Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT1080
2003-03-25 17:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

USAID HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION SITUATION REPORT

Tags:  EAID PREF MOPS PREL ASEC AMGT OTRA IZ WFP 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KUWAIT 001080 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, IO AND SA/PAB
NSC FOR JDWORKEN, HMANN, ZKHALILZAD, QUANRUD AND BRYZA
USAID FOR USAID/A, DCHA/AA, DCHA/RMT, DCHA/FFP
USAID FOR DCHA/OTI, DCHA/DG, ANE/AA
USAID FOR USAID/AA:NATSIOS
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA:WGARVELINK, BMCCONNELL, KFARNSWORTH
USAID FOR ANE/AA:WCHAMBERLAIN
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
DOHA FOR MSHIRLEY
ANKARA FOR AMB WRPEARSON, ECON AJSIROTIC AND DART
AMMAN FOR USAID AND DART

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF MOPS PREL ASEC AMGT OTRA IZ WFP
SUBJECT: USAID HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION SITUATION REPORT
#2 25 MARCH 2003


-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KUWAIT 001080

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, IO AND SA/PAB
NSC FOR JDWORKEN, HMANN, ZKHALILZAD, QUANRUD AND BRYZA
USAID FOR USAID/A, DCHA/AA, DCHA/RMT, DCHA/FFP
USAID FOR DCHA/OTI, DCHA/DG, ANE/AA
USAID FOR USAID/AA:NATSIOS
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA:WGARVELINK, BMCCONNELL, KFARNSWORTH
USAID FOR ANE/AA:WCHAMBERLAIN
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
DOHA FOR MSHIRLEY
ANKARA FOR AMB WRPEARSON, ECON AJSIROTIC AND DART
AMMAN FOR USAID AND DART

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF MOPS PREL ASEC AMGT OTRA IZ WFP
SUBJECT: USAID HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION SITUATION REPORT
#2 25 MARCH 2003


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. The DART is expecting the delivery of relief supplies to
the warehouse in Kuwait within the week. On 23 March, a WFP
plane arrived at Kuwait International Airport with 40 MT of
high-energy biscuits, and on 24 March, two shipments of
wheat donated by the AUSTRALIAn Government departed Muscat
en route to the Port of Umm Qasr, where they will dock when
the port is deemed secure. The DART plans to conduct a
reconnaissance mission to assess port security supported by
Civil Affairs (CA). On 24 March, two CA liaison officers
joined the DART to assist in connecting DART staff with
forward operational units and facilitate information
sharing. The Health Fusion Cell has been assembled to
discuss relief, reconstruction, and the planning for support
to the post-regime Iraqi Ministry of Health. Approximately
5,000 people crossed into Kurdish held areas in the North
during March, but there have been few if any crossings since
the Iraqis closed and mined the border. On 24 March, DART
Abuse Prevention Officers met with CA officers assigned to
the DART, who will facilitate APU communication with CA
battalions in the field. Also on 24 March, DART OTI staff
briefed ORHA coordinators and on the proposed procedure for
the local grant program. During the 23 March HOC briefing,
significant informal information was passed to UNSECOORD to
help with the accurate assessment the operational security
posture in Kuwait.


2. On March 24, the first DART/USAID Iraq joint
collaboration meeting was held. Between 19 and 23 March, a

USAID Reconstruction Team representative and military
officials in Doha held a coordination meeting to plan
subsequent USCENTCOM movements. On 24 March, PAOs from DART
and USAID mission met with the OHRA Public Affairs team in
preparation for media coverage of the OHRA Director's entry
into Baghdad. USAID Mission will brief ORHA, CFLCC, and
USCENTCOM on USAID policies and procedures for field
operations including procurement and contract management.
End Summary.

--------------
LOGISTICS
--------------


3. Over the next week, seventeen 40-foot containers of
relief supplies are scheduled to be delivered to the DART
warehouse in Kuwait. Cargo in the containers consists of
hygiene kits, plastic sheeting, and wool blankets.

--------------
FOOD
--------------


4. On 23 March, a World Food Program (WFP) plane arrived at
Kuwait International Airport with 40 Metric Tons (MT) of
high-energy biscuits. This arrival marked the second of
four planes that will carry a total of 160 MT of food,
enough to feed 50,000 beneficiaries for three months. These
commodities will be targeted for emergency supplemental
feeding countrywide in Iraq.


5. On 24 March, two shipments of wheat donated by the
AUSTRALIAn Government departed Muscat. The shipments are
expected to arrive at the Port of Umm Qasr when it is deemed
secure. However, there are no milling facilities at the
port. The closest are in and around Basra. If the mills in
Basra are operational, they could be used once trucking
becomes available. In the interim, the wheat could be
stored in a silo or distributed whole. The issue of
financing the associated costs beyond shipping has yet to be
resolved. DART is planning a reconnaissance mission to the
port in the coming days.

