NGO-IO COORDINATION MEETING IN ANKARA, 9 APRIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002347

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, IO AND SA/PAB, NSC FOR
DWORKEN, MANN, KHALILZAD, QUANRUD, AND BRYZA
DEPT PASS USAID FOR NATSIOS, DCHA/OFDA FOR GARVELINK,
MCCONNELL, MARX, AND FARNSWORTH, ANE/AA FOR CHAMBERLAIN,
USAID/A, DCHA/AA, DCHA/RMT, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OTI,
DCHA/DG, ANE/AA AND USAID/AA
ROME FOR FODOG, GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
EUCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD
CENTCOM FOR J3, J5 AND POLAD
PACOM FOR POLAD


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AA EAID IZ MOPS PHUM PREF PREL TU WFP
SUBJECT: NGO-IO COORDINATION MEETING IN ANKARA, 9 APRIL

This cable was drafted by DART and cleared by Embassy.


--------------
Summary
--------------



1. (U) Summary: UNOCHA hosted an NGO/IO coordination meeting
on 9 April in Ankara. UNOCHA, UNHCR, IFRC, the American Red
Cross, ten NGOs and DART Field Office/North attended. UNHCR
reported no refugee movements in the region. As a result,
the GOT Crisis Center and the Turkish Red Crescent Society
(Kizilay) are scaling back their operations in southeastern
Turkey. UNSECOORD has received GOT permission, in principle,
to enter northern Iraq from Turkey to conduct a security
assessment. There has been increased movement of WFP food
shipments from Turkey to northern Iraq. NGOs continue to
await permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
to transit Turkey to work in northern Iraq. Reports from
northern Iraq indicate that food and non-food items are
available but at increased costs. Health care and other
essential services continue to be provided. End summary.


--------------
UN Update
--------------



2. (SBU) UNHCR deputy representative reported that there have
been no major or minor refugee movements in the region, but
that UNHCR remains in the preparedness mode. The deputy
representative noted that it was not until day 39 of the 1991
war that refugee flows began. He expressed ongoing concern
for the situation, citing Kurdish movements toward Mosul and
Kirkuk as possible triggers for large movements of Iraqis.



3. (U) The lack of movement of refugees into Turkey has
caused the GOT to re-evaluate its Silopi operation and move
items to Diyarbakir. The GOT is also reassessing the Crisis
Center in Diyarbakir. UNOCHA reported that the Center
remains on standby with a scaled-down presence. Kizilay has
reduced its staff in southeastern Turkey by 160. There are
now 120 Kizilay staff members present in that region.



4. (U) MFA has accepted, in principle, UNSECOORD,s request
to transit Turkey to conduct a security assessment in
northern Iraq. Clearance is still needed from UN offices in
New York and Larnaca, UNOCHA reported. Two teams are
prepared to begin the assessment in northern Iraq when these
clearances are received.



5. (U) Since 30 March more that 100 WFP-contracted trucks
have transited into northern Iraq, carrying mostly wheat
flour to Dohuk, Arbil and Sulaimaniyah. UNJLC reported that
an average of 250 trucks per day would be required to meet
future plans.


--------------
NGO Issues
--------------



6. (SBU) Some NGOs remain on standby in Ankara awaiting MFA
permission to transit Turkey to work in Iraq. There has been
no formal notification from the MFA. Two NGO representatives
will depart Turkey on 10 April; one will leave a local
representative to monitor the MFA request.



7. (SBU) ID cards and coordination inside of Iraq remain
issues for NGOs. NGOs do not want to use U.S.
military-issued ID cards. They recognize the importance of
IDs but favor using their own organizations, cards. NGOs
are also concerned about coordination of humanitarian
assistance inside Iraq. They are unsure of how they will
interact with the UN, the U.S. military and other
coordinating bodies, e.g., ORHA.



8. (U) Those NGOs remaining in Turkey are committed to
working with the GOT to get formal permission to transit
Turkey to work in Iraq. Three NGOs: the American Refugee
Committee, Shelter for Life and Counterpart International
submitted requests for transit permits to the MFA during the
week of 6 April. Eight NGOs have now requested transit
permits.


--------------
Northern Iraq Update
--------------

9. (U) UNOPS has completed an IDP survey in the
Kurdish-controlled region of Iraq. They report that there
are now 266,000 displaced persons in the region.

10. (U) UNOCHA reported that the old Iraqi dinar has
appreciated by 40 percent. Food costs are increasing by
50-100 percent, but shops are open. Non-food items remain
available, but there is a shortage of shelter material. This
shortage could be problematic if there is an influx of IDPs.



11. (U) Health services continue to function, and
UN-sponsored vaccination programs, e.g., measles, are ongoing.



12. (SBU) Fuel continues to be imported to Sulaimaniyah and
Arbil from Iran. There have been no shipments from
GOI-controlled areas since the war began.



13. (SBU) Power lines from Mosul to the Kurdish-controlled
region of Iraq have been damaged in recent fighting. Power
continues to be supplied, but the cost of power has increased.


--------------
Further Meetings
--------------



14. (U) The next NGO/IO coordination meeting will be held at
UN House in Ankara on 16 April at 1400 hrs. DART Field
Office/North will attend.
PEARSON