Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03ROME218 | 2003-01-17 15:07:00 | SECRET | Embassy Rome |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 000218 |
1. (S) U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN IRAQ, RAMIRO LOPES DA SILVA, REPORTS THAT THE FRAGILITY OF THE IRAQI SOCIETY IS EXTREME AND MILITARY ACTION THAT DISRUPTS THE CURRENT SYSTEMS WILL CREATE A DISASTROUS SITUATION. THE U.N. IS PLANNING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE NORTH WILL BE SHIELDED FROM MILITARY ACTION AND THAT THE SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF ANY ATTACKS. SOME PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN U.N. PREPARATIONS, BUT LACK OF RESOURCES ARE A STUMBLING BLOCK. IF WE WANT WFP TO ASSIST EARLY ON IN RESURRECTING OR REJUVENATING THE CURRENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, SOME DIALOGUE WITH THE U.N. SECURITY COORDINATION OFFICE (UNSECOORD) WOULD BE HELPFUL. WFP CONTINUES TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL AND/OR CHEMICAL SPILLS AND LEAKS TO ITS STAFF AND/OR FOOD COMMODITIES. WFP REQUESTS FEEDBACK ON ASSUMPTIONS MADE BY THE U.N. COUNTRY TEAM IN IRAQ AND ITS PLANNING. SEE PARA 11. END SUMMARY. -------------------------- U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN IRAQ SHARES PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS -------------------------- 2. (C) SENIOR EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (SEC) R. DAVIS IN THE U.S. MISSION/ROME MET WITH WFP STAFF ON JANUARY 14 TO DISCUSS THE IRAQ PLANNING MEETING THAT WAS HELD ON JANUARY 12/13 IN GENEVA AMONG THE U.N. AGENCIES AND OFFICES, INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC), INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CRESCENT (IFRC), AND NON-GOVERNEMNTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) GROUPS, I.E. ICVA AND INTERACTION. THE U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN IRAQ, RAMIRO LOPES DA SILVA, AND THE U.N. RESIDENT COORDINATORS ALSO ATTENDED. 3. (S) ACCORDING TO WFP, LOPES DA SILVA REPORTED TO THE GROUP THAT THE FRAGILITY OF THE IRAQI SOCIETY IS EXTREME AND MILITARY ACTION THAT DISRUPTS THE CURRENT SYSTEMS WILL CREATE A DISASTROUS SITUATION. THE U.N. IS ASSUMING THAT THE NORTH WILL BE SHIELDED FROM MILITARY ACTION, HOWEVER IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ALL FOOD DISTRIBUTED IN THE NORTH FUNNELS THROUGH THE SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS (UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE GOI'S MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT) BEFORE IT REACHES THE WAREHOUSES IN MOSUL OR KIRKUK, WHERE WFP TAKES OVER THE TRUCKING RESPONSIBILITIES. THEREFORE, LOPES DA SILVA POINTED OUT IT PROBABLY WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MAKE ALTERNATE LOGISTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROVIDING FOOD TO THE NORTH, ALONG WITH CREATING ALTERNATIVE SUPPLY LINES FROM SYRIA, TURKEY, OR IRAN. 4. (S) LOPES DA SILVA RELAYED THAT THE U.N. IS ASSUMING THAT THE CENTRAL/SOUTH REGIONS WOULD BE THE POINT OF MAIN MILITARY ACTION, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE 5.6 MILLION INHABITANTS OF BAGHDAD TO BE CUT OFF FROM ELECTRICITY, WATER, SEWAGE, AND FUEL. MINES ARE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM IN MOVEMENTS FROM THE CENTRAL REGION TO THE NORTH. LOPES DA SILVA ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ONE MILLION IRAQIS MAY TRY TO MOVE TOWARD IRAN BUT COULD ACTION PRM-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 USNW-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 E-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SA-00 PMB-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /008W O 171507Z JAN 03 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7744 INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY BERLIN AMEMBASSY BERN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY CANBERRA AMEMBASSY KUWAIT AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY VIENNA COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2// COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC JOINT STAFF WASHDC USEU BRUSSELS 3061 USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC |