a women, children, and men. Their plight is million Palestinians from Israel in 1948 was both a humanitarian tragedy and a initially seen as a temporary humanitarian strategic crisis that is not being addressed. problem, requiring temporary The massive Iraqi displacement is like the humanitarian solutions.

JProtection and Human RightsJ

ﺒﻌﺜﺔ ﺍﻷﻤﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺩﺓ ﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺍﻕ ﺘﺩﻴﻥ ﻤﻘﺘل Militants prey on desperate Iraqi ﺼﺤﻔﻴﻴﻥ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺼل women - minister Source : Reuters United Nations Assistance Mission Document: Article for Iraq condemns the murder of Date: September 16, 2008 Access: Open journalists in Mosul Years of war have left many Iraqi women Source : UNAMI widowed, illiterate and desperate, and Document: Article (Arabic and English) their deteriorating status has made them Date: September 17, 2008 Access: Open ripe for exploitation by militants, Iraq's ﺘﻌﺭﺏ ﺒﻌﺜﺔ ﺍﻷﻤﻡ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﺤﺩﺓ ﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺩﺓ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺍﻕ (ﻴﻭﻨﺎﻤﻲ) ﻋﻥ ﺇﺩﺍﻨﺘﻬﺎ -minister for women's affairs said. Nawal al ﺍﻟﺸﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﻟﻤﻘﺘل ﺜﻼﺜﺔ ﺼﺤﻔﻴﻴﻥ ﻭﺃﺤﺩ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻤﻠﻴﻥ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺎل ﺍﻹﻋﻼﻤﻲ Samarraie warned of a "disaster" if more was not done to assert women's rights, ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺼل ﻴﻭﻡ ﺍﻟﺴﺒﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻭﺍﻓﻕ 13 ﺃﻴﻠﻭل/ﺴﺒﺘﻤﺒﺭ ﻭﺘﺘﻘﺩﻡ ﺒﺨﺎﻟﺹ also eroded by a rising tide of ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﺯﻱ ﻟﻌﺎﺌﻼﺘﻬﻡ ﻭﺯﻤﻼﺌﻬﻡ. fundamentalism and sectarianism that has rolled back many of the freedoms Iraqi The United Nations Assistance Mission for women once enjoyed. "This deteriorating Iraq (UNAMI) strongly condemns the status threatens us with disaster unless we murder in Mosul on Saturday 13 find some avenue for besieged women September of three journalists and one through the rapid education of society," media worker and extends its deep Samarraie, from the minority Sunni Arab condolences to their families and political bloc, said in an interview on colleagues. Monday. Newsletter of the Justice Network for Prisoners Source : Justice Network for Prisoners Document: Newsletter (Arabic) Date: September 18, 2008 Access: Open Weekly newsletter of the network.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 11 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

