Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT1933
2003-05-10 10:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

TFIZ01: DART UPDATE FROM MOSUL

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 001933 

SIPDIS

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 IZ WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: DART UPDATE FROM MOSUL

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 001933

SIPDIS

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 IZ WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: DART UPDATE FROM MOSUL

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


1. The situation in northern Iraq remains calm. On 5 May, DART
Team North visited Mosul for the first time. The climate in the
city appears vibrant and bustling, and there is a large Coalition
presence. Delegates representing a cross-section of Mosul's
religious and ethnic groups elected 24 town council
representatives, an interim mayor who is a retired army general,
and a deputy mayor on 5 May. CMOC-Mosul reported that of the
thirteen hospitals in the city, seven are functioning. Kurdish
residents forced out of villages by the former regime more than
two decades ago are now beginning to return. WFP has
approximately 13,000 MT of food commodities in Mosul, and there
is an estimated 250,000 MT of wheat stored in the Mosul silos,
but its condition is unknown. End Summary.

--------------
MOSUL TOWN COUNCIL ELECTED
--------------


2. On 5 May, delegates representing a cross-section of Mosul's
religious and ethnic groups elected 24 town council
representatives, an interim mayor who is a retired army general,
and a deputy mayor. The proceedings went smoothly, although some
delegates are said to have walked out because the council was
divided along ethnic lines. The delegates and elected mayor
received standing ovations from the delegation of more than 200.
Representatives from the Office of Reconstruction and
Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) and the Civil Military Operations
Center (CMOC)-Mosul also attended.

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


3. The DART attended a health sector meeting on 4 May. Hosted
by Northwest Medical Teams International (NWMTI),the meeting was
attended by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in the
health sector, CMOC, and a representative of the Department of
Health in Arbil.


4. NGOs summarized their activities, paying particular attention

to the "newly-liberated" areas of Arbil Governorate and aid to
medical facilities in Mosul. CMOC was represented by officers
from the Erbil, Mosul, and Kirkuk offices; briefings were given
on the situation in Kirkuk and Mosul.


5. CMOC has been assessing medical facilities in Kirkuk and
offered to assist NGOs in coordinating their efforts in that
city. They reported that the central medical distribution system
in the city is intact and functioning. Hospitals and clinics are
pleased with the system, CMOC said, although some outlying areas
report problems.


6. CMOC-Mosul reported that of the thirteen hospitals in the
city, seven are functioning. Staffing needs are being met,
although there are problems with, among other things, salaries
and transportation. Current needs include equipment and medical
supplies. A priority in the Mosul medical community is to repair
and renovate the infectious disease hospital.


7. On 5 May, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG),Minister
of Health and Social Affairs, chaired a meeting of NGOs currently
working in Arbil and Dahuk Governorates. The Minister informed
NGOs that the Ministry should identify health needs and
coordinate NGO activities in this sector. He went on to say that
the Ministry would support and facilitate NGO efforts to meet
these needs. The Minister thanked NWMTI for chairing previous
meetings, but he made it clear that the Ministry would chair
future health sector meetings.

--------------
RETURNING IDPS
--------------


8. Two meetings were held at the KRG Ministry of Reconstruction
and Development (MORAD) on 3 and 4 May to address a MORAD
proposal to reconstruct villages in southern Arbil Governorate.
Approximately 40 villages in the area were "Arabized" more than
two decades ago by the Saddam regime, which controlled the area
until recently. Kurdish residents were forced out of the
villages and have been internally displaced in Arbil and
elsewhere in the Kurdish-controlled region. They are now
beginning to return to those villages. The Minister has asked UN
agencies and NGOs to visit the villages to assess needs and
participate in the rebuilding of the region. The visit is
scheduled for 6 May.

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


9. During the visit to Mosul, a DART food officer met with U.N.
World Food Program (WFP) local staff. WFP has approximately
13,000 metric tons (MT) of food commodities in Mosul. The Iraqi
Ministry of Trade (MOT) has other stocks (left over from the
interrupted March distribution) and there is possibly an
estimated 250,000 MT of wheat stored in the Mosul silos. The
grain's condition is unknown. Coalition forces and the MOT are
considering distribution of the MOT warehouse stocks. The silos
are generally functional but are in need of some maintenance.
Eleven of the thirteen mills in the area are functioning. They
are privately owned and were protected from looting. Of the
remaining silos, one is now controlled by Coalition forces and
the other is controlled by the Peshmerga.

--------------
CMOC - NGO COORDINATION MEETING
--------------


10. Also on 5 May, the DART attended the first CMOC/NGO
coordination meeting in Mosul. In contrast to coordination
meetings in Arbil, attended by over a dozen NGOs, only three NGOs
attended the coordination meeting in Mosul. Of the three
present, only Qandil is currently working in Mosul. CMOC
provided security information, as well as general information in
a number of sectors, including health and education. There seems
to be some confusion among the NGOs as to CMOC's role. At one
point, Dutch Consortium asked if they now had permission to work
in Mosul. CMOC explained they do not control NGO activities and
aimed to help NGOs work safely throughout the region. CMOC was
unaware of several key issues related to NGOs' ability to work in
northern Iraq, including the relationship between a city being
deemed permissive and the inability of civilian aircraft to fly
into Iraq. These meetings are expected to be a weekly event.

JONES