Transcript of the UN humanitarian briefing in Amman, Jordan, 2 April, 2003

[David]

Transcript of the UN humanitarian briefing in Amman, Jordan, 2 April, 2003

Nejib Friji, UN Spokesman

Good afternoon

The Secretary General continued his consultations on Iraq with the regional groups of the UN member countries. Yesterday he met with the European group.

Today, he will meet the Asian Group.

He is briefing them on Iraq and he takes questions. He is accompanied by Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette, UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs Kenzo Oshima & the Director General of the Office of Iraq Programme Benon Sevan.

The first UN Security assessment team made it to Um Qaser yesterday. They will submit a report on their findings to the Secretary General shortly.

Geoffrey Keele, Spokesman for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)

In what UNICEF hopes is an improving pattern of access in Southern Iraq, a convoy of five trucks is on its way to the town of Safwan - with clean water and emergency health kits.

Safwan is south of Basra - and it is the first time the trucking operation we have been using in Southern Iraq will have reached those in need there.

The trucks are carrying 35,000 litres of water each and will also deliver emergency health kits, each of which meets the needs of 1,000 people for three months.

As new tankers go in, the drivers discover new needs.

Drivers who reached Zubair yesterday told UNICEF about 20,000 people in nearby Um Kail, who have not yet been reached by any aid whatsoever. The drivers will return to the area tomorrow with water and emergency health kits.

When drivers delivered health kits to the hospital in Zubair yesterday, a health worker there said the heat was already taking a toll on children in the town and that he was seeing more and more cases of children suffering from diarrhea. This is a seasonal phenomenon in Iraq - but in a country where the average child suffers as many as 15 bouts of diarrhea a year?the net effect of current conditions is crippling. And the need for access to clean water is?very simply - life saving.

The local health worker also said the hospital was running out of basic supplies, and gave the drivers a list of more than 50 medicines they need to resupply the hospital.

Clearly, with every new truck and every new delivery that makes it to those in need - we take heart. But we realize we are still only meeting a fraction of those in need and look forward to reaching more children, in more places, more quickly.

UNICEF has also heard reports about the Humanitarian Daily Rations, or HDR, being handed out by coalition forces in southern Iraq.

The rations are wrapped in bright yellow plastic wrap. The colour is identical to the colour of a bomblet being air-dropped in this war called BLU 97.

These are the same rations that were air dropped in Afghanistan where the military eventually changed the wrapping to blue after the UN brought to their attention the dangers of presenting food in the same colour as unexploded ordinances. UNICEF urges the coalition forces to use rations only wrapped in other colours to avoid confusion for children who can too easily be injured or killed.

David Wimhurst, Spokesman for the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNHCOI)

The International Committee of the Red Cross has conducted assessments in Ramadi and Fallujah (Anbar governorate) and reports the whole western area of Iraq from Heet to Fallujah has been without electricity since 29 March, when two major electricity substations were damaged during hostilities. Most water treatment facilities in the governorate are operated by back-up generators and function between six and nine hours a day at 40% capacity.

The security situation in Erbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah remains stable, despite air raids and sporadic shelling by Iraqi forces of villages in Chamchamal, Sulaymaniyah. The situation in the Halabja area of Sulaymaniyah is gradually improving, and there was no significant return of people to the major urban areas. Schools in the three governorates remain closed for security reasons. WFP Turkey reported that the distribution of High Energy Biscuits to pupils has been temporarily stopped due to the closure of schools.

Baghdad - ICRC reports that movement in the city has increased, possibly partly due to the breakdown in the telephone network affecting family communications. Most shops are closed but some open-air markets are open. ICRC also reported an increased exodus of population from Baghdad due to the bombardment.

O4F - An initial assessment of contracts in the UN humanitarian pipeline for Iraq has identified over $1 billion worth of goods and supplies as potential priorities for delivery within the 45 day period until 12 May as provided by SCR1472. An identification of the most urgently needed supplies by UN agencies will be followed by planning for the rapid delivery to Iraq of these supplies.

Chris Lom, Spokesman for the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

A two-day workshop on protection of internally displaced people (IDPs) will open in Amman tomorrow. Representatives of over 20 non-governmental agencies (NGOs) and UN agencies are expected to attend the event, which is sponsored by IOM and UNOCHA.

The workshop is part of IOM's preparations, under the supervision of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, to coordinate relief efforts targeting IDPs in the south and centre of Iraq, as soon as access becomes possible.

A short paper outlining the operational objectives of the IOM IDP programme, progress made to date and key aspects of the implementation plan, is available on the table outside.

As you know, information about the number of IDPs in the 15 south and central governorates of Iraq is extremely sketchy. We don't know how many people are currently displaced by the fighting and we don't know many may become displaced in the coming days and weeks if the conflict continues.

We're encouraged by this morning's ICRC report that the humanitarian situation in Basra may be less serious than originally feared, because this will result in fewer people deciding to leave their homes.

The UN planning scenario described in the paper outside is just that - a planning scenario or starting point that says if two million people are displaced in the south and center of the country, then this would be the organizational structure and these would be the resources needed to meet their basic needs for shelter, food, water, sanitation, medical services, transport to return to their homes and so on.

If you have specific questions about the IOM IDP programme, Chris Petch, the programme manager, will be attending the workshop tomorrow and will be happy to answer questions. The workshop, which is in this hotel, is unfortunately not open to the media, due to space constraints.*

* This document refers to the IOM's Planning for IDP assistance in Iraq, found on the relief web or IOM website on www.iom.int

Nadine Shamounki, Spokeswoman for the UN Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP and IDPs
In the northern governorates, UNDP has been providing the essential requirements for the camps that are being prepared for the anticipated flow of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) - the following is an update on the current situation.



In Dohuk:
- One camp located in Bager is in the early stages of construction. UNDP is prepared to provide support if and when required.
- Two electricity towers collapsed due to a storm between East Dohuk and Cham Barkat. A UNDP team installed a temporary line. Supply to the pumping station will be restored within a couple of days.

In Erbil:
- In the Dilizan Camp UNDP's technical teams and the Common Roof staff have erected 43 electricity poles.

- In the Ashkaftan Camp UNDP installed a small diesel generator and 24 electricity poles.

UNDP and the Common Roof Staff
The concept of the Common Roof staff, is a vital element in UNDP's operations in the northern governorates in which UNDP brings together expert project engineers and local electricians then places them under the same roof (hence the name) in order to share knowledge and skills. The status of our Common Roof personnel is as follows:

In Dohuk:
Total number of Common Roof staff is around 200

- The staff has reported being negatively affected by the current situation as they have been evacuating their families to the homes of relatives or friends in the villages.

- They also reported that transportation was not easily available due to lack of fuel.

- However, the activities are gradually increasing as some families are returning to Dohuk.

In Erbil:
The total number of Common Roof personnel is around 300

In Sulaimaniyah:
The total number of Common Roof personnel is around 200


It is also important to note that aside from the Common Roof personnel, UNDP employs thousands of local staff. All UNDP national staff are reporting to work as required and keeping up the operations of the programme at a high standard under these extremely difficult circumstances.
Peter Kessler, Spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR)

While there have been no significant refugee arrivals, we continue to see small numbers of people crossing frontiers, mostly third country nationals (TCNs) seeking to return home, but also sometimes handfuls of Iraqis. All these people arrive frightened and exhausted, speaking of the uncertainty they faced at home, and the fear they encountered en route. Usually they intend to move onwards, as was the case with one couple of elderly Iraqis who recently arrived at Jordan's Al Karama border.

It isn't unusual in the early stages of any conflict to see a relatively small number of refugees flee their homeland. Wars often do not produce refugees in the beginning, but only much later * the on-going conflict in Ivory Coast has displaced hundreds of thousands, but in the last more than seven months only some 100,000 desperate people have crossed into neighbouring West African countries. Sometimes, fearful refugees flee only with the end of fighting, even while passing joyful returnees heading the opposite direction.

Under the current situation, Iraqis may not feel safer if they leave, due to reports of possible road blocks and bombing along the route. People arriving at Al Karama in recent days have given conflicting reports about the road to Jordan, with recent arrivals saying that they did not encounter any road blocks. Warnings from the US-led coalition that civilians try to stay off roads may also be keeping people at home. Neighbouring countries, together with UNHCR, are making preparations to receive any Iraqis if they do chose to flee their homeland.

As the war progresses, the humanitarian situation in Iraq and respect for human rights will deteriorate further, and we may well begin to see greater population movements. Since reports indicate that fighting in northern Iraq is just starting to get underway, people could start to move away from populated areas like Mosul and Kirkuk in even greater numbers, creating new humanitarian havoc. It was this region that in 1991 generated the majority of the 1.8 million refugees. Everything possible must be done to spare civilians the trauma of new displacement.

Marteen Rost, Spokesman for the World Food Programme (WFP)


The United Nations World Food Programme has concluded contracts to purchase 400,000 tons of food to help support the Iraqi food distribution system if need be.

