CONFERENCE ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000714 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV IZ SUBJECT: CONFERENCE ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN IRAQI KURDISTAN This is an Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: RRT Offs participated in the Coordination Meeting for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Sulaimaniyah Province in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to determine information that will help identify and assist IDPs. The IDP population includes Iraqi Arab Shia and Sunnis migrating to Sulaimaniyah Province for economic reasons or fleeing sectarian violence, as well as Kurds displaced from Kirkuk due to circumstances surrounding the planned Article 140 referendum process. The Sulaimaniyah Census Directorate recorded a total of 2890 IDP families arrived to Sulaimaniyah since October 2006 and 510 families since January 2007. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND ON IDP COORDINATION MEETING -------------- ¶2. (SBU) RRT Offs attended an IDP Coordination Meeting at the Sulaimaniyah Government Building on February 12. The goal was to establish a monthly meeting to coordinate support to IDPs and to identify ongoing projects so as to not duplicate efforts. ¶3. (SBU) The next three coordination meetings will be held on a bi-monthly basis and thereafter on a monthly basis. -------------- ATTENDEES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The attendees of the February 12 IDP Coordination Meeting included: RRT Officer Mergy, RRT PAO Crifo, U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team Leader for Sulaimaniyah Major Limehouse, the Deputy Governor of Sulaimaniyah Province, Jutyar Nuri Abd Allah, and Hewa Jaff, Foreign and Public Relations Office, Sulaimaniyah Province as well as representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),Quandil Company (UNHCR implementing partner), International Medical Corps, Mine Advisory Group, Research Triangle Institute, Heartland Alliance, and the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society. -------------- INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR IDP ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The attendees enumerated points of information that help determine eligibility for assistance. For effective information gathering and tracking, collection will occur when the IDPs register with provincial officials or approach the provincial government for assistance. The information will then be entered into a database along with basic facts on IDPs now recorded by the Sulaimaniyah provincial government. By enlarging the information base on the IDPs, organizations will have a more thorough view. It was agreed that the following information needed to be gathered: -- Female headed household. -- Number of children under 18 and their ages. -- Number of elderly and ill family members. -- Number of pregnant women. -- Principal source of income in detention. -- Number of disabled family members. -- United Nations refugee or asylee status. -- Type of living accommodation. -- Number of families living in accommodation. -- Income level and source. -- Date of arrival. -- Last residence (place of origin). -- Status of Iraqi Kurdistan Region food rationing card. -- Access to education. -- Ethnic and religious background. -------------- NUMBER OF IDPs ASSISTED -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Sulaimaniyah local officials reported that since the beginning of 2007, the provincial government provided assistance to 510 IDP families and since October 2006 to a total of 1890 families. (Note: these figures may present a degree of artificial increase in IDP numbers. End note.) The IDP population is mostly Iraqi Arab Sunni and Shia with some Kurds migrating from Kirkuk. Various NGO organizations state IDP Christian families are estimated to have migrated to Dohuk. ¶6. (SBU) Local officials emphasized they are no longer able to offer the same level of support given in the past. In a courtesy call following the meeting, the Governor of Sulaimaniyah stressed to the attendees that he is deeply appreciative of the efforts to help the IDPs, but that he is concerned over the budgetary requirements to manage the increasing numbers of IDPs. BAGHDAD 00000714 002 OF 002 -------------- NEXT IDP COORDINATION MEETING MARCH 1 -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The attendees will meet again on March 1 in Sulaimaniyah. A draft version of the new IDP form that includes required information will be circulated beforehand via e-mail. The next meeting will be a session where the location of IDPs in the Sulaimaniyah province will be identified on a map. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The initiative by the Sulaimaniyah provincial government to bring together NGOs, the RRT, and U.S. Army Civil Affairs to discuss IDPs reflects the diminished resources of the provincial government to deal with the increasing numbers of IDPs. The provincial government is anxious to get international funding for IDPs. END COMMENT.