EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COORDINATION TEAM: DECEMBER

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003235 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ASEC PGOV PTER IZ SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE COORDINATION TEAM: DECEMBER 15 UPDATE REF: A. BAGHDAD 3174 ¶B. BAGHDAD 3179 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Post's Emergency Assistance Coordination Team (EACT) continues to monitor damage assessments and requests for USG assistance following the December 8 bombings. While we have received small requests for assistance, GOI ministries and entities have addressed immediE56>jBGRQ=IQQQQcontainers to the HJC, and is working to identify additional storage options. ¶4. (U) The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) reported that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided blankets, carpets, kerosene heaters, mattresses, plastic sheeting, and other non-food relief items to families in Dora, Al-Qahira, Al-Jemhori and Al-Rasheed districts. The International Medical Corps (IMC) provided bandages, intravenous kits, syringes and wheelchairs to Al-Kindi and Medical City hospitals. ¶5. (U) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has conducted an assessment of damaged housing and is considering shelter reconstruction for some families who have had serious damage to their homes. On December 15, UNHCR distributed 946 non-food item kits to victims of the blasts, including blankets, kitchen kits, jerry cans, and plastic sheeting. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has dispatched one large surgical trauma kit and will provide two additional kits. ICRC officials told us they are impressed with how well Iraqi hospital partners have managed materials that ICRC previously provided. They also noted that hospital and Ministry of Health officials have demonstrated considerable self sufficiency in the wake of the bombings. Qbombings. HILL