U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Fact Sheet #3021, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 May 9April 28, 2003

Background

• Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated in Iraq since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent Government of Iraq (GOI) manipulation of international sanctions. In 1996, the GOI accepted the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program (OFF), after which humanitarian conditions improved.
• Between 1991 and 1996, the U.S. Government provided nearly $794 million in humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Iraq.
• Since 1996, revenues from OFF have provided food, medicine, and other civilian goods to assist vulnerable Iraqis. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan noted in a letter to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC), that the GOI has ordered and paid for food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies under OFF that have not yet been delivered.
• The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 16 million Iraqis—approximately 60 percent of the total population—rely solely on food rations distributed through OFF in order to meet household needs.
• On March 20, 2003, Coalition forces began military operations in Iraq. As a result of the conflict, the U.N. Secretary General suspended the OFF food distribution system. On March 28, the UNSC unanimously passed resolution 1472 that allows the U.N. to administer Iraq’s OFF program for 45 days (until May 12). As the U.N. takes over the OFF program, WFP’s first priority is to contact recently active suppliers able to rapidly provide food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies.

Current Situation (Updated Daily)

Regional Updates

Countrywide

• On May 7, the United States Government (USG) amended its Iraq sanctions regulations. This now allows USG partners to engage in transactions that otherwise would have been prohibited by the regulations. The USG believes the lifting of sanctions is an essential step in providing for the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of Iraq.
• On May 9, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that the critical emergency phase in Iraq is winding down and that IFRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and participating Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies are determining the appropriate contributions needed for the rebuilding of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. IFRC also indicated that basic medical provisions are available inside Iraq and the challenge is to restart the existing health distribution system.

Baghdad

• The DART returned to the Saddam City neighborhood of Baghdad on May 8 to assess the protection and assistance needs of an estimated 600 displaced persons occupying two former Iraqi government sites in the area. Many of the displaced claim to have been evicted from rented properties for financial reasons, while approximately 100 claim to be returnees from Mashed, Iran. Although food stocks at both sites are expected to last until August, access to water and electricity is insufficient.

Northern Iraq

• On May 8, the U.N. Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UN OHCI) reported that the return of the old caseload IDPs to their places of origin in central and southern Iraq is decreasing. The U.N. Office of Project Services (UNOPS) has completed their assessment of the old caseload of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Arbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates, while in Dahuk it is still ongoing.
• Lutheran World Federation (LWF), an implementing partner for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), confirmed the presence of 550 Arab IDPs in the guardhouse of the former presidential palace in Mosul. LWF is providing assistance to this group and other IDPs living in abandoned buildings and tents.

Western Iraq

• The U.S. Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) reports that 12 new refugees entered Jordan on May 8 and a total of 14 new third country nationals (TCNs) entered on May 7. Meanwhile, a total of 818 people remained in the refugee camp. On May 8, 1,218 people remained displaced in the no man’s land. Of this total, 1,064 were Iranian Kurds, nine were other Iranians, six were Iranian Persians, 138 were Arabs, and one person was unidentified. Peaceful protests continued among Iranian Kurds in the no man’s land, while the Government of Jordan has implemented additional security measures there.

Southern Iraq

• On May 9, ICRC delivered 32 metric tons (MT) of chlorine to water treatment facilities in the Dhi War governorate. The chlorine supply should cover the water treatment needs for the entire governorate for more than one month.

Sector Updates

Food

• According to UN OCHCI, on May 6, the World Food Program (WFP) began securing 300,000 metric tons (MT) of Oil-For-Food (OFF) program commodities being discharged or already in storage throughout Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An additional 744,304 MT, procured under OFF, through bilateral donations, and the through the WFP Emergency Operation will be shipped in the region by the end of May.

Fuel

• The DART reports that the Humanitarian Operations Center engineering personnel are working to transport liquid propane gas (LPG) from Kuwait City to the LPG port on the Shatt-Al Arab between Umm Qasr and Az Zubayr. From the port handling facility, the LPG will then be transported via rail for destinations throughout Iraq.

Health

• The DART reports that 45 stool samples from residents of Al Basrah are being tested in Kuwait City for cholera. To date, 18 have tested positive, although the specific strain of cholera has yet to be determined. The cases that have tested positive have come from different areas of the city, including the city center. A task force, including the Iraqi Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and several NGOs, has been formed in Al Basrah to respond to the cholera reports.

Infrastructure

• USAID private sector partner Bechtel visited Arbil and Mosul May 7 and 8 to inspect the damaged structure of a vital bridge near Mosul. Bechtel is identifying materials needed to repair the bridge. USAID and the Coalition are identifying other high priority damaged bridges such as those on the Jordan-Baghdad road, and will schedule assessment visits. Bechtel also surveyed sites for operations in the north.

Logistics

• The DART reports that the Coalition has deemed the Al Basrah International Airport open for humanitarian relief flights. However, there is currently no storage capacity at the airport for relief commodities brought in on such flights.