JFood security and livelihoodsJ

أﻃﻔﺎل ﻓﻲ ﺳﻮق اﻟﻌﻤﻞ Floods kill at least three, cause major damage in northern Iraq Children in the dumps Source: DPA Source: Niqash Document: Article Document: Article Date: September 12, 2008 Date: September 15, 2008 Access: Open Access: Open ﺗﻜﺎﺛﺮت أآﻮام اﻟﻌﻠﺐ اﻟﺒﻼﺳﺘﻴﻜﻴﺔ واﻟﺨﺮدة اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻧﻴﺔ Heavy floods in the Choman district of the ﺑﺎﻟﻘﺮب ﻣﻦ ﻣﻴﺰان أﺑﻮ ﻗﺎدر اﻟﺬي ﻳﻤﻠﻚ ﻣﺤﻼ ﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻊ Kurdish autonomous region in northern اﻟﻤﺨﻠﻔﺎت ﻓﻲ ﺣﻲ اﻟﺼﻨﺎﻋﺔ اﻟﺘﺎﺑﻊ إﻟﻰ ﻧﺎﺣﻴﺔ Iraq left at least three people dead and اﻟﺤﺴﻴﻨﻴﺔ ﺟﻨﻮب ﻣﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﺑﻌﻘﻮﺑﺔ. وﻳﺘﺠﻤﻊ ﻋﺪد ﻣﻦ more than 100 houses destroyed, Choman اﻟﺼﺒﻴﺔ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﻲ اﻟﻨﻔﺎﻳﺎت ﺣﻮل ﻣﻴﺰان أﺑﻮ ﻗﺎدر ﺑﻴﻨﻤﺎ district leader, Abdul Wahid Giwani, said ﻳﻨﻈﺮ ﻋﺒﺮ ﻧﻈﺎرﺗﻪ إﻟﻰ اﻟﻤﺆﺷﺮ وﻳﺤﺴﺐ اﻟﺜﻤﻦ اﻟﻤﻘﺪر Friday. The floods, which took place from ﻟﻜﻞ ﺣﻤﻮﻟﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺨﻠﻔﺎت. late Wednesday through Thursday, also totally destroyed two bridges, cutting Piles of plastic cans and metal scrap have access to the district which is situated in been collected and placed next to Abu the Kurdish province of Arbil, the Middle Qader’s scales in his scrap shop in Baquba East News Agency (MENA) reported. city. A group of young boys - waste According to Giwani, the bodies of a collectors – gather around the scales farmer and his wife and daughter were waiting for Abu Qader to estimate the found. The floods also destroyed many weight and price to be paid for their small power generators established along scavenging. the Kurdish region's border with Iran.

JMinesJ

Iraq Programme Update – August 08 Source : MAG Document: Article Date: August, 2008 Access: Open A summary of the Mines Advisory Group’s activities in August 2008

JEducationJ

Education under pressure in Iraq Source : UNICEF Document: Article Date: September 15, 2008 Access: Open The ongoing conflict in Iraq continues to have a devastating impact on children and schools there. Insecurity and violence have forced teachers to flee, kept students at home and, in some cases, closed schools completely. An education system that was once one of the best in the region is now struggling to provide basic services and keep students safe. Many young people have watched fellow classmates either leave the country or simply stop coming to school. “We were 35 students and now we are seven – two girls and five boys,” says Zuhal Sultan, who studies music in Baghdad. “And we don't have enough teachers to cover every subject.”

