EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COORDINATION TEAM CONVENES IN

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003174 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ASEC PGOV PTER IZ SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COORDINATION TEAM CONVENES IN RESPONSE TO DECEMBER 8 ATTACKS REF: BAGHDAD 2877 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 9, Coordinator for Assistance Transition Patricia Haslach convened Post's interagency Emergency Assistance Coordination Team (EACT) in response to the December 8 bombings in Baghdad. The blasts damaged the Karkh courthouse, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA),the new Ministry of Finance (MOF) site, and surrounding buildings. ATF and Multinational Baghdad forces have sent explosive ordnance disposal assets to the bomb sites and are conducting lab analyses. EACT, which was established in response to the October 25 bombings, is tracking GOI recovery efforts and requests for USG assistance. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Coordinator for Assistance Transition Patricia Haslach convened Post's interagency Emergency Assistance Coordination Team (EACT) in response to the December 8 bombings in Baghdad, which damaged several GOI offices and surrounding areas. EACT, which was established in response to the October 25 bombings, has clear organizational and funding processes in place that could quickly activate USG assistance if needed. ATF and Multinational Baghdad forces have already sent explosive ordnance assets to the bomb sites. Most GOI entities remain in a recovery and assessment phase, and have not requested further assistance so far. -------------- Immediate USG assistance -------------- ¶3. (SBU) At the Ministry of Interior's request, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents visited the bomb sites on December 9 at the Karkh Courthouse and the new Ministry of Finance site. ATF's samples and evidence are undergoing lab analyses. Multinational Division-Baghdad also provided explosive ordnance disposal assets and security forces to support the Iraqi police and military forces. Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance assets are on station providing intelligence with attack weapons teams providing overwatch. U.S. forces are willing to support further support if requested by the GOI. -------------- Hospitals, Medicines on Track -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Ministry of Health (MOH) officially reported 63 deaths and 479 injured as of December 8 based on hospital reports, while the press has reported much higher figures of 127 and 504, respectively. We expect these figures to increase as recovery efforts continue. MOH reported that the deceased and injured were taken to five hospitals throughout Baghdad, including the Ministry of Defense hospital, which itself sustained minor damages. The Deputy Minister of Health told us that the MOH procedures worked smoothly and it did not require USG assistance. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head of delegation told us it has received no requests for medicine or supplies. Several hospitals still have the War Wounded Kits ICRC provided following the October bombs. -------------- Karkh Courthouse Damages -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Higher Judicial Council (HJC) has fielded engineer and security staff to the Karkh Courthouse where it had set up temporary work space following damage to its offices in the October bombing. Staff are securing the area and assessing damages. HJC officials told us 160 recent law school graduates had been invited to Karkh Courthouse for interviews on the day of the bombing; many were injured and unaccounted for. Ten HJC officials are believed dead. HJC has requested that INL postpone its security training planned for Qrequested that INL postpone its security training planned for this week in order to conduct recovery activity. INL is continuing to work with HJC to equip additional administration space due to damage from the October attacks through QRF funds. INL will meet with HJC engineers on December 10 to obtain damage assessments and complete site surveys. INL is separately meeting with both the Judicial Development Institute's Director and Director General for Finance and Planning on its assessment of building damages and injured staff. -------------- Ministry of Finance Damages -------------- ¶6. (SBU) MOF staff are continuing work at its old headquarters in Adnon Palace, but the new building for the MOF sustained serious damage and will impact some ministerial functions, including year-end closeout processes. MOF officials told us distribution of funds to various ministries will also be challenging once the Council of Representatives passes the budget. Minister of Finance Jabr and his budget director were in Erbil at the time of the attack and returned to Baghdad on December 9. Jabr reported that the Deputy Budget Director, Deputy DG of Accounting, and Deputy of Public Finance were all seriously injured. Jabr will convene a meeting with his DGs on December 10 to assess recovery efforts and will respond with any assistance requests. The World Bank representative told us it is helping the MOF re-establish internect connection, at the MOF's request. It is also providing some computers and printers to the MOF's Accounting and Budget Office. -------------- USACE Structural Assessments Continue -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In response to GOI requests following the August and October bombings, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues its structural assessments and preliminary recommendations to the MOF, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). MFA is proceeding with blast protection measures, including a reinforced composite wall that could potentially impede blast dissipation efforts. USACE is urging the MFA to complete a building assessment and await USACE's full set of recommendations before taking further measures. Post is also in contact with NEA/I on ascertaining funds for mylar protection at key ministries. HILL