--------------
HEALTH
--------------


6. The Health Fusion Cell, comprised of the DART Health
Team, Civil Affairs health and public health units, USAID
Reconstruction Team, and other donors, has been assembled to
discuss relief, reconstruction, and the planning for support
to the post-regime Iraqi Ministry of Health. Members of the
Health Fusion Cell are meeting daily with NGOs to discuss
assessments, capabilities, and planning. The second meeting
was held on 24 March, and included observers from the
International Committee of the Red Cross and representatives
from the Iraqi Refugee Aid Council and their and partner the
American Refugee Committee, the International Medical Corps,
Samaritan's Purse, Mercy Corps International (MCI),the
International Development and Relief Board, and Physicians
for Human Rights. The DART Health Team discussed the
availability of, and anticipated need for, further
assessments in health and the capabilities of the DART Rapid
Assessment form. The DART anticipates the application of
the rapid assessment forms once the security situation
allows entrance into the southern region. The DART is
currently receiving proposals for emergency health
interventions.

--------------
POPULATION DISPLACEMENTS
--------------


7. On 24 March, Team North received a briefing from MCI on
the situation in northern Iraq. According to MCI, people
are returning home, and the shops are open. However, the
general feeling is that the situation remains volatile.
Despite recent media reports of 400,000 internally displaced
persons in northern Iraq, Team North reported that 5,000
people crossed into Kurdish-held areas in the North during
March. There have been no reports of refugees crossing into
Turkey.

--------------
ABUSE PREVENTION UNIT (APU)
--------------


8. On 24 March, DART Abuse Prevention Officers met with CA
officers assigned to the DART, who will facilitate APU
communication with CA battalions in the field. The APU also
plans to brief all new CA arrivals and will distribute the
Abuse Prevention Field Guide to all CA battalions that are
already forward.

--------------
OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES (OTI)
--------------


8. On 24 March, DART OTI staff briefed the Office of
Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA)
coordinators on the proposed procedure for the local grant
program, which was well received and matched closely with
ORHA plans for quick impact grants. On 25 March, the DART
OTI team will meet with USAID Reconstruction staff to
examine possibility of DART OTI assistance to the USAID
mission in initiating early water and sanitation activities
at the community level until the USAID contractor is
mobilized.

--------------
HUMANITARIAN OPERATION CENTER (HOC)
--------------


9. Approximately 60 people attended the HOC briefing on 22
March. During the briefing, significant informal
information was passed to United Nations Security
Coordinator (UNSECOORD) to help them accurately assess the
operational security posture in Kuwait. On 22 March,
journalists were allowed into Umm Qasr under heavy military
escort and protection. Graphics and geographic coordinates
of seven burning oil wells were briefed. Civil Affairs
teams are assessing the burning wells and arranging for
contractors to extinguish them. Dark clouds of smoke
obscure the Kuwait City skyline when the winds are calm.
The HOC and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies
are setting up a schedule to provide personal nuclear,
biological, and chemical protection training to those
interested.

--------------
MILITARY LIAISON UNIT
--------------


10. On 24 March, the first meeting at the Humanitarian
Assistance Coordination Center (HACC) was held. A main
topic of discussion was the security assessment trip to Umm
Qasr. The Civil Affairs (CA) personnel have been very
supportive of the DART's attempts to move forward to assess
the port. During the meeting, it was requested that the
HACC work with the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) command
and the HOC to develop a protocol for the passage and
coordination of IO/NGO/UN personnel in the I MEF AOR.
However, as there do not seem to be large numbers of
displaced persons at this time, the need for a humanitarian
response appears minimal at present. However, there are
significant security considerations that need attention.


11. Also on 24 March, two CA liaison officers temporarily
joined the DART. They will assist in connecting DART staff
with forward operational units and facilitate the
information collected by forward CA teams using the new
United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UN OCHA) rapid assessment forms. The CA liaison
officers will facilitate operational activities when DART
staff move into Iraq to begin needs-based assessments.

--------------
USAID - RECONSTRUCTION
--------------


12. The head of the USAID Reconstruction Team and the DART
Team Leader convened the first DART/USAID Iraq joint
collaboration meeting on 24 March to discuss mutual program
priorities, introduce new staff, requirement for, and
coordination of, reporting to Washington, press guidance,
assessment sharing, and other matters of joint concern.
Between 19 to 23 March, a USAID representative and military
officials in Doha held a coordination meeting to plan
subsequent USCENTCOM movements.


13. Between 19 and 23 March, a USAID Reconstruction Team
representative and military officials in Doha held a
coordination meeting to plan subsequent U.S. Central Command
(USCENTCOM) movements. The USAID Reconstruction Team also
plans Mission personnel to meet with elements of Coalition
Forces Land Component Command(CFLCC) to explain USAID
program processes including contracting, administration, and
other functions.


14. Plans are being made within ORHA for the eventual move
of ORHA elements, including reconstruction, to Baghdad.
Current plans call for a phased move of 20 reconstruction
people, followed by approximately 30 others.


15. On 24 March, Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) from DART
and USAID mission met with the OHRA Public Affairs team to
begin planning for a media event featuring OHRA Director
Garner on his entry into Baghdad. The focus of the meeting
was to define message content, event profile, and
prospective audiences.


16. USAID Mission will brief ORHA, CFLCC, and USCENTCOM on
USAID policies and procedures for field operations including
procurement and contract management. USAID Mission, ORHA,
USCENTCOM, and CFLCC will also hold a two-day planning
meeting this week to ensure coordination on meeting
reconstruction goals. Additionally, USAID Mission, ORHA,
CFLCC, and ORHA (HA) will meet to establish USAID
requirements for the establishment of a HOC-like office in
Baghdad.


JONES