NCCI Weekly Highlight 12 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

JWater and HealthcareJ

Cholera outbreak in Maysan ago. In addition to its coordination role Source: NCCI among the UN and partners, WHO is Document: Report strengthening Iraq’s disease surveillance Date: September, 2008 system in identifying new cases, and Access: Open providing emergency supplies to A collection of reports and articles about laboratories to improve cholera testing. the “cholera outbreak” in Maysan; UNICEF is also sending water tankers to updated regularly. affected areas, delivering Oral Rehydration Salts and water purification th Cholera as of 15 September 08 tablets for families and providing cholera- Source: NCCI prevention information through NGO Document: Report partners on the ground. Other Date: September 15, 2008 humanitarian organizations are ready to Access: Open Latest report on numbers, geographical offer further assistance. incidence and UN agencies' response to Drugs on the rampage (Ar/En) the recent cholera outbreak in Iraq. Source: Niqash Document: Article Health and Nutrition SOT Cholera Date: September 11, 2008 Report Access: Open ﻟﻴﺴﺖ ﻣﻮﺿﺔ أن ﺗﺮى أﺣﺪهﻢ ﻳﻤﻸ ﺟﻴﻮﺑﻪ ﺑﺄﻧﻮاع Source: WHO ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻷدوﻳﺔ، ﺑﻌﻀﻬﺎ ﻳﺪﺧﻞ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻄﺎق اﻟﻤﻮاد Document: Report اﻟﻤﺨﺪرة واﻵﺧﺮ رﺑﻤﺎ آﺎن ﻗﺎﺗﻼ، وﺗﺮاﻩ ﻳﺘﻨﺎوﻟﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ Date: September 17, 2008 دﻓﻌﺎت، ﻗﺒﻞ وﺟﺒﺎت اﻟﻄﻌﺎم أو ﺑﻌﺪهﺎ! ﻓﺨﻼل اﻟﺴﻨﻮات Access: Open اﻟﺨﻤﺲ اﻟﻤﺎﺿﻴﺔ ﻟﻢ ﻳﻌﺪ أﺻﺤﺎب اﻟﺼﻴﺪﻟﻴﺎت ﻳﺒﺨﻠﻮن A report of the Health and Nutritian ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻦ ﻳﻮد ﺷﺮاء ﺗﻠﻚ اﻟﻌﻘﺎﻗﻴﺮ، وﻟﻢ ﻳﻌﺪ اﻷﻣﺮ sectorial outcome team on cholera ﻣﺸﺮوﻃﺎً ﺑﻮﺻﻔﺔ ﻃﺒﻴﺐ، ذﻟﻚ أن اﻟﺼﻴﺎدﻟﺔ أﻧﻔﺴﻬﻢ ﺑﺎﺗﻮا ﻳﺪرآﻮن أن ﻟﻬﻢ ﻣﻨﺎﻓﺴﻴﻦ ﺁﺧﺮﻳﻦ ﺑﻤﻘﺪورهﻢ Water/Sanitation/Hygiene Distance ﺗﻮﻓﻴﺮ اﻟﻌﻼﺟﺎت ﺑﺠﻤﻴﻊ ﺻﻨﻮﻓﻬﺎ Management Workshop Source: UNICEF The spread of medical and narcotic drugs, Document: Report as well as unlicensed pharmacies is on the Date: September 16, 2008 up in Iraq, pointing to a worrying trend of Access: Open increased drug dependency emerging on Report on the Water, Sanitation and the back of years of violence, fear and Hygiene Distance Management workshop uncertainty. Today, it is not uncommon to see a person filling his pockets with various UN supports Iraq's cholera control types of medicines, some with narcotic effort substances that might lead to death if Source: UNAMI applied in an unprofessional manner. Nor Document: Article is it uncommon to see pharmacists Date: September 10, 2008 dispensing with the need for prescriptions Access: Open and selling drugs to whoever will buy The World Health Organization met Iraq’s them. Ministry of Health in Baghdad yesterday to offer the UN's increased support to Iraq’s cholera control activities. This follows the Cholera outbreak spreads in Iraq Government’s announcement of 21 new Source: AJ Document: Article confirmed cholera cases in Babil Date: September 11, 2008 governorate, with another 90 – 95 Access: Open suspected cases under investigation. WHO Babel, a central Iraqi province, is on alert and other UN Agencies have been after Iraqi authorities declared it a disaster supporting cholera-affected governorates zone marking the country's latest cholera since the disease resurfaced three weeks