Population Movements

• On May 8, the DART met with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and learned that 200 Iranians have been forced by local Iraqis to leave their homes in the town of Dujaila, southeast of Al Kut in Wasit governorate. Their properties have reportedly been confiscated and their crops destroyed. Twenty-eight affected families arrived at a reception center east of Al Basrah on May 7 and 8. Most of the Iranian families have been living in Dujaila for more than 10 years. To meet the immediate needs of those at the center, UNICEF is planning to dispatch a water tanker and the NGO Save the Children will send an assessment team to the center on May 9.
• UNHCR has expressed concern for an estimated 1,000 Palestinians who have been evicted from their homes in Baghdad since the end of the conflict, as well as several families of Iranian refugees who have been expelled from their homes in Dujaila in southern Iraq. On May 9, the agency sent a three-truck convoy from Jordan to Baghdad carrying relief supplies for up to 2,000 people, including 400 tents, 1,200 mattresses and 2,000 blankets, as well as stoves, jerry cans and soap. According to UNHCR, the Palestinian Red Crescent will help distribute the aid materials.

Baghdad and Baghdad Governorate

• A Civil Affairs (CA) assessment reports that power plants in Baghdad are currently generating 450 megawatts of electricity daily. This has enabled the operation of the substations at all sixteen water treatment plants, 24 of 26 wastewater treatment plants, and 11 of 12 major public hospitals. According to local engineers, approximately one quarter of the entire city of Baghdad is now with electricity.
• On April 26, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Baghdad put 14 satellite telephones at the disposal of Iraqis eager to contact their relatives abroad.
• On April 28, ICRC reported that the ammunition dump explosion in Baghdad on April 26 resulted in at least 50 wounded and six deaths. The explosion was caused by the firing of four flares into the ammunition dump by unidentified attackers, according to Coalition forces. ICRC also reports that security problems continue to plague Baghdad and shooting is still heard regularly at night.
• On April 27, UNICEF reported an outbreak of diarrheal illness in Baghdad. An estimated 300 patients with diarrhea were admitted to al-Noor Hospital on April 27. UNICEF continues to evaluate the situation and remains concerned about the water situation in poorer areas of the capital city.

Northern Iraq

The U.S. Government’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) reports the security situation in northern Iraq remains fragile, but stable. There is minimal internally displaced person (IDP) movement at this time. The DART reports that the market price for a bag of wheat has decreased by 20 percent over the past six weeks due to increased food supplies in the region.

Western Iraq

On April 26, the DART traveled to Ar Rutbah in western Iraq to meet with local officials and assess the humanitarian situation. The DART reported that electricity has not been restored to the town and the normal water system is down, but the overall situation is stable. The public distribution system (PDS) is functioning and serves approximately 26,000 beneficiaries. The DART observed an OFF distribution of dry milk, tea, salt, beans, sugar, soap, and detergent to 63 PDS food agents. The town has selected a mayor and representatives for the various government ministries. Police have begun patrols and are manning checkpoints at the entrances to the town.

On April 27, the DART departed Ar Rutbah to begin assessing communities along the Euphrates River northeast of Ar Ramadi. Communities assessed were Hit and Al Hadithah, both in Al Anbar governorate. In general, the DART found no significant immediate emergency needs in these communities. Electricity is available, potable water systems are operating, markets are open, and the PDS is functioning.

Southern Iraq

The USAID Power Engineer reports that all power plants are operating in the south, but at reduced load due to breaks in the power lines. Total generation is estimated at 155 megawatts, which is about 30% of the normal system load. Power has been restored to some of the oil fields that will begin the fuel re-supply process to the power plants. USAID is working with Bechtel to provide the necessary equipment.

USAID reports the dredging of the 50-mile channel from the Persian Gulf to Umm Qasr port is expected to begin on or about May 4.

UNICEF has opened 5 of 14 schools in Safwan, in Southern Iraq, and 48 of 60 schools in Az Zubayr. However, the schools require repairs to water and sanitation facilities.

Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector

• Food Security

• According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the northern governorates of Iraq, Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah, are expected to produce between 30 and 35 percent of this year's estimated crop harvest, totaling 1.7 million MT of grain. The rain-fed northern harvest would produce 500,000 MT of wheat and barley that would otherwise have to be imported. However, FAO has not yet predicted expected crop yields in central and southern governorates. The southern cereal and vegetable crops depend on irrigation, which relies on electricity and a steady fuel supply to maintain pumping networks.
• FAO reported on April 28 that chicken prices have increased by 20 percent in the northern governorates, as poultry producers stopped raising new chicks during the fighting when markets were inaccessible.

Humanitarian Assistance

• The United Nations has successfully sent convoys of relief supplies (water, food, and medical supplies) and humanitarian missions across the Iranian border into Iraq at Shalamchah, Mehran, and Penjwin. During the past week, MSF transported 40 MT of health and medical supplies and UNICEF transported 12 trucks of health and medical supplies into Iraq from Iran.
• During April 18-24, Emergency Doctors of Germany (EDG) transported three trucks of health supplies from Jordan into Iraq. Doctors of the World (MDM) Greece sent one truck of health, non-food, and food supplies into Iraq from Jordan, and MSF sent five trucks of relief supplies.

Population Movements

On April 27, the U.N., in coordination with the Humanitarian Information Center for Iraq, announced the implementation of a second update of the U.N. IDP assessment for Dahuk, Arbil, and As Sulaymaniyah. The original April 6 survey indicated that there were 266,018 new caseload IDPs as a result of the conflict, but that figure was revised on April 16 to 9,847, as most of the new IDPs returned back to their places of origin. While most of the new IDPs have returned, the return of the old caseloads of IDPs, who predate the current crisis, to their original locations in the areas previously under the former Government of Iraq control is continuing on a voluntary basis and it remains slU.S. Government Response (New information is underlined)

Deployment

• The United States Government deployed a Disaster Assistance ResponseUSAID deployed staff to the region to prepare for reconstruction efforts. Several USAID administrative, health, and education staff have relocated to the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance’s (ORHA) Baghdad compound. USAID is assisting government ministries in becoming operational and public services to get restarted in Baghdad.

Emergency Relief

• USAID/OFDA is supporting U.N. and NGO emergency assistance activities through quick-impact projects and IDP support. USAID/OFDA supports projects in the sectors of agriculture, food security, health, logistics, nutrition, shelter, and water/sanitation.
• USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) is providing emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust and P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance to WFP for distribution to food insecure Iraqis. WFP also received a cash contribution from USAID/FFP for the purchase of commodities in the region.
• USAID/OFDA is supporting NGO emergency assistance activities with quick-impact projects and IDP support.

USAID/FFP provided emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust and P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance to WFP for distribution to food insecure Iraqis. WFP also received a cash contribution from USAID/FFP for the purchase of commodities in the region.

• USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) is supporting the implementation of the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI).  The ITI program supports the process of political stabilization and community recovery in post-conflict Iraq by providing small grants designed to build confidence among Iraq's diverse ethnic groups, increase citizen participation in decision-making, and rapidly respond to community needs, while establishing and building trust for long term reconstruction efforts.  The ITI program is implemented through Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• The Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) /PRM contributed assistance for the pre-positioning and emergency response activities of UNHCR, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the International Organization for Migration ( IOM).

Reconstruction

• In addition to the emergency relief assistance provided through the DART by USAID and the Department of State, USAID’s Asia and Near East Bureau (USAID/ANE) /ANE has provided assistance for reconstruction activities in Iraq in a broad range of sectors. USAID supports reconstruction projects in education, governance, health, infrastructure, and logistics.
• USAID has deployed staff to the region to begin reconstruction efforts. USAID staff are located in Kuwait City and Baghdad. Teams from USAID are assisting government ministries in becoming operational and public services to get restarted in Baghdad. Private sector partners have mobilized to carry out the first phase of their activities.

Background

• Since 1991, the Iraqi population has subsisted on the brink of a humanitarian disaster due to the lingering effects of war, sanctions, and drought. Between 1991 and 1996, the U.S. Government provided nearly $794 million in humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Iraq.
• In 1996, the Government of Iraq (GOI) accepted the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program (OFF), after which humanitarian conditions improved. Revenues from the OFF program provided food, medicine, and other civilian goods to assist vulnerable Iraqis through the Public Distribution System (PDS). However, widespread corruption by Iraqi officials limited the effectiveness of the OFF program.
• On March 20, 2003, Coalition forces began military operations in Iraq. On May 1, 2003, 42 days after the conflict began, U.S. President George W. Bush announced that combat operations in Iraq have ended. Although the recent conflict did not result in the large-scale humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement many had envisioned, the conflict and subsequent disorder has exacerbated the Iraqi population's vulnerable circumstances.
• In March 2003, the USG deployed a multi-agency DART to the region to assess and respond to humanitarian needs and to help coordinate the emergency relief effort. In Iraq, the DART has established offices in Al Basrah, Arbil, and Baghdad. In addition, DART members are located in Kuwait, Jordan, Cyprus, and Qatar and are working closely with U.N. agencies, NGOs, and in coordination with U.S. Military Civil Affairs (CA) personnel.

USAID/ANE supported the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO for health, education, and water and sanitation needs, Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) to assess and manage the Umm Qasr port, Creative Associates International to address education issues, the Research Triangle Institute to pursue local governance initiatives, and the Air Force Contract Augmentation Program (AFCAP) to provide logistical support to all USAID/ANE operations. USAID/ANE also supported Bechtel for infrastructure repair and rehabilitation.

Other Donor and International Organization Assistance*

*This compilation was drawn from the Department of State tracking of donor governmentdonor government web sites and may represent pledged or committed funding. The list may not be comprehensive.

** This total is approximate as the value of donated commodities is not available in some cases.

Public Donation Information

• The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash donations to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for their activities in the Gulf can be found in the "How Can I Help" section at [www.usaid.gov/iraq].
• USAID encourages cash donations because they: allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region; ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
• General information on making donations and volunteering can be found at:
• USAID: www.usaid.gov/iraq -> "How Can I Help?"
• The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or 703-276-1914
• InterAction: www.interaction.org -> "Guide to Appropriate Giving"
• Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.org.

*Fact Sheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq

 U.S. Government Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq