Cablegate: Tfiz01: Usaid/Prm Humanitarian/Reconstruction

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 001181

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO PASS USAID/W
STATE PLEASE REPEAT TO IO COLLECTIVE
STATE FOR PRM/ANE, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, IO AND SA/PAB
NSC FOR EABRAMS, SMCCORMICK, STAHIR-KHELI, JDWORKEN
USAID FOR USAID/A, DCHA/AA, DCHA/RMT, DCHA/FFP
USAID FOR DCHA/OTI, DCHA/DG, ANE/AA
USAID FOR USAID/AA:NATSIOS
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA:WGARVELINK, BMCCONNELL, KFARNSWORTH
USAID FOR ANE/AA:WCHAMBERLIN
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR RMA AND NKYLOH
DOHA FOR MSHIRLEY
ANKARA FOR AMB WRPEARSON, ECON AJSIROTIC AND DART
AMMAN FOR USAID AND DART

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF IZ WFP
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: USAID/PRM HUMANITARIAN/RECONSTRUCTION
SITUATION REPORT #5, 29 MARCH 2003

-------
SUMMARY
-------

1. Humanitarian assistance is beginning to flow into parts
of southern Iraq provided by both the Kuwaiti Red Crescent
and Coalition forces. An UNSECOORD security assessment team
is expected to travel to Umm Qasr on 30 March to determine
whether the town can be deemed a permissive environment for
future U.N. humanitarian operations. On 27 March, the ORHA
/ USAID Reconstruction Team leaders met with representatives
of CENTCOM and CFLCC to prepare an integrated operations
plan. On 28 March, Ambassador Bodine chaired a daylong
planning session, which included representatives from all
relevant U.S. agencies and groups that will be on the ground
in the Central Region. End Summary.

--------------------------------------------- -----
HUMANITARIAN OPERATION CENTER (HOC) DAILY BREIFING
--------------------------------------------- -----

2. According to the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC),
Coalition forces have reported an area of low, mud-hut
dwellings on the outskirts of Al Nasiriyah populated by an
unknown number of people in need of food and water. In
response, Coalition forces plan to supply 20,000
humanitarian daily rations and 24,000 liters of bottled
water to the population.

3. On 28 March, the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society sent a
nine-truck convoy to Safwan. Five trucks are carrying
daily rations and four trucks are transporting monthly
family rations. The Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society has not
discussed operational plans with the HOC. The Kuwaiti Red
Crescent Society also conducted a survey on 28 March to
determine the site for a field hospital within the UNIKOM
compound.

4. A UNICEF-sponsored three-truck convoy was expected to
leave on 29 March for Umm Qasr. The convoy is transporting
water, water bladders, and health kits. No UNICEF staff is
part of the convoy and funding is coming from private
sources using local drivers. The International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF) have agreed to send a convoy to Basra on 29
March. Several trucks will be carrying water and one ICRC
medical kit to the hospital. ICRC is expected to be in
charge of the distribution.

5. An UNSECOORD security assessment team is expected to
travel to Umm Qasr on 30 March to determine whether the town
can be deemed a permissive environment for future U.N.
humanitarian operations.

6. UNICEF-sponsored water tanker deliveries were made to
Umm Qasr, Safwan, and Az Zubayr on 28 March. In addition,
the convoys transported a number of 5,000 cubic meter water
bladders to the three locations. The water bladders are
being pre-positioned to provide a continuous supply of water
to these vulnerable populations. On 29 March, a water
delivery is being made to the town of Umm Qhayal, northwest
of Umm Qasr with a population of 30,000.

7. The three-kilometer pipeline being constructed from
Kuwait towards Umm Qasr is expected to be completed on 30
March. This new source of water will provide 2.4 million
liters of water per day to southern Iraq. Water tankers
currently trucking water from inside Kuwait will be able to
use the new source to provide water to areas including Umm
Qasr, Safwan, Basra, Umm Qhayal, and Az Zubayr.

8. A U.S. military spokesman estimated that between 1,000
and 2,000 residents fled the ongoing conflict in Basra on 28
March. There was no indication as to the current location
of the displaced, but they are reported to be in the local
area. No information was provided on injuries or casualties
or whether they were forced to flee or voluntarily departed.
The spokesperson also reported that residents of Basra are
receiving approximately 100 liters of water per day instead
of the usual daily 300 to 350 liters per day. The DART will
attempt to confirm daily water delivery levels with UNICEF
and/or ICRC representatives.

9. Sixty percent of the southern Iraqi oilfields are under
Coalition control. Three oil wells remain to be
extinguished.

10. The daily HOC briefing is available on the Humanitarian
Information Center's website at www.agoodplacetostart.org
under the tabs Coordination Structures, Regions, Kuwait.

----------------------
USAID - RECONSTRUCTION
----------------------

11. On 27 March, the ORHA / USAID Reconstruction Team
leaders met with representatives of CENTCOM and CFLCC to
prepare an integrated operations plan. Functional groups
from all three entities prepared and presented concept
papers outlining their respective operations plans,
including assets available for implementation.
Additionally, the groups sought to identify operational gaps
and potential remedies. Overall, USAID responses were well
received by the military and revealed no serious issues at
this point. It was emphasized that the greatest impediment
to implementation remains the physical security situation in
Iraq, and until that changes for the better, plans will
remain on hold.

12. On 28 March, Ambassador Bodine chaired a daylong
planning session, which included representatives from all
relevant U.S. agencies and groups that will be on the ground
in the Central Region. Most of the ORHA / USAID
Reconstruction Team leaders participated in the sessions,
aimed at identifying sectoral issues in water/sanitation,
health, transportation, municipal services, and other
management.

13. Upon reviewing the terms of the airport reconstruction
and operations contract, the military has advised that they
will not support any airport not under their control.
Therefore, the existing airport contracts may need to be
examined to assure inclusion of tower and approach
capabilities at all airports, including radar equipment and
maintenance, as well as FAA liaison.

14. By way of clarification, the USAID Mission did not
report any intention to implement plans to provide, on an
exceptional basis, 900,000 liters of bottled water to the
Iraqi population; rather the USAID Mission evaluated
available quick-response capabilities for providing drinking
water. Such responses, under the Logcap logistics contract,
have been deemed doable, but there are no current plans to
activate them barring a clear need, assessment, and
coordination with the DART and others.

15. The USAID Mission plans to begin reporting a once-
weekly update on security beginning on 28 March in view of
the fact that the security environment may impact operations
from time to time.

16. The Port of Umm Qasr is still not considered permissive
for the entrance of USAID's Port Reconstruction Manager.
(EMBASSY NOTE: The port was declared "permissive" on March
31. END NOTE.) The Mission has investigated the operational
and logistic requirements for the manager's entrance.
Security and logistics arrangements have been made to assure
his arrival there as soon as the situation is deemed
permissive.

JONES

© Scoop Media