December 18, 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 Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

Overview

Humanitarian Situation: Continued concern about attacks on “soft” targets, security, sabotage, lethal exchanges between coalition troops and Iraqis, crime, and lack of key infrastructure; Nationwide food distribution proceeding smoothly;

Political: In addition to France and Germany, US special envoy James Baker gets support from Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi for Iraqi debt relief from 19-member Paris Club; Baker flies from London to Moscow to seek Russian support—Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterates opposition to the war;

UN: Secretary-General Kofi Annan reports that very likely all 600 Kuwaiti prisoners taken by Iraq in 1991 war were killed;

Refugees: While discouraging refugee returns, UNHCR has helped an additional 500 return from Iran and several hundred more return from Saudi Arabia; There are about 1,000 remaining refugees in Saudi Arabia; There were 200,000 refugees in Iran in cities and camps—some, perhaps a significant number, have returned without UNHCR assistance;

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Iraq has perhaps 800,000 IDPs; UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports of efforts to help about 3,000 displaced families in Baghdad living in abandoned structures and about 40,000 urban poor as winter approaches;

Civil Society/Rule of Law: Shiite official relative of Governing Council President Abdel Azis al- Hakim gunned down in Baghdad; With coalition support, Iraq sets up bureaucracy to prioritize and coordinate donor activity; Iranian President Mohammad Khatami doubts that Saddam Hussein can get a fair trial;

Civil–Military Interaction: Coalition intensifies sweeps in some cities; Attacks on coalition, civilians, and soft targets continue; Sweden to assist training an additional 30,000 Iraqi civil police in Jordan next year;

Humanitarian Access to Iraq: Humanitarian groups do not see immediate security improvements from capture of Saddam;

Economy/Oil: Long gasoline lines continue as production and imports fall behind demand; Oil Ministry rations gasoline to 50 liters (13.21 gallons) per driver to cut down mile-long gas station lines;

Water/power: Electricity Ministry aims for 6,000 MW capability in near term and 10,000 MW by 2006— 4,400 MW were generated prior to war; Daily nationwide power outages continue, including Baghdad;

Food: Oil-for-Food contractors down from 6,000 to 3,900 as screening for corruption and kickbacks continue; US$750 million in contracts turned over to authorities in the north—US$8 billion in contracts in place for the rest of the country;

Health and Medical: White House fact sheet reports that Iraqi Ministry of Health now has 100,000 healthcare staff, and received grants to immunize country’s 4.2 million children under the age of five against diseases such as tetanus, polio, measles, diphtheria, and tuberculosis. Iraqi Minister of Health, Khudair Abbas, says ministry has trained 1,300 to guard health facilities—plans to train an additional 2,500. Note: This report has been compiled from publicly available information. Although information has been gathered from reliable sources the currency and completeness of the information reported herein is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Inquiries, updates and comments are welcome and should be directed to PDMIN team at [email protected].

2 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 Open for humanitarian supplies; Iraq South, Central Umm Qasr (port) High charges limit use Open for humanitarian supplies; Kuwait Kuwait City (port) South, Central Also 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

3 In Country Humanitarian Assistance Preparations

North Region

Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah 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; UNHCR has provided tents, blankets, and other household items to several hundred Iraqi Kurds who have returned to Dahuk; Approximately 175 Kurdish families are living just east of Mosul, and another 700 families are living in Zamar Food WFP preparing to hand over responsibility for food distributions to Kurdish authorities on November 21, programs that are not terminated will be passed on to Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) under UN Security Council Resolution 1483 Health Four volunteer nurses from Northwest Medical Teams International will provide training in hospitals in Erbil and Dahuk Non-Food Items – UNHCR has begun a shelter program which will construct 70 houses for Shelter approximately 500 IDPs in two villages outside Erbil Water & All water projects in urban and semi-urban areas in Erbil are functioning properly Sanitation Security Other/Comments Power in Dahuk has been restored; Electric power is available for 20-22 hours per day in Erbil; Telephone services have been restored between Dahuk and Mosul; Relocation of UN international staff in the Northern Governorates is underway