NCCI Weekly Highlight 13 Issue 128- 18/09/2008 outbreak. At least five people died on Maysan," Ihssan Jaafar, director-general of Thursday while 90 new cases had been the public health directorate and reported, local and national health spokesman for the ministry's cholera officials said. Babel's provincial council, control unit, told a press conference in said: "The laboratory reports from Babel Baghdad. "The Ministry of Health's teams health department indicate there are 200 and institutions are working 24 hours a day cases of suspected cholera, vomiting and and seven days a week to check all areas diarrhea in the province". At least 20 and to treat any cholera case people, including seven children and two immediately to avoid fatalities. The ministry women, have died from cholera in the recently imported 540 million water tablets past three days, a local official said. and we have already distributed tens of million of them," Jaafar said. UN promises to help Iraq in اﻟﻜﻮﻟــــــﻴﺮا أﻧﺸــﺎر ﻟﻤﻨـــﻊ وﻗﺎﺋﻴــــــﺔ اﺟﺮاءات modernizing the water and اﻟﻨﺠـــﻒ ﻓــﻲ sanitation networks Source: MRFC Source: ID Document: Article Document: Article Date: September 15, 2008 Date: September 12, 2008 Access: Open Access: Open ﻧﺎﻗﺶ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ اﻟﻨﺠﻒ اﻣﺲ اﻟﺴﺒﺖ ﺳﺒﻞ اﻟﺤﻔﺎظ David Shearer ,the Deputy Representative ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﻠﻮ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ اﻟﻨﺠﻒ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺮض اﻟﻜﻮﻟﻴﺮا وﻣﺮاﻗﺒﺔ ﻣﺼﺎدر اﻟﻤﻴﺎﻩ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﺼﻔﻴﺔ واﻟﺘﻌﻘﻴﻢ ﺟﺎء ذﻟﻚ ﻓﻲ of the Secretary-General of the United ر اﻟﺼﺤﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﻓﻲ وزارة اﻟﺼﺤﺔ وﻗﺖ اﻋﻠﻦ ﻓﻴﺔ ﻣﺪي Nations in Iraq, promised the full ﻓﻲ وزارة اﻟﺼﺤﺔ ﻟﻴﻮم ﺗﺴﺠﻴﻞ ﺛﻼث commitment of the United Nations to help اﺻﺎﺑﺎت ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺎت اﻟﻨﺠﻒ و ﻣﻴﺴﺎن ودﻳﺎﻟﻰ اﺿﺎﻓﺔ Iraq to modernize the water and sanitary اﻟﻰ ارﺑﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ آﺮﺑﻼء ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﻧﻔﻰ ﺳﺎﻟﻢ ﻧﻌﻤﺔ network and providing reliable energy ﻣﺪﻳﺮ إﻋﻼم ﺻﺤﺔ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ اﻟﻨﺠﻒ ﻓﻲ ﺗﺼﺮﻳﺢ ﻟﻠﻤﺮاﻳﺎ supplies for water treatment units to ﺗﺴﺠﻴﻞ أي ﺣﺎﻟﺔ اﺻﺎﺑﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻟﺤﺪ هﺬﻩ اﻟﻠﺤﻈﺔ prevent the spread of diseases transmitted اﻟﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ ﻗﻴﻞ اﻧﻬﺎ ﺳﺠﻠﺖ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻨﺠﻒ ﻣﺒﻴﻨﺎ ان اﻟﺢ by water. According to a statement by ﺗﻘﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺨﻴﺮات وهﻲ ﺗﺘﺒﻊ ﻣﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ آﺮﺑﻼ ء the World Health Organization of the ﻗﻀﺎء ﻃﻮﻳﺮﻳﺞ ﻟﻴﺲ اﻟﻨﺠﻒ وﻗﺎل ان داﺋﺮة ﺻﺤﺔ United Nations, Iraq is in dire need to اﻟﻨﺠﻒ اﺧﺬت آﻞ اﻻﺟﺮاءات اﻟﻮﻗﺎﺋﻴﺔ اﺿﺎﻓﺔ اﻟﻰ ﺣﻤﻠﺔ modernize these sectors, at a time when ﺗﻮﻋﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻮﻗﺎﻳﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺪوث اﺻﺎﺑﺎت ﻓﻲ هﺬا اﻟﻤﺮض the rampant cholera epidemic in the اﻟﺨﻄﻴﺮ country because citizens are unable to اﻟﻤﺼﺪر : اﻟﻤﺮاﻳﺎ access to the healthy drinking water and because of poor water treatment service. Confirmed cholera cases exceed Cholera continues to spread in the 100 south Source: IRIN Source: IRIN Document: Article Document: Article Date: September 17, 2008 Date: September 14, 2008 Access: Open Access: Open The number of confirmed cases of cholera The Iraqi Ministry of Health continues to has risen to 107 in central and southern fight a recent outbreak of cholera as it parts of the country, a Health Ministry spreads through Iraq's southern provinces, spokesman said on 16 September. "The bringing the total number of confirmed number of confirmed cases has reached cases to 68, a health ministry spokesman 107: Babil 64 cases, 14, Baghdad said on 13 September. "So far we have 24, two, Diyala one, Basra one case diagnosed 68 cholera cases in Baghdad and the last case in Maysan," said Ihssan and other southern provinces: Babil 40 Jaafar, director-general of the public cases; Baghdad 22 cases; Karbala four health directorate and spokesman for the cases; Najaf one case; and another in ministry's cholera control unit.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 14 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

