July 1, 2009

Overview

 

Political: Under the US-Iraqi bilateral security pact that was signed in January, the US met the Tuesday (June-30) deadline to withdraw their combat troops from Iraq’s cities. US troops have been redeployed to two bases located near Baghdad’s airport in case the Iraqis need their assistance, but will be required to leave Iraq completely by the end of 2011, which is also a measure under the security pact. Some troops have been ordered to stay behind to train and advise Iraqi forces. According to Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, the US closed or returned control to the Iraqis 120 bases and facilities in the country. Despite fears of insurgents using the withdrawal as an opportunity to increase attacks, Iraqis were elated, marking the withdrawal as a milestone and the restoration of their pride six years after the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, which developed into a multi-year foreign occupation. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed military leaders in Baghdad, saying, “Our sovereignty has started and … we should move forward to build a modern state and enjoy (the) security which has been achieved.” To mark the largely awaited event, the Iraqi government held banner celebrations and festivities on Tuesday, declaring June 30, “National Sovereignty Day,” a national holiday. About 130,000 US troops remain in Iraq. (Reuters, June-29)

 

A spate of bombings prior to the US withdrawal, including two of the deadliest attacks for more than a year, killed at least 150 people. The most severe attack was on June 24 in a market place in Baghdad’s Sadr City that killed at least 72 people and wounded more than 130. On Friday (June-26), a bomb planted on a motorbike killed 13 at a market and was followed by a string of smaller blasts that raised fears, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said, “We have high trust in our security forces to administer security and pursue al-Qaeda remnants and criminal gangs.” Meanwhile, only hours after US troops transferred control of Iraq’s cities, a car bomb detonated in northern Kirkuk and killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 100, which underlining the fragility of Iraq’s security gains. (Reuters, June 25-30)

 

US President Barack Obama signed a US$106 billion bill to complete his plans to gradually end the war in Iraq and increase operations in Afghanistan as conflict against militants intensifies. The bill consists of US$79.9 billion to resume funding for the two wars through September 30, as well as US$7.7 billion to address the H1N1 flu pandemic and US$1.4 billion in foreign aid to Pakistan, which is battling Taliban militants along the border with Afghanistan. (Reuters, June-24)

 

UN: According to Iraq’s Environment Ministry, an estimated 25 million landmines, which were left over from the 1980’s Iran-Iraq war, remain scattered across the country and hamper Iraq’s plans to reconstruct its war-torn economy.  UN officials said that while the humanitarian cost of mines is evident, the economic cost is also concerning. Undeveloped oil fields and farmlands and disrupted electricity lines are all due to mines peppered across the country. Most concerning for Iraq’s economy is that almost all of its oil fields are mined. A UN statement was quoted by Reuters as saying, “Iraq cannot afford to bear this cost in the future, if it wishes to restore its full socio-economic potential.” Since Iraq ratified the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty in August 2007, they have been trying to meet its obligations that include destroying mine stockpiles by February 2012 and clearing all minefields by February 2018. However, the government said reaching that target was unlikely. The UN reported there were 4,000 suspected hazard areas totaling 1,730 million sq. meters of land, threatening 1.6 million Iraqi lives. (Reuters, July-1)

 

A conference was held on Sunday-Monday (June 14-15) by the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to discuss hydrocarbon revenue and water sharing. Titled, “The Future of Iraq,” the conference examined key challenges in water resources management and reviewed actions by the central and regional governments at various levels to alleviate problems and also called for UN support towards regional dialogue on the management of the Euphrates River. Participants also confirmed their commitment to work towards resolving issues regarding hydrocarbons. This conference was a continuation of a prior roundtable discussion on federalism and hydrocarbon resource management held in Baghdad and Erbil. (UNAMI, June-17)

 

Refugees/Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): On World Refugee Day, which was on Saturday (June-20), Iraqi NGOs and UN agencies working to provide better support for Iraqi refugees appealed to the UN and all international organizations “to offer protection and facilitate resettlement of all Iraqi refugees who are affected by violence and to help increase the number of those who are accepted in secure (third) countries,” the UNs Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) quoted Basil Abdul-Wahab al-Azawi, head of the Baghdad-based Commission of Society Enterprises as saying. Iraqi refugees have endured dire living conditions and have watched their savings deplete because of prolonged displacement and hikes in the price of basic commodities in host countries. In a statement issued jointly with other international organizations, the UN called for financial support from donors for the protection, return and reintegration of Iraq’s IDPs and refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates some 2 million Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates about 2.8 million IDPs in Iraq. (IRIN, June-21)

