Minutes of NGO coordination meeting on Iraq 10 Jun 2003

Chaired by Knarik Kamalyan, HAO, OCH
1. Security

General: The general security situation is volatile in many parts of Iraq, with criminality remaining a major security concern.

In addition, accidents caused by UXOs are regularly reported. Hundreds of people mainly children have been seriously injured or killed since the end of the war.

There is a significant increase of well-organised attacks against the coalition forces, as well as Iraqi police stations. Allegedly some Islamic parties have declared a 'jihad' against the coalition. Intimidation is reported against newly appointed local authorities working closely with the coalition.

Humanitarian workers though not directly a target are advised to be cautious and avoid military convoys.

North: The security situation in the three northern governorates was stable but sporadic shootings were reported in Erbil over the past week.

ICRC reports that the road between Kirkuk and Sulaymaniya is safe for use again.

Centre: A trend of attacks against the coalition from the Fallujah-Ramadi area toward the Tikrit-Balad has been observed. Many of the attacks are occurring in the area along the highway 1 (Baghdad-Mosul), and are characterised by good planning and coordination.

Carjacking and smuggling continue on the highway 1.

Hostile activity against the coalition or between rival groups increased in Mosul. A shooting incident was reported last week between rival Kurdish groups, with 2 people killed and several injured.

According to local leaders in the Ninewa governorate and OCPA, over 300 Arab families were displaced, and Kurdish families under the protection of the PDK now occupy their homes. The situation is calm. However, if the matter remains unsolved it may escalate into inter-ethnic violence.

Baghdad: A great number of weapons and ammunition is seized every day and improvement of security and decrease of night shooting are reported. The crime rate, however, is still high. There are also concerns that growing social inequalities may lead to increased violent criminality. Further, pressures of fundamentalist Islamic groups are reported growing in the city.

The majority of attacks against the coalition forces are on the west bank of Tigris River and around the Mansour area. The coalition reported that there are indications of the presence of skilled fighters in Baghdad, and the possibility of 'spectacular' attacks targeting OCPA facilities is high.

Attacks on the highway 10 in the Ramadi-Fallujah area continue, and the coalition was reported conducting wide search operations in the area.

JNEPI noted that the security situation in Baghdad is unpredictable and very often population's frustration over difficult living conditions in the city leads to displays of aggression.

Lower South: In Basrah, no direct attacks against the coalition forces are reported. Iraqi police are gradually taking over the protection of facilities in the city.

UNSECOORD considers two areas in Basrah 'uncertain' and advises humanitarian workers to avoid the areas of Basrah Al Qadimah and Al Hayyaniyah.

In Amarah, there have been some 15 revenge killings in the recent past. Drugs and arms trafficking continue in the town.

Security Tracking System: NGOs are reminded that a tracking system of security situation and security incidents is fully operational in UN Baghdad. Please contact Jean Luc Massart at massart@un.org (copy zaat@un.org) to report incidents or receive regular updates.

2. Update on UN Iraq

Special Representative of UN SG, Sergio Vieira de Mello, issued a statement to the press outlining the UN priorities in Iraq, which include: humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and refugee return, economic development, legal and judicial reforms, civilian administration, and human rights.

A workshop on IDPs was held on 4 June in Sulaymaniyah focusing on the issues of protection, humanitarian assistance, return, resettlement, and reintegration.

Food distributions have begun in 17 out of 18 governorates.

For more detailed information on UN agencies' activities, please refer to UNOHCI weekly updates available on the HIC website: http://www.agoodplacetostart.org.

3. OCPA

OCPA (Office for the Coalition Provisional Authority) structure is still under discussion. The draft structure includes the following directorates: civil affairs policy, economic policy, security affairs, aid, press and public affairs, and operations. Definition on which ministries will fall under each directorate is still ongoing.

The International Coordination Council (ICC), which structure is under discussion, will assume responsibility for humanitarian affairs, including planning and identification of gaps. Gen. Tim Cross is now in charge of the ICC. It is not clear what the participation of Iraqis in the ICC will be.

4. NGO Coordination

UN NGO Liaison: Kirsten Zaat, UNOHCI National NGO Liaison Officer, moved from Larnaka to Baghdad on 10 June. She will function at the national level to facilitate UN-NGO information sharing, policy development and advice, and advocacy. At the regional level, NGO focal points have been appointed in each of the 5 Area Coordination Teams (for contact details, see the minutes of June 3 NGO meeting and HIC website).

NCCI: NCCI has 40 members and 20 NGOs with observer status, is expanding to become a nationwide representation body for NGOs. NCCI is currently in the process of drafting a Charter, which will determine future operations and advocacy. The current Chair is Jean Bernard Bouvier who can be contacted at merlinbaghdad@hotmail.com. UNOHCI, as well as ECHO and JNEPI have extended their support to NCCI.

5. Update on Cross-border Issues

UNJLC and UNHAS have set up offices in Amman (new contact details were made available at the meeting).

Flights: The UNHAS trial flight to Mosul was successful and the Mosul airport is now being used instead of Erbil. Passenger flights are available on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. UNHAS is also running a mini bus from Mosul to Erbil, which may expand if there is a demand. For details, contact UNJLC in Mosul and Erbil.

For cargo flight booking, NGOs are asked to submit their requests by email to Einar Schjolberg at einar.schjolberg@wfp.org. His mobile number is 079 696 0390. Contact person for passenger flight booking is Mike Aitchinson, mobile: 079 696 1810.

Both flight schedules and cargo/passenger request forms are available on the UNJLC website: www.unjlc.org. There may be changes to the current schedules over the next week.

One NGO noted some problems when trying to access the UNJLC website for flight schedules. NGOs are asked to inform UNJLC if they encounter similar problems.

6. AOB / Announcements

HIC: HIC/JNEPI maps are now available in Basra and Mosul. Further shipment into Iraq continues. The maps though not in complete sets yet, are also available in Amman.

HIC will be relocating its operations from Larnaca to Amman over the next week.

HACC: The first Upper South/South Central NGO meeting will be held at the HACC in Al Hillah, on Wednesday 11 June at 1000 hours.

JNEPI: Three documents are now available on the JNEPI website: info@jnepi.org.jo. These documents include: Who's Who In Iraq; Lessons Learnt; and Country Fact-sheet. JNEPI weekly situation reports, which provide updated information on security and programme matters in Iraq are also available on the website.

Staff Relocation: Mervat Shelbaya of UNJLC will be moving to Al Hillah this week to strengthen the UNJLC office there.

Zewdie Mehary of WFP is also moving to Iraq. For any inquiries, please contact WFP Office in Amman on 06 567 9886.

NGO Matrix / Contact List: The June 9 Updates of NGOs Iraqi response matrix and NGO contact list are posted on the HIC website.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 17 June, at 1245 in the UNDP conference room.