Kirkuk (Attamin), Mosul (Ninewa), Tikrit (Salahaddin) Coordinator Affected Population IDP Movement UNHCR is funding projects to assist some 2,500 newly displaced Arabs who have gathered in the Hawija area west of Kirkuk; About 250 Kurdish families have been staying at Kirkuk’s sports stadium awaiting housing from authorities Food Health International Medical Corps (IMC) completed renovations of four health clinics in Kirkuk Non-Food Items World Vision was able to distribute blankets, cooking stoves, and other non-food –Shelter essential items to 2,990 IDP families living in public buildings or camps in Mosul Water & US-based NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) is continuing to help improve Sanitation sewage line repair and garbage collection in Kirkuk; Security Security situation in Mosul reported as tense; Operation Ivy Blizzard launched yesterday (December 17) in Samarra city, 25 miles (40 km) south of Tikrit, today (December 18) – results in 30 suspects arrested today; 74 arrested yesterday Other/Comments The Mosul airport is still closed to UN flights, which are using Erbil as the landing 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 point in the North; All civil, criminal, and administrative courts in Kirkuk are now open and hearing cases; World Vision International reports that rehabilitation of more than 80 schools in Mosul has been completed so that more than 40,000 school children can return to classes

Central/West Regions

Anbar, Salahaddin, Diyala, Karbala, Babil, Wasit, Najaf, Qadissiya Coordinator Affected Population IDP Movement US-based NGO Save the Children has completed registration of IDPs in Najaf, where 2,157 IDPs have been identified; International Medical Corps, Mercy Corps, and CARE are working on projects that serve the IDP population in Diyala Food Kuwait’s Red Crescent Society (KRCS) is sending its 28th batch of aid to Al Kut city, containing food items, flour, water, and milk Health US-based NGO Mercy Corps has supplied medical kits to health facilities in Qadissiya and Wasit, benefiting over 60,000 patients Non-Food Items – Shelter Water & US-based NGO Mercy Corps is addressing water, sanitation, and health needs in Sanitation Wasit and Qadissiya; CARE has repaired water flow in Anbar governorate, providing access to potable water for 1,100 households; Six water treatment plants are being rehabilitated in Babil and Diyala governorates to serve more than 500,000 people Security Anbar, Diyala, and Salahaddin are still inaccessible to UN staff due to poor security; The UN Iraq Security Office reports a surge in the number of attacks against coalition forces in the area northwest of Hilla in Babylon governorate; An official of Saddam’s Baath Party, Ali al-Zalimi, attacked and killed by a mob today (December 18) in the city of Najaf Other/Comments According to a report today (December 18), Mercy Corps still in Al Kut city, about 100 miles (161 km) southeast of Baghdad, despite security concerns – half of effort focused on developing democratic processes on village level, other projects include building infrastructure in area

5 Baghdad

Baghdad Coordinator Affected Population: 5.8 million Population IDP Movement France-based NGO Premier Urgence has reported a new case load of 7,000 IDPs in Baghdad; UNHCR has registered more than 8,200 Palestinian refugees in Baghdad who no longer receive support from authorities; About 700 families of Roma origin are reportedly living in a former Baghdad orphanage; French NGO, Premiere Urgence, says that about 10,400 people in Baghdad are IDPs because of recent war or human rights issues – NGO is working to repair former Republican Guard headquarters outside Baghdad which is temporary IDP shelter; Premier Urgence is operating at 270 locations in and around Baghdad - working to set up information center to mediate land/home claims Food Health Non-Food Items – Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and UNICEF establishes pilot youth house in Al Shelter Maghrib, Baghdad, 300-500 children visit daily – working to find location for second house in Baghdad; According to a report today (December 18), US NGO, Mercy House, operating home for over 50 orphans and runaways with some aid from French NGO, Enfants du Monde, in Baghdad Water & USAID reports that 70 of Baghdad’s 90 sewage treatment plants have been Sanitation rehabilitated; NCA says Al Hella water pumping station in Baghdad has now been fully rehabilitated Security In November 2003, the International Red Cross decided to close its Baghdad office temporarily due to the security situation; An official of the largest Shi’ite Muslim political movement, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Mohanned al-Hakim, was gunned down near his home today (December 18) in Baghdad’s Amil district following a series of threats Other/Comments A First Responder emergency system has been established in Baghdad to reach emergency services for fire or other crisis situations; NGO charter flights are still being scheduled daily between Amman, Jordan and Baghdad while commercial flights are on hold;