We are talking about wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, sugar, pulses, cheese and milk.

We hope that these supplies can reach the region by the end of April and in May.

Questions and Answers
Q: Petra News Agency: The EU has recently donated around 300 million Euros to relief operations in Iraq. Are any of the UN agencies involved in this process & if yes, what are the measures you have taken to cope with the landmine problems that have been installed by the allied troops?

A: The EU has contributed to the flash appeal that was launched last Friday a substantial amount of money. On the question of landmines, we are concerned with all landmines & anti personnel landmines, whoever puts them on the ground. A part of the UN humanitarian effort includes the UN Mine Action Services, which will be active once it gets into the country. W are already concerned, for example, in Iran where there are areas demarcated for possible refugee use that have to be cleared before they are safe for use. We are fully aware of this problem & we will have teams on the ground, working with expert NGOs on a whole series of de-mining activities. There are also reports in the north, that wells have been mined & the Mine Action Group is currently engaged in three northern governorates to try & de-mine those wells.

A: One of the things UNICEF did before the outbreak of this conflict was to develop a series of mine awareness material in the form of series, radio & posters for schools & mosques & further public areas. We worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Civil Defense, we identified different kind of mines that were regularly found both from the Iran Iraq war & the Gulf Crisis; these were identified & used in all the awareness campaigns we launched. We had also an intensive television campaign, which ran for 2 weeks in March, prior to the beginning of hostilities.

Q: UNICEF, do you have any new information about the condition of the three children injured by landmines in Dahuk & about the hospital in Dahuk?

A: Unfortunately we have not received any more information before the briefing; I am hoping to get updated information later on this evening, which I can share with you tomorrow. As far as the hospital itself goes, the main problem that is there now, is that the types of injuries some of the children have, requires specialists to care & surgery & they don't have those specialist in the hospital. Obviously UNICEF is very concerned about this & we are looking at the possibilities to get the proper treatment to those children. At this point it is extremely difficult & we are just going to continue to work & put our efforts on to this.


Q: Follow up question: The trucks sent by UNICEF reached the hospital or not yet?

A: Yes but this truck was loaded & sent with other types of medical equipment that don't pertain to these kind of severe injuries. Right now, all across Iraq, there's a major problem with anemia within women, 60% of Iraqi women are anemic, and this leads directly to low birth weight. Children who are frequently sick & malnourished are the most likely to cause complication. The medicine that went in was mostly to treat anemic women particularly those who are pregnant to ensure their safety & of their children.

Q: What can you tell us about the operational effectiveness of the food distribution networks, which have fallen under the US or UK military control?

A: Not very much I'm afraid, we have not received any reliable information about the state of those networks inside Iraq, I'm afraid I can't really help you.

Q: We knew that the ICRC began its visits to Iraqi prisoners, do you have more information about this subject & do you have any coordination between yourselves & ICRC in this matter?

A: The ICRC is totally responsible for the handling of the prisoners of war & they are indeed looking after prisoners of war in the north, I can't give you a specific number, but it is in several hundreds I believe, but you should really direct your question to the ICRC. They have responsibilities under the Geneva Convention to look after the POWs.

Q: When did the ICRC visit the POWs in the north, I heard they visited some in Basra?

A: I have information concerning the north, I know in the last few days they have visited POWs in the north.

Q: Aida Taweel, Dustour Newspaper, Jordan: UNICEF, have you ever thought of coordinating efforts with ICRC to bring doctors or emergency relief for children in the hospitals inside Iraq for the first time lets say?

A: We have been delivering emergency health kits in the last few days, to areas in Zubeir, Um Qaser, today in Safwan. Something we also did before the outbreak of hostilities, is we put emergency health kits, in all primary health care centers in the country, to take care of up to 900 children. We have taken a lot of preemptive measures & now giving in additional supplies to these centers. As far as coordinating with the ICRC, we do have some coordination with them, particularly in the areas of water & sanitation, which has a crucial impact on children & their health. In Baghdad, for instance, we are working together, on different water treatment plants, ensuring back up generators are workings & other measures. So there is coordination but not directly on the health measure.

Q: AP: As we know there has been a number of incidents in the recent days, in the war zone, in which, civilians where killed at checkpoints by US military forces & others reportedly have been killed by traveling on the road in cars. There was also a statement by the central command recently, that said that Iraqi civilians should stay at home & not try to flee. Is there any comment on that?