JCoordinationJ

Governance SOT meeting benchmarks. This strategy also provides Source: UNDP greater clarity on the use of existing Document: MoM funding mechanisms such as the Date: August 13 and September 3 , 2008 International Reconstruction Fund Facility Access: Open for Iraq (IRFFI) and strongly advocates and Minutes of the Governance SOT meetings promotes cost sharing mechanisms with of the 13th August and 3rd September 2008. the GoI’s own resources. As part of a comprehensive and integrated strategic United Nations Iraq Assistance approach, a Consolidated Appeals Strategy 2008-2010 Process (CAP) was launched and an Source: UNAMI Emergency Response Fund made Document: Report, Declaration and Matrices available to meet urgent humanitarian Date: August 20, 2008 needs. Access: Open This Assistance Strategy, which will guide Iraqi National Development UN activities from 2008-2010, has been developed in consultation with the GoI, Strategy 2007-2010 Source: GOI the donor community and NGOs to ensure Document: Strategy Paper that it keeps with national priorities, Date: March, 2007 namely the National Development Access: Open Strategy (NDS), objectives set forth in the The National Development Strategy of Iraq International Compact with Iraq (ICI) and for the period 2007-2010. Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

JFinance and FundingJ

CAP 2009 Timeline and Guidelines NGO Micro Grant and ERF Bulletin Source: OCHA No. 11 Document: Report Source: OCHA Date: September 7, 2008 Document: Article Access: Open Date: August, 2008 The timeline and guidelines for the Access: Open Consolidated Appeals Process 2009 A monthly bulletin providing updates on the NGO micro grant and ERF funding CAP Iraq 2009 meeting (SOTs) mechanisms Source: OCHA Document: MoM Iraqi inflation soars Date: September 8, 2008 Source: Azzaman Access: Open Document: Article Action points from the OCHA CAP 2009 Date: September 12, 2008 meeting. Access: Open Iraqi prices have risen more than 30% so far this year when compared with 2007, the Central Statistics Bureau said in its latest report. The report said the price hikes for some goods were much greater. It said this year’s big increases on most commodities have come at a time the local currency has appreciated

NCCI Weekly Highlight 15 Issue 128- 18/09/2008 substantially. “The exchange rate for the includes in its inflationary index. Fuel Iraqi dinar vis-à-vis the dollar has firmed. prices, it said, have gone up more than The dollar’s average value has been 1266 70% this year in a country holding massive dinars this year compared with 1477 last oil reserves. Iraqi oil production has year,” the report said. The sharp rise in increased but the country’s refining annual inflation rate is due to surges in capacity barely meets half of domestic prices of most commodities the bureau needs estimated at 700,000 barrels a day.

JHumanitarian SpaceJ

Focus on Operationality (Ar/En) EU to look at improving aid Source: NCCI worker safety Document: Briefing Papers Source: IHT (AP) Date: January, 2008 Document: Article Access: Open Date: September 16, 2008 Series of Briefing Papers on NGOs’ and Access: Open others’ humanitarian operational The EU's development aid chief said modalities in Iraq. Hard copies in English Tuesday he will investigate how to better are available at the NCCI office in ensure the safety of international relief Amman. Copies in Arabic will be available agencies working in world hot spots where soon militaries are operating. Louis Michel, the EU's development commissioner, also Targeting in Complex Emergencies accepted concerns voiced by many aid Source: FIC groups and the International Committee Document: Report of the Red Cross that lines were Date: July, 2008 increasingly blurred between aid given by Access: Open governments and by independent Using the case example of Somalia, this aid groups. "Neutrality, independence, report seeks to discuss the issues of impartiality ... that is difficult if you have an targeting in complex emergency army involved in humanitarian areas," situations. Michel told reporters after a conference on humanitarian law. "There are a growing number of cases in the world where humanitarian law is abused, or where we find people responsible for respecting humanitarian law ignoring the importance of that." He said he would consult with aid groups and U.N. agencies to come up with possible guidelines for the 27-nation EU bloc to improve the situation of aid workers.

