BAGHDAD BOMBINGS: USG ASSISTANCE COORDINATION

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002889 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ASEC PGOV PTER IZ SUBJECT: BAGHDAD BOMBINGS: USG ASSISTANCE COORDINATION WORKING GROUP - OCTOBER 28 UPDATE REF: A. A) BAGHDAD 2877 ¶B. B) BAGHDAD 2883 C) BAGHDAD 2884 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Post's USG Assistance Coordination Working Group has identified areas of immediate need following the October 25 bombings in response to GOI requests. We are providing vehicles, office equipment, and generators to the affected government offices, and continuing to support forensic and explosive analyses. Although still in recovery and assessment mode, the GOI has taken steps to find temporary work space for some government staff, assess and renovate damaged offices, and re-link electricity grids. Ministry of Justice (MOJ) officials informed us that the Council of Ministers has provided $8 million to assist in renovating the MOJ building. Several international organizations are providing some medical supplies to hospitals. Donor countries say they have no assistance plans but remain on standby to help if the GOI asks. End Summary. USG coordination efforts -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Post's USG Assistance Coordination Working Group has identified areas of immediate need following the October 25 bombings in response to GOI requests. The Higher Judicial Council (HJC) and the MOJ have asked us to provide a structural safety assessment of the building they share. Iraq Transition Assistance Office (ITAO) has identified funds available for this activity and believes it can work with the Army Corps of Engineers to quickly carry out this assessment. ITAO also recently completed an infrastructure security assessment of the Ministry of Electricity and may be able to fund security improvements for other essential service ministries, including the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (MMPW). USAID has identified computers, other IT equipment and two vehicles for the MMPW and has identified four generators in country to support the recovery effort. INL has signed a loan agreement to quickly deliver 12 vehicles, cubicles, office furniture, and twenty laptops to the HJC, which would then be converted to grant items. Vehicle delivery is pending the Ministry of Interior's approval of registration. INL has begun coordinating limited occupancy of the HJC's INL-funded $12 million Judicial Development Institute (JDI) campus (which has not officially opened yet) as interim office space. Agreement from the Army Corps of Engineers is required before that can occur. We are also seeking resources to provide additional equipment and furnishings. ¶3. (SBU) Baghdad PRT is working with MND-Baghdad to deploy cadaver dogs to assist the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate (ICDD) in recovering bodies and has already delivered crates of water to the ICDD emergency crews. Per reftel C, explosive and forensic expert analysts are continuing to collect evidence and liaise with the GOI to provide technical support as requested. Post's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Office had already planned to provide $1.3 million in equipment and computers to the Shura Council (which falls under the MOJ) which could be expedited if necessary. At the GOI's request, we are not publicizing our assistance efforts. GOI Taking Steps -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The GOI and various ministries are also taking initiatives to address immediate and long term capacity needs, but recovery and damage assessments are still ongoing. MOJ is seeking to temporarily relocate, possibly using the Old National Council Building. MOJ Deputy Minister informed us that the Council of Ministers has provided $8 million to Qus that the Council of Ministers has provided $8 million to assist in renovating the MOJ building. The building recently constructed for the MMPW was heavily damaged but remains structurally sound. Ministry staff have been called to return to work for cleanup, but ongoing recovery of bodies has hampered this effort. MMPW has already contacted the Turkish construction company that formerly worked on the new building to begin the renovation process, estimated to take 2-3 months. In the meantime, employees are using their former facilities on the Mansour compound. ¶5. (SBU) The Baghdad Governor and Provincial Council (PC) chairman have not requested assistance but we have heard unofficially they may seek office equipment once they are able to return to their building and assess their needs, in approximately 3-4 weeks. We have identified Quick Response Funds (QRF) that can be utilized for this effort. Engineers hired by the local government are evaluating the Baghdad Governorate and Provincial Council Building. The Director General for Electricity has also begun evaluating reconnecting the building to the grid. The Governor has moved back into his office and one floor remains functional. The Governorate's engineering office is off site and will be hiring contractors to assist with the work. The PC chairman and other council members are also continuing their work at various local council halls throughout Baghdad. With the last tranche of the investment budget released yesterday by the Ministry of Finance, no major delays are expected in the implementation of projects for provincial offices. Assistance can also be provided through USAID's Local Governance Project III if necessary. International Organizations Providing Some Assistance -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Several international organizations have responded to calls for immediate medical supplies. International Medical Corps (IMC),a USAID implementing partner, provided large quantities of gauze, bandages, syringes, and antiseptic materials in response to a request directly from Medical City Hospital. International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) sent two war-wounded kits to Baghdad Teaching Hospital, which received the largest majority of injured and dead. Each kit includes one ton of medical and surgical supplies to treat up to 50 trauma cases. MND-Baghdad provided approximately 420 boxes of gauze and 100 boxes of other bandages to the Director General of Health of Karkh district. They also delivered medical supplies to Yarmouk General Hospital on October 26. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) is processing procurement of additional anesthetics for the Ministry of Health (MOH) at MOH's request. ¶7. (U) Other donor countries we have contacted say they have no plans for any assistance. European Community reps told us they may consider assistance if asked by the GOI but so far have not received any requests. HILL