Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ANKARA1907
2003-03-24 14:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

TFIZ01: UN AND ICRC ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Tags:  EAID MOPS PREF IZ TU 
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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


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