NCCI Weekly Highlight 16 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

______Reference Documents

The Code of Conduct for the ICRC Access: Open and NGOs in Disaster Relief The International Compact is the initiative of the Government of Iraq for a new Source: ICRC Document: Code of Conduct partnership with the international Date: 1994 community. Access: Open The international code of standards for the Helsinki II ICRC and humanitarian NGOs, working in Source: CMI disaster relief situations. Document: Multi-National Agreement Date: July 2008 Access: Open UN SC Resolution 1830 The full text of the Helsinki II agreements Source: UN Document: SC Resolution International Reconstruction Fund Date: 2008 Access: Open for Iraq The latest UN Security Council resolution Source: IRFFI regarding Iraq and UNAMI. Document: Fund Date: 2004 Access: Open UN SC Resolution 1770 Information about the International Source: UN Reconstruction Fund for Iraq Document: SC Resolution

Date: 2007 Access: Open Sphere Standards: English/Arabic The UN Security Council resolution Source: Sphere Project regarding Iraq for 2007, including the Document: Code of Practice Date: 2004 expanded UNAMI mandate Access: Open The Sphere Charter and Minimum UN SC Resolution 1546 Standards in Disaster Response. Source: UN Document: SC Resolution Date: 2003 Iraq’s Political Structure Access: Open Source: USAID The UN Security Council resolution setting Document: Report the mandate of UNAMI Date: 2008 Access: Open A description of the political structure of UN SC Resolution 1500 Iraq. Source: UN Document: SC Resolution Date: 2003 Iraqi Legal Database Access: Open Source: ILD The UN Security Council resolution Document: Database (Arabic) establishing UNAMI Date: September 2008 Access: Open International Compact with Iraq All laws, regulations, constitutions and Source: GoI orders etc. of Iraq from 1917to 2008. Document: Compact Date: 2006

NCCI Weekly Highlight 17 Issue 128- 18/09/2008

Schedule Updates We encourage you to check regularly our Weekly Schedule on our Website for updates.

¾ September 20: CAP Meeting, Baghdad 9.30am

¾ September 22: WatSan SOT Meeting at UNOPS Iraq 10am

¾ September 23: SHELTER SOT Meeting at UNHABITAT 1pm

¾ September 24: CAP Workshop, Amman

¾ September 25: CAP workshop, Amman

Upcoming important dates

¾ September 19th/RamaDHan 19 - Anniversary of Saif AbdulRahman Wounding / Imam Ali Wounding

¾ September 20th/RamaDHan 20 – Opening of Mecca / Opening of Egypt / 2nd

Qadr Night for Shias (the Middle)

th ¾ September 21 /RamaDHan 21 – Martyrdom Imam Ali

Updates & Announcements If you have an announcement, if you are aware of meetings, events, humanitarian update or if you would like to make known some information, please details to [email protected]

¾ A conference entitled "Ten years of Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement – Achievements and Future Challenges", held by iDMC will take place in Oslo on the 16th and 17th Oct ober 2008. Further information can be *found if an lin herek in. the NCCI newsletter is not working anymore, it might be because the source of the document removed the article from the open ¾ Staraccessting thiwebsite.s academic Generally, year, thyoue Facul can findty of theEconomics article byand clicking Political here Science. of the Cairo University is offering a course on "Child Rights in Public Policy in Egypt". Please click here for further information.

¾ CVs can be uploaded here

¾ CVs can be checked here

¾ Employment opportunities can be examined here

NCCI Weekly Highlight 18 Issue 128- 18/09/2008