South Region

Basrah

Umm Qasr, Basra Coordinator Affected Population of Basrah: 1.5 million Population IDP Movement US-based NGO Save the Children has completed registration of IDPs in Basrah, where 5,300 IDPs have been identified Food WFP is continuing to provide emergency relief rations for Iraqi refugees returning from the Al Rafha camp in Saudi Arabia

6 Health USAID reports that the first of 74 “health clinic in a box” kits containing medical instruments and primary health clinic supplies were distributed to the Department of Health in Basrah; USAID has supported the rehabilitation of 20 delivery rooms in hospitals and health care centers in Basrah Non-Food Items – The week of Dec. 15, UNHCR sent 10 trucks loaded with relief items from Shelter Kermanshah, Iran, to Basra⎯goods included 1,000 tents, 500 plastic tarpaulins, 6,000 blankets, 1,200 cooking and heating stoves, 2,000 kitchen sets and 6,000 jerry cans Water & Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is working with UNICEF in Basrah and Maysan to Sanitation provide clean drinking water through water tanks, repair and install emergency water equipment and networks, and repair Water Directorate vehicles; NCA says 160-180 tankers supply 3.5 million liters of water a day, serving population of about 250,000 Security All UN operations in Basrah have been suspended until further notice; International staff curfew is in place from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am; All UN international staff and UN Joint Logistics Center in Basrah have been relocated to Kuwait; The International Red Cross has decided to close its Basrah office temporarily due to the security situation; Due to rumors that violent incidents may intensify towards end of Ramadan, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Basrah will temporarily withdraw most international staff for one week from November 19 Other/Comments

Al Muthanna, Nassiriyah (Dhi Qar), Maysan Coordinator UNOHCI is aware of 22 NGOs operating in southern Iraq Affected Population IDP Movement Food Health Czech Republic-based NGO People in Need Foundation (PINF) is continuing its work to rehabilitate medical facilities in Maysan governorate, including 5 primary health centers and 10 larger clinics; Mobile community outreach health clinics staffed by Iraqi doctors and community health workers are providing medical relief to remote areas of Maysan Governorate Non-Food Items – Shelter Water & Sanitation Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) is conducting water and supply activities in Maysan and Amarah provinces, including pipe network repairs, training, and water tankering to clinics and schools; NCA says Al Chatra water works in Nasariyah will be finalized by end of December 2003 Security UK-based NGO Caritas has temporarily suspended operations in Nasiriyah after November 12 suicide bombing of the Italian police base Other/Comments PINF, which is still increasing its activities in the education and health sectors, has proceeded with reconstruction of the Education College in Maysan

Neighboring Countries’ Humanitarian Activities/Preparations

Jordan

7 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.

UNHCR and the Government of Jordan are still trying to work out a solution for around 573 people still living in the Ruweished camp. Jordan’s Hashemite charity Organization (HCO), in cooperation with UNHCR, is providing food and medical assistance in the camp.

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) responsible for solid waste and sanitation facilities in Ruweished camp and no-mans-land at Jordanian border, under agreement with UNHCR. NCA will stay until end of December 2003. One Norwegian Program Advisor in Amman.

About 1,200 people, mostly Iranian Kurds from the Al Tash refugee camp in Iraq, are currently residing in no-man’s land at the Iraqi border with Jordan. Jordan has refused entry to most of the refugees. A refugee camp has been set up for them in no-man’s land, using some structures that were relocated there from the Ruweishid camp. However, due to the unofficial status of the camp in a “buffer zone,” neither Iraq nor Jordan is obligated to accept responsibility for the camp residents.

