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