A: As you know our position is that civilians must be protected by the parties in the conflict from the acts that cause destruction. We repeat this over again, under the fourth Geneva Convention; this is the responsibility of all forces engaged in this conflict. It wouldn't be wise of us in this room to offer advice to civilians living in Iraq, living under these conditions, it would be very foolish. They will make the best judgment of the security measures they should or can take & also judge the risks they would face if they leave. Having said that, it is the right of every person living in Iraq either as a third country national to leave or to seek refugee status in a neighboring country. They must make these decisions themselves.

Q: Is anyone responsible for returning third country nationals to their home countries?

A: IOM has a mandate to pick up both third country nationals & refugees arriving at the borders & take them to transit camps & from there offer transport to their home countries-for third country nationals. We have provided service to about 364 third country nationals in Jordan in the last two weeks.

Q: Mathew Connelly: UNICEF, I am wondering if you can share with us what is the source of the information regarding the daily rations being handed out with the bright yellow plastic wrap. I also wonder if UNICEF has speculated after it is happening again, after it had already happened in Afghanistan & Kosovo & if you can tell me what contacts, if any have been made to coalition forces if any, regarding this?

A: We saw TV pictures of the rations being handed out & immediately we recognized the same yellow wrapping. So we had our staff contact the HOC in Kuwait to find out whether they were indeed being distributed. The information we received is that these were leftovers from Afghanistan but they also have rations in pink colored paper at this point. What we urge is that they start handling out the pink not the yellow ones. Why they are doing it, I cannot answer on their behalf so you have to ask them.

Q: Michael Jansen, Irish Times: Is the ration that is being handed out, are the ones like Afghanistan, because they were not suitable for Afghanistan & I think they are not suitable for Iraq?

A: Again that is a question you have to ask them, I don't know the contents of the humanitarian daily ration, but I will try & find out for you & let you know that.

Q: Do you have any update on the border movement back into Iraq, can you confirm if it is still happening at the same volume that it has been since the conflict has staterd & if you are monitoring that at all, unless it doesn't fall under your mandate?

A: I think you have the right answer, I don't think this falls under anyone's mandate. The return of its ex patriots workers & their country of origin. We have no way of knowing how many people are going back, sorry.

Q: In your experience of conflict situations, do you have any assessment on how soon they could be fluidity for the movement of humanitarian assistance, given the current military situation?

A: It is difficult to assess, as you know we have made the first assessment in Um Qaser, which is the first security assessment & we will be carrying out our first humanitarian assessment later this week, that is the first step. I think we might get an answer on this question in the near future. The elaboration of an overall plan is underway & it will involve negotiations with all the parties to the conflict. I think it's only once we have a fix on that, will we have an idea how soon we can start to move the supplies which have now accumulated either by the agencies through the contingency planning process or the currently readjusted Oil for Food Programme. You have to be patient & wait a little longer before we can address that specifically.

Q: On the issue of readjusted Oil or Food Programme, what is the relationship with the Iraqi authorities regarding that. I know from statements regarding that they are not that thrilled with the readjustment?

A: Our position is that these adjustments to the Oil for food Programme don't take anything away from the Iraq government, they just give to the Secretary General on a temporary & exceptional basis, limited powers to mobilize these resources for humanitarian assistance. We are aware of the position taken by the Iraqi government, it is unfortunate, but we believe, the Secretary General believes & the Security Council believes that these resources should be freed up as soon as possible to provide the much needed humanitarian aid much needed by the people of Iraq. That is the only reason that those adjustments were made.

Q: Do you want to talk about coordinating with the involvement & the consent of all parties; does it compromise your relationship with them?

A: Not really, we will still continue to operate in the same way, operating & coordinating with all parties. It is not an attempt to bypass, rather an attempt to facilitate; this is an extraordinary situation, especially the people of Iraq. We also hope they will coordinate & cooperate with us as well.

Q: Did any Iraqi arrivals approach the UNHCR in Amman, like in Damascus? Did you offer them the protection or any sort of allowance to stay in Jordan?

A: The number of people approaching us in Amman has been relatively stable; meanwhile in Syria the number of people has been very large. It's not necessary for Iraqis to seek any kind of registration or other letter, because UNHCR recommendation to all countries has been that any Iraqi outside their homeland at this time, should receive protection for at least a 3 months period & asylum seekers should have their claims processed, put on hold at least for these 3 months if not longer. Our recommendation & indeed all Iraqis outside their homeland should receive protection this time.

Q: Petra News Agency: Are you not registering any movement of Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries?

A: At this time there has been no significant arrivals of Iraqis, small numbers do cross-frontiers, handfuls of people in Jordan, Syria, but no significant arrivals at this time.

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