TFIZ01: USAID/PRM HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001122

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, IO AND SA/PAB
NSC FOR EABRAMS, SMCCORMICK, STAHIR-KHELI, JDWORKEN
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:WCHAMBERLIN
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 PREL ASEC AMGT OTRA IZ WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: USAID/PRM HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION
SITUATION REPORT #4, 27 MARCH 2003

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SUMMARY
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1. On 26 March, the Regional Coordinator for UNICEF/Iraq
convened a water/sanitation meeting in collaboration with
the HOC USACE. The limited effectiveness of treatment
plants combined with the shortage of technical capability in
Iraq for repairs and management means that water and sewage
are major humanitarian concerns. A small DART assessment
team went to Umm Qasr on 27 March to survey health
facilities, water, and food. The USAID Reconstruction Team
and the DART are coordinating on emergency water delivery
for Umm Qasr, Basra, and other southern Iraq locations. The
docking of the U.K. ship, the Sir Galahad, at Umm Qasr is
now expected to occur on 28 March. The Kuwaiti Red Crescent
Society went to Umm Qasr on 27 March to reexamine their
relief distribution plans after the difficulties encountered
in the commodity distributions on 26 March. The Kuwait
Ministry of Health intends to establish a field hospital at
the UNIKOM compound near Umm Qasr. End Summary.

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HEALTH
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3. On 26 March, the Regional Coordinator for the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/Iraq convened a
water/sanitation meeting in collaboration with the
Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) and the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE). The meeting was attended by DART
health officers and several NGOs, including the
International Medical Corps, GOAL, Caritas, and the
International Federation of the Red Cross. UNICEF and USACE
presented capabilities for restoration of water to southern
Iraq, including assessments, the water pipe from Kuwait,
water tank trucks, chlorine tablets, and jerry cans.
According to UNICEF, water and sewage treatment plants
normally have only 30 to 40 percent effectiveness, and there
is a shortage of technical capability in the country for
repairs and management. Water and sewage could be an
important issue in the event of damage during conflict in
Baghdad.


4. On 26 March, the UNICEF Coordinator for UNICEF/Iraq also
met with members of the Health Fusion Cell and the DART to
discuss the status of health, water, and education in Iraq;
existing local capacities; and planning for the post-
conflict Ministry of Health.


5. A small DART assessment team went to Umm Qasr on 27
March to survey health facilities, water, and food.
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HUMANITARIAN OPERATION CENTER (HOC) DAILY BRIEFING
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6. There has been a 24-hour delay in the docking of the Sir
Galahad at the port of Umm Qasr. Poor weather conditions
have slowed the demining process. The ship is now expected
to dock on 28 March with 231 metric tons (MT) of relief
supplies including food, medicine, plastic sheeting,
blankets, jerry cans, and water.


7. A representative of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society
stated that efforts would be made on 27 March to reexamine
the relief distribution plans for Umm Qasr and Safwan after
the difficulties encountered in the commodity distributions
in both towns on 26 March. Although seven trucks of
food, water, and medical supplies were distributed in Umm
Qasr and five trucks in Safwan, the unorganized nature of
the distribution led to crowd-control problems. It is
expected that additional distributions will take place on 28
March if a more organized system can be developed.


8. The Kuwait Ministry of Health intends to establish a
field hospital at the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer
Missions (UNIKOM) compound near Umm Qasr. The hospital is
expected to have 40 beds, four ambulances, and stock
approximately 12 tons of medical supplies and equipment.
Medical services to be provided will include an intensive
care unit, surgery, pediatric care, obstetrics, radiology,
and a medical laboratory.


9. Although the extension of the water pipeline from Kuwait
is not expected to be completed until 30 March, tankers
could begin to truck water from the border to Umm Qasr as
early as 27 March, if an agreement could be reached with
UNICEF. A fleet of 30 to 40 trucks, carrying an average of
24,000 liters, is expected to provide the potable water
until the completion of the three-kilometer pipeline.


10. Four of the seven oil well fires have now been
extinguished in southern Iraq.

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USAID - RECONSTRUCTION
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11. It is expected that the port of Umm Qasr will be
declared "permissive" within the next 48 hours. If true,
USAID's ports contract manager will proceed to the port with
a military escort to begin USAID's preliminary port
assessment and prepare the way for the arrival of the SSA
port management contractor.


12. The USAID Reconstruction Team and the DART are
coordinating on emergency water delivery for Umm Qasr,
Basra, and other southern Iraq locations. The DART can
deliver water tankers, while USAID, with the mobilization of
its logistics contract, can reportedly procure as much as
900,000 liters of bottled water in Kuwait for shipment to
points in southern Iraq within 24 hours if needed, security
permitting. The USAID Reconstruction Team will consult the
DART assessment and other information prior to proceeding.
USAID's emergency water response capacity is expected to be
a major benefit in the near-term capacity to deliver
services.


13. The USAID Reconstruction Team is helping the Office of
Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) identify
Jordanian interpreters for use in southern Iraq through the
assistance of FBIS and the USAID Mission in Jordan.

JONES