Following talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said that Jordan will not pressure the approximately 200,000 Iraqi refugees living in Jordan to return to Iraq. In addition, a limited number of Iraqis would be allowed to stay long-term, particularly those married to Jordanians.

According to December 9th reports, 400 Jordanian trucks stop entering Iraq to protest insecurity.

The European Commission – Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) reported on December 11 that it has adopted a decision to provide 13 million euros in additional support to vulnerable populations in the Middle East. Some of the funded activities will include health services for refugees from Iraq hosted in camps in Jordan and in the “no-man’s land” between Jordan and Iraq. The funds are directed through ECHO.

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.

Some 500 Iraqi refugees have returned to Iraq this week (Dec. 15) in convoys facilitated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Two hundred and forty five refugees returned from Iran’s Mothari and Ansar camps in southwestern Khuzestan Province yesterday (Dec. 15) in a convoy of 6 buses and 17 trucks. UNHCR reports this was the third convoy to go back from Iran since UNHCR last month began facilitating the return of refugees anxious to return and unwilling to wait for the security situation to improve. Reportedly, most refugees were going home to Basra, while others were headed for Karbala and Najaf. For the last 20 years, Iran has sheltered an estimated 200,000 Iraqi refugees who fled during the Iran-Iraq war, with most living among Iranian host communities and only 48,000 in camps. An unknown number of refugees have returned unassisted by UNHCR.

UNHCR reported on December 9 that it has assisted 280 people to return from Iran in the previous 3 weeks in 2 convoys. On December 8, 210 Iraqis reportedly left Iran’s Ashrafi refugee camp in Iran’s southwestern Khuzekstan province. UNHCR local staff in southern Iraq gave returning refugees food and 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].

8 shelter relief packages. UNHCR says it still does not encourage large-scale returns at this time, but it will arrange further return convoys from Iran upon request of refugees.

UNHCR says it has difficulties beginning repatriation as US military has fears returnees could include foreign militants. Task has also been complicated by evacuation of UN foreign staff from Iraq, and complicated security and logistical problems along heavily mined route. Maryam Ghahremani of ANSAR, an Iranian foundation that conducts mine-awareness training at Ashrafi, stresses mine awareness especially for children of refugees.

Turkey

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 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. International Organization for Migration (IOM) is also scaling down their operations in Silopi, but said it would be ready to assist in the repatriation of Iraqis.

The Turkish Red Crescent has sent a four-truck convoy carrying food aid and non-food items to Iraq to be distributed in the northern Iraqi cities of Mosul and Dahuk. According to reports on December 9, Turkish truck drivers with routes to Iraq went on strike last week over fear of attacks.

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.

UN staff wishing to travel to Iraq through Kuwait need security clearance and must complete a Kuwaiti immigration form. The immigration form, in addition to a copy of a mission plan, must be given to the transportation office by 1600 hours one day prior to the mission.

The HOC, originally scheduled to close on September 30, 2003, will continue to operate until December 31, 2003.

Due to the current security situation in Iraq, international staff members of UN agencies operating in southern Iraq have been relocated to Kuwait, as have international staff members from several international organizations, including International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Medical Corps (IMC), and Mercy Corps.

9 Syria

The Government of Syria has granted UN agencies and International Organization for Migration (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.

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.

Another convoy of 254 refugees from the 1991 Gulf war returned today (Dec. 16) to Iraq after leaving Saudi Arabia's Rafha camp late yesterday in 5 buses and 8 trucks. This was UNHCR’s 13th convoy to leave Rafha since July. The returning refugees transited Kuwait overnight, returning to Basra, Al Muthanna, Karbala, Baghdad, Kyala and Wasit. Only about 1,000 Iraqis remain in Rafha after the return so far of 4,200. All the returning refugees are met by UNHCR national staff upon their arrival and given various assistance items and tents if they require emergency shelter.

The UNHCR is not encouraging returns due to lack of security in Iraq, but is assisting those who wish to return.