Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD714
2007-02-26 15:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

CONFERENCE ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED

Tags:  PREF PGOV IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7860
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0714/01 0571528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261528Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9907
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
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.


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.