NAJAF GOVERNOR VOICES CONCERNS OVER IDP (INTERNALLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000045 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM IZ SUBJECT: NAJAF GOVERNOR VOICES CONCERNS OVER IDP (INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS) CLASSIFIED BY: GARY ANDERSON, ACTING REGIONAL COORDINATOR, REO, AL-HILLAH, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This is a SET Najaf cable. ¶2. (C) Summary. Set Najaf staff met March 15 with Najaf Governor Assad Al Taee. The short meeting focused on the governor's concern regarding the influx of (IDP) Internally Displaced Persons into Najaf. Al Taee claimed that nearly 400 families have moved to the province since the start of 2006. While the provincial government is receiving assistance from local aid organizations, the governor said that he would very much appreciate assistance from Coalition Forces or the U.S. Department of State. Al Taee asserted that intolerance for Shia in Sunni regions is driving the migration. "They have," the governor stated, "no options and only family in Najaf to turn to." End summary. ¶3. (C) According to Mohamed Sadiq Mofid, operations chief for the Najaf chapter of the Red Crescent, 390 families have immigrated to Najaf Province since the beginning of 2006. The average size of these families is six members, stated Mofid. The Red Crescent has provided aid packages for the IDPs. These packages include 2 water containers, blankets, cups and a limited supply of food. Mofid expressed his concern that there aren't enough resources for the families. If the rate of immigrants remains steady, the Red Crescent believes that they will have supplies adequate to meet 20 percent of the need over the next 6 months. ¶4. (C) Lt. Mohamed Abdul Jawed is responsible for Refugee Issues for the local government. He noted that the majority of the families appear to have arrived from the area surrounding Baghdad. He noted in particular Tarmia, Diyala, Tal Afar, Habaniyah, Yousifia and Anbar. The children of these families, he said, are being enrolled in schools, but must provide proof of attendance at their previous school within a month or risk expulsion. Jawed also noted that the Provincial Council has set up a special council to deal with incoming families and that ration assistance is being provided by the office of the Ayatollah Al Sistani. ¶5. (C) Housing for families has become an issue for the Province. The Najaf Provincial Council is exploring the possibility of building a camp for the families on land between Karbala and Najaf. According to Jawed there is a fear among PC members that the camp would be a target for anti Iraqi Forces. Governor Al Taee, however, noted that one of recently arriving families was found to be carrying munitions. This, according to Al Taee, has caused alarm among Najaf's security officials. So much so, in fact, that a "shanty town" that immigrants built within city limits was recently destroyed by order of Colonel Mohamed of the local Anti-Crime unit. Despite this action, some families have set up camp in the Kufa soccer stadium. ¶6. (C) Comment. The provincial government believes that this migration is likely to continue at the present rate. They are, they claim, quickly running out of resources. At present, it cannot be termed a crisis, but it is quickly increasing as a burden for the province. Much like security concerns during holidays (i.e. Arba'een) the sheer numbers of Iraqis in transit may present both a target and an opportunity for cover for Anti Iraqi Forces. End comment. ANDERSON