TFIZ01: UN AND ICRC ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

UNCLAS ANKARA 001907 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE AND NEA/NGA DEPT PASS USAID FOR BHA/OFDA - WGARVELINK AND BHA/FFP EUCOM FOR JE, JR, J5, SOJ7 AND POLAD GENEVA FOR RMA CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID MOPS PREF IZ TU SUBJECT: TFIZ01: UN AND ICRC ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ ¶1. (U) Over the weekend, Reuters, citing UN and ICRC sources, reported that up to 500,000 persons have been displaced in northern Iraq. UN representatives in Ankara provided lower estimates of displacement. Thus far, there has been no significant movement of DPs to the Turkish border. ¶2. (SBU) Andre LaPerriere, UNICEF's Northern Iraq Field Representative, summarizing information provided by UN OPS and UNICEF, provided an estimate of 280,000 persons displaced within northern Iraq. There is DP movement from 9 cities to 14 others in the region, with large movements to and from Sulaymaniyah. LaPerriere said the majority of these DPs had found shelter. There has also been a significant number of DPs returning to their homes when they perceive the situation to be stable. He stated that there has been movement from central Iraq (including Mosul and Kirkuk),but had no estimate of the number of these DPs. UNHCR's Deputy Turkey Representative Steven Corliss and Claire Van der Vaeren, UNDP Deputy Representative, confirmed the information given by LaPerriere. They also said that there was no movement toward the Turkish border. Van der Vaeren noted fuel shortages in northern Iraq. ¶3. (SBU) ICRC Representative Finn Ruda confirmed that Sulaymaniyah had seen relatively large DP movements, but also an "accordion"-like movement of persons away from and back to their homes as their perceived security changes. ICRC believes there are well under 500,000 DPs in all of Iraq. ¶4. (SBU) A Mercy Corps International representative in Sulaymaniyah told us that the pattern of displaced persons returning to their homes is not taking place in Dahuk. This may be due to the town's proximity to Mosul. Pearson