(CORRECTED COPY) HUMANITARIAN DEMINING IN IRAQ

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004173 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ KHDP SUBJECT: (CORRECTED COPY) HUMANITARIAN DEMINING IN IRAQ FACES FUNDING CRISIS This is a corrected copy of Baghdad 04077. Paragraph 4 contains additional information on affected programs. ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Over three decades of conflicts have made Iraq one of the most severely mine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) afflicted nations in the world. With over 1600 communities out of the 12,000 communities surveyed reportedly impacted by landmines, Iraq needs an effective clearance capacity to reclaim this land. DOS-funded clearance capacity programs in Iraq have totaled $110 million since 2003, and future funding remains vital to economic redevelopment in landmine-afflicted areas. Program accomplishments, however, are now at risk unless additional funding is provided. Without additional funds from subsequent CR allocations, we will be forced to shut down operations in Iraq in late 2008. END SUMMARY. UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE THREATENS RETURN TO STABILITY -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Iraq is one of the most severely mine/unexploded ordnance (UXO) afflicted nations in the world as a consequence of over three decades of conflict. The Iraq National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) estimates that landmines are scattered over an estimated 8,001 square kilometers in the 13 of the 18 provinces surveyed, and it is known that hundreds of cached and abandoned ordnance sites exist throughout the country, posing an immediate humanitarian concern and a ready source of explosives for terrorists, insurgents, and criminals. Unfortunately there has not been reliable Iraqi reporting on casualties attributed to landmines, UXO, or ERW since 2003. Information that is available comes from the Landmine Impact Survey conducted by the NGO Information Management and Mine Action Program (IMMAP) in 13 of the 18 Iraqi provinces between June 2004 and June 2006. The survey was a standardized, UN-approved questionnaire, recognized by all the major donors involved in humanitarian demining, which determined that there were 1,622 communities affected (out of 12,000 surveyed). Those communities identified 577 fatalities as a result of landmines, UXO or ERW in the 24 months previous to the survey and another 7,672 fatalities prior to that. EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WAR PROGRAM IN IRAQ -------------- ¶3. (U) The Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Program in Iraq funds a combination of minefield and battle area clearance (BAC) operations and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) missions by the Iraqi Mine/UXO Clearance Organization (IMCO) and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG),as well as the internal management and development of IMCO as a viable NGO. It also includes landmine impact survey efforts by IMMAP, mentioned above, in 13 of 18 Iraqi provinces with potential to complete the remaining five provinces as security improves. This data is entered into the Iraqi Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) for use by the Iraqi National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) resident in the Ministry of the Environment. The NMAA in turn coordinates with other ministries in order to identify those hazardous areas planned for reconstruction and development projects which would require clearance. The data is also shared with the MNC-I Engineer Staff Section (C7) and Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) as it potentially affects force protection and clearance efforts. USG funding for these two NGOs totaled $12 million for 2007. ¶4. (U) This program contributes to post-battle operations, improves the humanitarian environment for returning populations, especially children, and increases prospects for donor and Iraqi budget funded economic development by clearing land for agricultural and other economic use. The Department-funded clearance capacity programs in Iraq are vital to economic redevelopment and improvement of the security situation. The Iraq Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) program, with more than 1,000 Iraqis trained in explosive detection and removal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO),is actively clearing mines and removing ordnance, thus helping to protect the lives of Coalition soldiers, to improve public safety and to reduce insurgent access to deadly munitions. Absent additional funds, the ERW program in the north will be forced to terminate staff and close training and maintenance facilities. Likewise, Baghdad programs will come to a halt. In addition to the cost of restarting these programs, shutdown will likely lead to the loss of highly skilled personnel and the transfer of equipment to other venues. Programs currently under operation that would be negatively affected are: --The training and equipping a wholly-Iraqi ordnance clearance organization, the Iraq Mine/Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Clearance Organization (IMCO) for independent operations by 2009. BAGHDAD 00004173 002 OF 002 --IMCO is currently conducting clearance operations in Central and Southern Iraq and training the Iraqi Army Bomb Disposal Companies in UXO and stockpiled ordnance destruction. IED disarmament training is conducted in conjunction with this program. --PM/WRA has initiated the process of transferring over USD$30 million of vehicles, equipment, and training facilities over to IMCO. ¶5. (SBU) In light of the critical nature of this support to the Iraqi reconstruction and development effort, Post strongly recommends that every effort be made to encourage continued support from Congress to fund these humanitarian ERW programs. CROCKER