www.unjlc.org UNJLC IRAQ BULLETIN No. 6 of 2004 August 27th, 2004 UNJLC Bulletins aim to provide a clear and concise regular overview of the situation as it exists in Iraq with regards to logistics matters that may affect the work of the humanitarian community. They focus on practical issues that affect the welfare of the populace and related humanitarian work such as the status of transport corridors for humanitarian supplies into Iraq, relevant administrative or commercial developments, and availability of fuels. They further seek to identify major issues for the humanitarian community and other interested parties, to provide relevant background and constructive recommendations on current issues, and to alert responsible parties to emerging issues. 1. Logistics Co-ordination Forum: Amman 2. Transport Corridors UNJLC convened on August 25th, 2004 a Logistics Co- In this bulletin, UNJLC will focus on the Southern corridor, ordination Forum in Amman, grouping those responsible for part of which provides Iraq’s only direct access from the logistics matters in the respective UN agencies and sea, following a mission by UNJLC to the Iraq-Kuwait international organisations. border at Umm Qasr. The primary purpose of the forum is to provide an informal The Turkish corridor was covered in UNJLC Bulletin 5 setting for participants to share information and (August 13th, 2004), the Syrian corridor was addressed perspectives on the challenges they face moving more fully in UNJLC Bulletin 3 of 2004 (July 16th, 2004); humanitarian aid and other goods into Iraq so that Jordan in Bulletin 2 (July 2nd); and Umm Qasr in Bulletin common approaches and solutions may be explored, if 1 (June 18th). appropriate. (a) Volumes Estimate It is clear that most agencies and international organisations have well-established logistical arrangements Overall volumes of cargo into Iraq through all means – by in place, generally using professional transporters or land, sea and air – seem to be generally steady. Capacity is forwarders. A number of these parties are still moving adjusting to the evolving situation and commercial significant humanitarian cargoes into the country; others operators in Iraq and regionally become more active. have minimal traffic but may increase volumes once the Excluding military-related and fuel cargos, it is now security environment becomes more permissive and their estimated, based on discussions with transporters and programmes may be more fully reinstated; some have very forwarders and observations at borders and ports, that specialised shipments; others are interested in the overall approximately 60,000 tonnes per day enters the country, logistical picture to assist in their contingency planning. broadly as follows: Est. tonnes The forum proved particularly useful in apprising per day participants of the relative merits of the respective Umm Qasr and other south Iraq ports 15,000 corridors into Iraq and making them aware of transport Turkey, via Silopi/Zakho borders 15,000 options that they may have been unaware of in what is a Jordan, via Karama/Trebil borders 16,000 steadily evolving logistical environment. In particular, there Syria, through both land borders 13,000 seems to be less awareness of the options available for Kuwait and others 6,000 getting goods in by air, with a trade-off between security Estimated total 65,000 costs for ground transports and the more expensive air In addition to this, it is estimated that an average of at freight rates. least 150 tonnes of air cargo enters Iraq daily. The consensus of participants at the inaugural sessions was that the forum reconvene no more frequently than (b) Southern Corridor: General Description fortnightly, but more frequently than monthly. The next session of the forum is therefore tentatively scheduled for Iraq’s main port of Umm Qasr is now managed by the Iraq mid-September. Logistics personnel from all UN agencies, Ports Authority. Owing to security constraints, the main international organisations and NGO’s operating out of stevedoring activities are now concentrated in the New Amman for Iraq are welcome to participate. Port, located in the northern part of the port complex, where management has improved security to an acceptable Should demand warrant, a similar forum may be convened level. Part of the security improvement strategy involved for logistics officers and other interested parties operating discouraging dhows calling at Umm Qasr. These smaller out of Kuwait. vessels now frequent the nearby smaller ports of Khor Al- Zubayr, north of Umm Qasr, and Abu Floos, on the Shatt Al-Arab Waterway. ABOUT UNJLC: UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq and generally to the Inter Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimise logistics capabilities of humanitarian organisations in large scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP that is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the unit. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions that are channelled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Iraq can be viewed at the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org). Bulletin 6 of 2004, August 27th, 2004 Page 2 of 6 2. Transport Corridors (cont’d) (e) The Reconstruction Levy: Improvements (b) Southern Corridor: An Overview (cont’d) The Reconstruction Levy, imposed by CPA Order 38 as amended by CPA order 70, is levied mainly on commercial Khor Al-Zubayr continues to be run by Maersk (AP Moeller) cargo going into Iraq at a rate of 5%. It will be applied at and has experienced few, if any security problems. This is least through to the end of 2005. Food, government in part due to its more isolated location, away from villages purchases and reconstruction materials are exempt, but and other facilities. During July, it saw increased traffic of collections under it provide an indication of the value of inbound food and some exports of dates and lentils. non-exempt imports into Iraq. The authorities have closed most of the smaller jetties on The Basra region, which covers the southern corridor, is the Shatt Al-Arab, causing the Abu Floos facility to receive responsible for seven entry points as noted in the graph an increased number of calls. The Shatt Al-Arab ports and below. Overall, the region has shown a steady increase in jetties can only accommodate small vessels whereas all collections of the levy in recent months, with more than larger vessels must call at Umm Qasr or Khor Al-Zubayr. US$2 million collected in July, up from less than US$1.5 million in June. (c) Volumes There has been a significant increase in collections from Abu Floos. This reflects the closure of the Shatt Al-Arab The most prominent commodity imported through Iraq’s jetties where it was more difficult to collect the levy and ports continues to be food. Umm Qasr handles about the concentration of trade on Abu Floos. This area had 10,000 tonnes per day of food with bulk grain through its been considered less manageable than the two main ports silo facility, from break-bulk vessels and containers. Khor of Umm Qasr and Khor Al-Zubayr but marked Al-Zubayr handles around 500 tons of food per day. Food improvements seem to have taken place. volumes through Abu Floos are of a much smaller order. As most of the food and reconstruction material – being All three ports handle containers in addition to food cargos, exempt from the levy yet nevertheless accounting for most with the vast majority going through Umm Qasr. imports - goes through Umm Qasr, the graph cannot give a correct indication of volumes in general. It is, however, Owing to the implementation of regulations on maximum clear that commercial trade into Iraq is increasing, and that age of imported used vehicles and saturation in the the relative freedom of Abu Floos is more appreciated by market, significantly fewer cars were imported through the traders than the two more established ports. The popularity of Abu Floos may be in part due to the onerous Inspection- ports in July than earlier in year. The trade is certainly nd continuing and is expected to do so, but at a reduced level. at-Sea regime (see UNJLC Bulletin 2 of July 2 , 2004) for containerized vessels calling at Umm Qasr and Khor Al- No military cargos seem to pass through Umm Qasr. Zubayr, which makes them less cost-competitive compared to the smaller vessels calling at Abu Floos. APRIL Basra Region Monthly Customs Levy (USD) MAY JUNE 2,500,000 JULY 2,000,000 1,500,000 $ USD 1,000,000 500,000 - S R R N Y A O A A C M FAO TAL L TO FALO MAQUIL A L SAFW Z ZUB UMM QAS A SHALA BU A A HOR K Location ABOUT UNJLC: UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq and generally to the Inter Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimise logistics capabilities of humanitarian organisations in large scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP that is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the unit. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions that are channelled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Iraq can be viewed at the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org). Bulletin 6 of 2004, August 27th, 2004 Page 3 of 6 2. Transport Corridors (cont’d) (h) Tugboats and Pilots There is general dissatisfaction among operators and (d) Rail Connections agents in Umm Qasr about the availability of tugboats and pilots. Only two tugboats are shipshape and there is a Efforts are under way to re-establish the rail link from constant lack of fuel to run them. Umm Qasr through to Baghdad. Sabotage and a lack of rolling stock have prevented resumption of a full service.