Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT1766
2003-04-30 14:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

TFIZ01: DART NORTHERN IRAQ UPDATE

Tags:  EAID PREF IZ WFP 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001766 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (WORD CHANGE IN PARA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001766

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (WORD CHANGE IN PARA 1)

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE PLEASE REPEAT TO IO COLLECTIVE
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 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 PREF PREF IZ WFP IZEAID WFP IZEAID WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: DART NORTHERN IRAQ UPDATE


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


1. The situation in northern Iraq areas remains semi-stable. There
is almost no movement of IDPs, and UNOPS believes there is no IDP
emergency in the North. UNOPS is considering returning to pre-
war activities once the status of the U.N. in Iraq is clarified.
ICRC also reported that the need for emergency humanitarian
assistance no longer exists in the North, but plans to continue
assessments in the Kirkuk and Mosul areas.


2. Due to increased supplies and a reduction in pre-war shortage
concerns, the market cost of a sack of wheat flour is now 75
Iraqi dinars. This is 20 dinars less (approximately USD 3.50)
than it was six to eight weeks ago. WFP delivered 550 metric
tons (MT) of food to a warehouse in Mosul on 25 April. Eighty-
three trucks departed WFP locations in Syria for the northern
Iraq region on 26 April. End Summary.

--------------
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS
--------------


3. The DART met with the United Nations Office for Project
Services (UNOPS) Internally Displaced Persons Unit on 26 April to
discuss current operations regarding internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in northern Iraq. In anticipation of a possible IDP
emergency resulting from military action, UNOPS mapped the
locations of public buildings in the three governorates that
could be used to temporarily house IDPs. At the start of
hostilities, UNOPS established seven camps and four reception
centers throughout the region. UNOPS's assistance to the new
caseload (those who came as a direct result of impending military
action) included distribution of kerosene, fuel for local

authorities' water trucks, and training for local authorities on
SPHERE standards.


4. UNOPS stressed the excellent coordination between themselves
and other international and non-governmental organizations (IOs
and NGOs),such as the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC),the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),Save the
Children-UK, and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. UNOPS estimated
that, at its peak, approximately 9,000 IDPs were housed in public
building and open-air camps. The latest figures indicate that
only 53 remain. An assessment was conducted on 26 and 27 April
that will provide up-to-date estimates. UNOPS noted that there
are no IDP emergency needs and is considering returning to its
pre-war activities. This remains in question, however, due to
the unclear future of the U.N. in Iraq because of U.N. Security
Council Resolution 986, which ends on 3 June.


5. Prior to military action, UNOPS focused its efforts on the
social and economic integration of vulnerable IDPs displaced less
than five years ago. UNOPS estimates that this group comprised
approximately 25 percent of the 805,000 IDPs in the North. Many
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE PLEASE REPEAT TO IO COLLECTIVE
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 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 PREF PREF IZ WFP IZEAID WFP IZEAID WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: DART NORTHERN IRAQ UPDATE

of these IDPS were housed in transit camps and public buildings
through northern Iraq. Begun in December 2000, UNOPS initial
activities included the distribution of non-food items (NFIs),
shelter construction, and rehabilitation of water and sanitation
systems.

6. In preparation for a potential emergency situation resulting
from the impending military action, UNOPS stockpiled NFIs,
including 4,000 tents and 8,000 relief packages. They also
mapped the locations of public buildings in the three
governorates that could be used to temporarily house IDPs. They
funded a variety of activities, such as transportation and
garbage collection, to ensure that services were not interrupted
for vulnerable IDPs housed in public buildings.

--------------
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RIGHTS
--------------


7. The DART also met with the Kurdish Regional Government's
Ministry of Human Rights on 26 April. The Ministry was created
in 2001 to promote and protect human rights. It is particularly
interested in improving its capacity to deal with children's and
women's rights. The Ministry is involved in civic education and
strengthening NGOs. The Ministry also monitors prison and
juvenile detention center conditions, and it has been supporting
a center for battered women in Arbil.


8. School curricula on civic education for all levels (pre-
school to university) in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkomen, and Aramaic
have been written by the Ministry and are in first draft form.
These need to be finalized and printed. The Ministry is looking
for funding for this activity, as well as for training of
teachers, media, police, and other civil servants who may be
involved in civic education programs.


9. The Ministry has prepared materials for conflict resolution
and reconciliation training. The Minister participated in
conflict resolution and reconciliation training in South Africa,
and he hopes to replicate those sessions in Iraq. Notably, the
Minister did not mention ethnic tensions as a concern until
raised by team members.


10. The Minister's main agenda in the meeting was to seek
funding. Team members explained that DART was not in the
position to provide financial support to the Ministry and
suggested that Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian
Assistance (ORHA) be contacted, particularly in regard to civil
administration issues.

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


11. WFP has moved over 20,000 MT of food commodities into the
north. Eleven 50-MT trucks delivered food supplies to Mosul on
STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE PLEASE REPEAT TO IO COLLECTIVE
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 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 PREF PREF IZ WFP IZEAID WFP IZEAID WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: DART NORTHERN IRAQ UPDATE

25 April. Eighty-three were departing from WFP locations in
Syria on 26 April. Food flow appears to be moving well in the
north in most locations. Security, especially in the Mosul
region, is still a concern.


12. WFP has many programs including school feeding, assistance
to IDPs, and general rations. WFP will continue using the region
authorities for food distribution, but re-evaluation will be
necessary. WFP is evaluating the possibility of purchasing local
grains left over from last year's harvest. A proper survey is
required but there are estimates from local officials that there
is 50,000 to 70,000 MT.

--------------
ICRC
--------------


13. The DART met with the ICRC's head of sub-delegation in Arbil
on 24 April to discuss current and future ICRC operations in the
region. While ICRC reduced operations during hostilities, they
expect to be fully staffed by the end of the week with over 20
international and 150 local staff. In the last weeks, ICRC
provided NFIs, including blankets, heaters, hygienic kits, pots,
and stoves, to 2,000 to 3,000 vulnerable IDPs crossing from
Kirkuk and Mosul to Arbil, in Duhok and As Sulaymaniyah
governorates. ICRC also provided medical supplies to assist in
the care of 100 war-wounded, as well as registered enemy
prisoners of war held by Coalition, KDP, and PUK forces.


14. Upcoming activities of the ICRC include: further assessments
of Kirkuk and Mosul, linking families through the creation of
Thuriya stations where people can call relatives abroad;
identifying and notifying families of mortal remains; and looking
at protection issues, including ethnic tensions in Kirkuk and
Mosul. According to Giuseppe Renda of the ICRC, "We have just
ended the first phase; the emergency phase is already over."

JONES