 

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said Iraq remains too fragile for the estimated 1.5 million Iraqis living outside its borders to return home. Ron Redmond, a spokesman for the UNHCR, said “while overall security conditions are improving, they are not sustainable enough to have encouraged massive returns of Iraqis.” Of the returns that have already taken place, many of them have not been safe or sustainable. Forcing the repatriation of refugees would also put individuals at risk. Over 1.5 million Iraqis still live outside the country, mostly in Syria and Jordan, while another 2 million are internally displaced. (UNHCR, June-2)

 

Civil Society/Rule of Law: The number of deaths in Iraq since March 2003 is estimated by Iraq Body Count (IBC) as between 92,435 and 100,911 for civilians and 4,639 for coalition forces, including 4,321 US troops.  While 4,900-6,375 Iraqi military personnel are estimated to have died during the 2003 war, reliable figures are unavailable for the new Iraqi security forces established in late 2003. (Reuters, June-30)

 

Iraq’s civilian casualty count spiked to 373 in June as US troops completed their withdrawal from the country’s towns and cities on Tuesday (June-30). June’s death toll is up from May’s record low casualty count of 134, but still significantly lower than the June 2008 figure of 448 civilian deaths, the Health Ministry reported. According to website www.icasualties.org, the number of US troop deaths fell marginally to 10 from May’s count of 12. The month of June held two of Iraq’s biggest bombings this year, killing a total of 150 people. (Reuters, July-1)

 

Humanitarian Situation and Access: In Iraq’s southern province of Dhi Qar on June 17-18, the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held a training workshop for 31 NGOs on grant application procedures and project implementation and management funded by the UNs Expanded Humanitarian Response Fund (ERF) for Iraq.  OCHA Iraq acting Head of Office, Yasmine Rockenfeller, said the workshop aimed at “enhancing the capacity of Iraqi civil society to respond to humanitarian needs in their own communities.” She added that the ERF provides necessary funding for emergency assistance in support of the neediest in Iraq. The Iraqi NGOs in training will launch these projects, strengthening the relationship between the UN and Iraqis. In April and May, OCHA conducted two other training sessions in Baghdad and Erbil, and have trained a total of 100 Iraqi and international NGOs operating across Iraq. (OCHA, June-22)

Economy/Oil: Iraqi crude oil production averaged 2.44 million barrels per day (MBPD) as of June 10, which is an increase of 0.03 from the week of May 27. (USDOS, June-10) Iraqi crude oil exports averaged 1.80 MBPD as of June 10, which is a decrease of 0.08 from the week of May 27. (USDOS, June-10)

 

On Tuesday (June-30), Iraq revealed that only one of the bidders for the eight contracts to run oil and gas fields in the country accepted oil ministry terms. The Dawn reported that not all energy companies were pleased with the terms of the contracts being offered, which included that awarded firms would have to partner with Iraqi government-owned firms and share management of the fields despite fully financing their development. These terms raised concerns about the profitability of the contract, a source told the Agence France-Presse. The BBC reported that six oil fields and two gas fields were available during a televised auction, which is the first big oil bid in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. After Exxon Mobil declined to run the 17 billion barrel Rumaila field in southern Iraq, BP and China’s CNPC agreed to it. Since contracted deals will provide the Iraqi government with much-needed revenue as it struggles to rebuild, they are asking the rest of the companies to consider resubmitting bids for the other seven contracts. According to Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, the country’s “principal objective is to increase our oil production from 2.4 million barrels per day to more than four million in the next five years.” Iraq contains the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves, with 115 billion barrels. (BBC, The Dawn, June-30)

 

On June 10, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil announced that oil-bidding rounds to bolster oil and gas field output will proceed as scheduled on June 29. Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has endured harsh criticism in recent weeks for failing to boost production of oil, especially as the fall of oil prices severely affect the budget. Al-Shahristani expects the country’s production to go up to 4 million barrels per day once the fields are developed. The US Department of State said 32 of the 35 pre-qualified companies will be participating in the bid round. (USDOS, June-10)

 

Water/Power: The daily supply from the grid from May 25 – May 31 was 55 percent higher than the same time frame in 2008 and met 70 percent of estimated demand, compared with 48 percent during the same time frame a year earlier. (USDOS, June-10)

 

Due to sectarian violence and insurgency, attempts to repair Baghdad’s dilapidated sewage pipes and treatment plants was delayed and Iraqis will have to wait three more years for the puddles of sewage to stop and for the treatment of all sewage accumulating in rundown pipes, Baghdad announced on Monday (June-15). With the initiative starting in 2006, it was expected to be completed in five years (2011). According to municipality spokesman Hakim Abdul Zahra, efforts continued after the security situation improved. The amount being spent on sewage works was not clearly indicated, but main projects include a US$90 million 19.4 mile (12 km) sewage pipe from eastern Baghdad to southeastern Baghdad, a US$58 million sewage pipe in Sadr City and US$91 million sewage works in eastern Baghdad. (Reuters, June-15).

 

Food:  In a statement made on Tuesday (June-16), the Iraqi government said they were attempting to rationalize the state-run food aid system by stopping the well-off from benefiting from it and helping the neediest people to ease pressure on the budget. According to the statement, the Cabinet wanted people, who made a monthly income of over US$1,300 (1.5 million Iraqi dinars) to stop receiving food subsidies. Then, the Ministry of Trade would devise a plan that would direct the food rationing system’s financial allocations in the federal budget to the neediest people. In 1995, Iraq’s food rationing system, the Public Distribution System (PDS), was developed as part of the UN’s oil-for-food program. Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the program has suffered poor management, insecurity and recently, corruption. Former Iraqi trade minister, Abdul-Falah al-Sudani, was arrested and charged on June 30 with corruption and embezzlement in relation to food imports for the PDS. (IRIN, June-17)

 

Health/Medical: Iraq reported three more cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, commonly known as swine flu, in the northern autonomous region on Friday (June-26).  Regional Health Minister Ziryan Osman confirmed the three cases and reported that one case was a 12-year-old child, who is the brother of one of the female basketball players on the team that had five cases of swine flu after returning from the US last week. (AFP, June-27)

 

During the first 24 weeks of 2009, only two cholera cases have been confirmed. However, since cholera is endemic in Iraq, sporadic cases are expected to surface from time to time.  Iraq suffered a cholera outbreak in 2008 with a majority of cases occurring between weeks 33 to 41, the UN Children’s Fund Humanitarian Action Update reported. A total of 11 deaths were recorded among a total of 925 cholera cases, of which 36 percent were children under the age of five. According to updated reports, the outbreak seemed to have subsided after the gradual decrease in new cases had abated to zero by mid-December. Despite cholera cases not being detected, diarrhea cases continue to affect Iraqi populations. During week 24 in 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 18,614 cases of diarrhea. Fifty-eight percent of the samples - or 10,707 - were cultured for the cholera organism, but none were found positive. The agency also tested 2,690 water samples for bacteriological contamination and 16 percent - or 434 - of them were deemed contaminated. (WHO, June-14)

 

According to the WHO, during the first 22 weeks of 2009, 26,056 suspected measles cases were reported in Iraq. The measles outbreak is mainly affecting the central part of Iraq, reporting 78 percent – or 20,330 – of the cases. The outbreak is beginning to spread to the South and North. (WHO, May-31) 

                                           

In-Country Humanitarian Assistance Information by Region

North Region

 

 

 

 

Central/West Regions

                                                                                                              

 

Baghdad

Baghdad
Coordination	Control of Baghdad’s Green Zone, considered the safest place in Baghdad, has been transferred over to Iraqi security. Iraqi troops now man all checkpoints entering the Green Zone of Iraqi government buildings and foreign embassies. US soldiers are withdrawing from towns and cities this month and are slowly transferring control back to Iraqi security forces. (Reuters, June-16)
Population	Population: 7,145,470
IDP Movement	Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by Province/Governorate   Current Historical   Province  Individuals displaced after Feb 2006 Families displaced after Feb 2006 Families displaced 2003-2005 Families displaced pre-2003 Baghdad 563,771 92,936 1,586 2,281 (IASC, Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM), June 2008)   At the end of 2007, Iraq’s MoDM reported that 9,657 IDP families (some 60,000 people) had returned to Baghdad.  The Iraqi Red Crescent stated 46,000 refugees had returned from Syria to Baghdad by the end of December. (IOM, Feb-1)
Food	No New Information
Health	No New Information
Non-Food Items –Shelter	No New Information
Security	On Thursday (June-25), five people were wounded in Bayaa after a parked car bomb exploded in southwestern Baghdad. Three civilians in Amil district in southwestern Baghdad were wounded after a bomb fixed to a bus exploded. Two people were killed and 30 others were wounded by a bomb at a bus terminal in Bayaa. Nine US soldiers were wounded after two roadside bombs targeting a US military patrol exploded in Rusafa in eastern Baghdad. Fou r civilians were wounded when a mortar round landed in Baghdad’s central Karrada district. Two civilians were wounded in Baghdad’s eastern Ur district when a roadside bomb exploded nearby.   On Friday (June-26), two militants carrying three suicide bomb vests were captured by Iraqi security forces in Abu Ghraib town. At least 13 people were killed and 45 wounded in central Baghdad after a bomb planted on a motorbike exploded.   On Saturday (June-27), a civilian was killed and four others were wounded in Baghdad’s southwestern district of Risala. Three people in Baghdad’s northern Mustansiriya district were wounded by a roadside bomb.   On Sunday (June-28), seven policemen were wounded when a car bomb exploded in the car park of a police training center in western Baghdad. Another car bomb wounded six civilians after it blew up near a US military patrol in Baghdad’s northeastern Talbiya district.   On Monday (June-29), four US soldiers from the Multi-National Division-Baghdad died from combat-related injuries. The incident is under investigation and no other details were available.   (Reuters, June 25- July 1)
Water & Sanitation	After three and a half years, US and Iraqi officials opened a water treatment plant in Baghdad’s Sadr City slum on Wednesday (January-21). The US$65 million plant provides water for 200,000 people, which is only a tenth of the population of the vast slum on Baghdad’s eastern outskirts. (Reuters, Jan-21)
Other/Comments	No New Information

 

South Region

 

 

 

Neighboring Countries’ Humanitarian Activities/Preparations

 

Jordan

 

According to Xinhua news agency, a UN official revealed in 2008, nearly 20,000 displaced Iraqis in Jordan have resettled to third countries. A majority of them, around 6,990, were sent to the US, Imran Riza, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Jordan said, adding that 2009 should expect a greater number of relocations. (Xinhua new agency, December-24)

 

Iran

 

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari led an Iraqi delegation to Tehran on May 19 to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Manoucheher Mottaki, to discuss border issues, the water crisis and common security threats. He also met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who said ties were improving and urged quick implementation of bilateral agreements between the countries. Ahmadinejad added that the age of “bullying and arrogant powers” had come to an end. (USDOS, May-20)

 

Turkey

 

Kurdish rebels and the Turkish military extended a unilateral ceasefire by six weeks to try to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has taken 40,000 lives since 1984. The Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) has been battling the Turkish government for independence for 25 years. The original ceasefire was declared on April 14 and was due to expire on Monday (June-1), however, the PKK may extend the truce even longer to September 1 if it believes the government is making progress on solving the political problem. (Reuters, June-1)

 

On Thursday (April 30), Turkey’s military said it had launched air strikes against suspected Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq. The operation was prompted after nine Turkish soldiers were killed by a bomb in southeastern Turkey on April 29. The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack. (Reuters, April-30)

 

Kuwait

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement on June 3 for Iraq and Kuwait to resolve their issues through dialogue to try and calm strained ties between the countries. After Kuwaiti Ambassador Ali al-Mumen met with al-Maliki, Maliki said he wanted to “resolve any outstanding issues between the neighbors through a dialogue which guarantees the interests of both parties.” Kuwait is also willing to solve issues with Iraq through diplomatic and official channels, UN Special Representative for Iraq, Staffan de Mistura reported after talking with Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Jassem al-Khorafi. De Mistura urged both countries to show restraint to prevent straining bilateral ties. (USDOS, June-10)

 

Syria

 

Despite strained political ties between neighbors Syria and Iraq, Syria started a freight train service to Iraq, Reuters reported official media as saying on Sunday (May-31). According to Syria’s al-Thawra newspaper, the line, which is 894 miles (1,430 km) long between the Syrian port of Tartous on the Mediterranean and Baghdad, was inaugurated on Saturday (May-30) and will begin services this month. The estimated journey time will be at least 72 hours, but will be half the cost of road transport. The neighboring country currently hosts hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees and had hoped to become a main transit hub to Iraq. Syria got to play that role for a short time following the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. (Reuters, May-31)

 

Saudi Arabia

 

On Thursday (May-28), Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Iraq has no intention of making new goodwill gestures towards Saudi Arabia as Maliki’s efforts have been called a sign of weakness by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. Bilateral ties between the two countries have been strained since the US-led invasion in 2003 and continue to decline. Al-Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government accuses Riyadh of not taking enough action to prevent its citizens from crossing the border to join the mainly Sunni insurgency. The Agence France-Presse quoted al-Maliki as saying, “There will be no other initiatives on our part as long as there is no sign from Saudi Arabia that it wants to have good ties with Baghdad.” During an April 25 visit to Baghdad, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her concerns at the tension between the neighboring countries. (AFP, May-28)