Minutes of NGO coordination meeting on Iraq 6 May 2003

Chaired by Ian Purves, SHAO, OCHA
1. Update on Iraq

Security

Syria-Iraq border: According to NGO reports, the road between the Yaroubia border crossing in Syria and Mosul is safe, but the Al Qaim area in Iraq (the other side of the Abou Kamal border crossing) the situation is still insecure. A local Bedouin tribe reportedly provides escorts without charging fee and without being requested between Yaroubia and Mosul.

Convoys: The Ramadi-Baghdad road is still insecure due to continued robberies. Last week, seven people from Operation Mercy were robbed on the highway 10.5 km from Ramadi. No one was injured. The convoy of three vehicles carrying the Greek envoy to Iraq was shot approximately 90 km west of Baghdad. No one was reported hurt.

OCHA reiterated the need for NGOs to consider putting in place convoy procedures and travel in larger convoys. The coalition is working to maintain permissiveness on the route by positioning more troops along the route. However, these measures do not necessarily guarantee the safety along this long route. As such, HACC recommends taking the southern route through Karbala (for convoy issues NGOs can contact HACC, tel: 06 5920101).

Situation in Baghdad: According to Premiere Urgence (PU), the security situation in the city is getting more and more tense. Shootings are heard during night and daytime. Looting continues with some incidents between various groups of looters. These groups are well organised, armed, and in possession of satphones. A curfew is on from 2300 - 0700. NGOs were advised to keep a low profile (for example, PU has removed stickers from their vehicles). For more security information and other relevant information NGOs can contact NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI). Weekly meetings are held for various sectors including education, health, reconstruction, water and sanitation, and IDPs. (Contact: Premiere Urgence, e-mail: puamman@nets.com.jo, satphone: + 88 2166 3225455).

UN is setting up communication systems in Iraq, and OCHA will be able to share relevant information with the NGO community in Amman. A security paper prepared by OCHA Geneva had been circulated among the NGOs.

UNJLC assessment mission: The UNJLC team including engineers and contractor went to Iraq on 4 May to assess one of the two damaged bridges on the highway to Baghdad. The reduction of the road to one passable lane is causing difficulties for light traffic. If convoys of heavier trucks are sent in the current structure may not be able to cope, and bypass routes would need to be organised.

The route up to 200 km into Iraq is now deemed relatively safe by the coalition forces.

Mines and UXOs: Mines and UXOs are emerging as a critical problem. In two separate incidents, two journalists were found to be carrying UXOs as 'souvenirs' at Queen Alia airport and the Karama border crossing, with a casualty in the first incident. OCHA will facilitate mine awareness briefings and training for NGO staff (NGOs willing to attend such briefings can contact Rod Scott, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, tel: 008821654200850).

2. Update on Cross-border Issues

UN presence in Iraq: The UN North team has reestablished an international presence in the three northern governorates with 87 staff. This reestablishment of a presence will be expanded to include Mosul if the security situation allows (a security assessment is planned for Mosul on 7 May).

In the Lower South, a hotel has been identified in Basrah as a temporary site for UN headquarters, and UN agencies moved from Kuwait to Basrah on 3 May to establish a permanent presence in the city. The airport is open for humanitarian flights.

The Upper South team is now partially deployed in Al Hillah. Assessments were completed in Al Hillah and Karbala, with positive findings.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (HCI), accompanied by a small team of senior UN officials, and communications, logistics, security and other key staff arrived in Baghdad on 1 May to reestablish an international presence. Since arriving, the team has begun assessing security in Baghdad, and is establishing contact with key institutions and agencies. The city is still insecure. Slogans appearing in Baghdad include: 'Iraq for Iraqis'. The coalition's military forces are being replaced by a civil organisation. The coalition has started to pay the $20 emergency payment to civil servants. The UN team in Baghdad hosted the first coordination meeting today. In a press conference on 4 May, the HCI particularly said that there is 'humanitarian disaster in the sense that the basic services collapsed or are in the risk of collapsing if we do not put them back into shape rather quickly'.

3. AOB / Announcements

Air-Serve reported that the Baghdad airport is open for flights from Kuwait and Amman. Three flights a week are planned from Amman to Baghdad. The schedule of flights once finalised will be shared with NGOs (Contact person is Susan MacGregor, e-mail: smacgregor@airserv.org, mobile: 079 6941365).

ICRC made three flights to different locations in Iraq. There is no UNHAS flights yet due to pending insurance waivers.

According to HACC/West, there is no requirement for an Iraqi visa for crossing the Jordanian-Iraqi border, and the matter is being pursued. This contradicts the information given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a letter received by the UN. The UN will follow up the matter with the Government. MSF-B inquired about a legal basis for not carrying Iraqi visa when entering the country.

PU raised concern about Iraqi contractors not being able to enter Jordan to collect their money. Their entry is refused by the Jordanian authorities for security considerations. The NGO brought up the matter with the DART and the French Embassy to Jordan, however, the matter is still pending. UN is asked to pursue it with the Government. One NGO, who faced a similar problem, noted that the Ministry of Interior requires a letter from an NGO for such cases.

UNJLC provided updates on logistics issues, including availability of fuel in Iraq (For details contact David Pittfield, e-mail: david.pittfield@undp.org, mobile: 079 6665244).

A number of foreign envoys, including, German, Dutch, Swedish, Greek, Spain, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, have already returned to Baghdad.

The human rights officer seconded by the UNHCHR to UNOHCI announced a brainstorming session with several Jordanian NGOs scheduled after the NGO meeting on rights-based approach and gender mainstreaming in delivering humanitarian assistance, and encouraged NGOs to partake. The human rights officer will be leaving for Erbil with UNOHCI on 7 May (Contacts: Bela Kapur, e-mail: bkapur@ohchr.org / bela_k@hotmail.com, satphone: +88 2166 3224206. Other human rights officers will be seconded to the UNOCHI area offices and the central office shortly.

The JNEPI website is now up and running: www.jnepi.org.jo.

A new NGO liaison officer with UNOHCI in Cyprus is assigned. Contacts: Kirsten Zaat, e-mail: kzaat@hotmail.com.

The Amman based DART will leave the capital for Iraq on Saturday. The team will be working out of Al Hillah and a number of governorates in the Upper South and Central areas. Should any NGO wish to contact the team once deployed then they should use the following Thuraya number: 00 882 16 54 201 414.

The Jordanian Government is looking for NGOs' support to facilitate transportation and treatment of chronically ill children or those who need specialist operations from Iraq to Jordan (NGOs can contact HACC for more details). Primarily the Government is looking for organisations to provide the necessary funding. As the go between the HACC was advised that NGOs do not, generally, undertake such missions. The wider implications of treating children away from their home areas will be covered in a set of guidelines being drawn-up by the child protection working group, which should be available for distribution later this week.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 13 May, at 1245 in UNDP conference room.