CANADA CONTINUING TO RESPOND TO IRAQ HUMANITARIAN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001238 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREF IZ CA AID SUBJECT: CANADA CONTINUING TO RESPOND TO IRAQ HUMANITARIAN NEEDS REF: A. STATE 104327 B. OTTAWA 1026 C. OTTAWA 1190 ¶1. (U) Poloff conveyed the points contained ref A on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of Iraq to Louise Marchand, Director General for Humanitarian Assistance at the Canadian International Development Agency, and Norman Macdonnell, CIDA's Chief of Operations for International Humanitarian Assistance, on April 30. Canada has pledged C$100 million (approximately U.S. $70 million) to help meet humanitarian needs in Iraq (ref B). CIDA recently announced the allocation of a second installment of this funding, in the total amount of C$35 million. This installment will be allocated as follows: United Nations Children's Fund - C$5 million; World Food Program - C$13 million; Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - C$1 million; International Committee of the Red Cross - C$10 million; United Nations Security Coordinator - C$1 million; and United Nations Mine Action Service - C$5 million. To date, Canada has allocated approximately C$60 million of the C$100 million earmarked for humanitarian assistance to Iraq. ¶2. (SBU) Marchand indicated Canada's overall approach to future Iraq humanitarian spending, and to reconstruction efforts in Iraq, will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on May 6 (ref C). Marchand said Canada will pay close attention to the Iraq needs assessments being prepared by the World Bank, IMF, and U.N. in deciding on its future assistance allocations, and that Canada will continue to work through U.N. agencies and other international organizations in providing assistance. With respect to reconstruction, Marchand mentioned Canada has a particular interest in helping with water projects in Iraq, and hopes to work on such projects in partnership with an international organization such as UNICEF. CELLUCCI