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Iraq and Neighbouring Countries: Humanitarian Crisis Emergency Appeal No. 8/03

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The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organisation and its millions of volunteers are active in 178 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
IN BRIEF

THIS APPEAL SEEKS CHF 111,039,000 (USD 79,776,929 or EUR 75,481,631) IN CASH, KIND AND SERVICES TO ASSIST 305,000* BENEFICIARIES FOR 9 MONTHS

Executive summary

Responding to potentially enormous humanitarian needs in the region caused by a possible mass population (internally displaced) movement within Iraq, or from Iraq to the neighbouring countries of Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the Federation, the ICRC, and respective national societies have formulated a strong, flexible, and cohesive Movement-wide strategy. In line with the Seville Agreement, the ICRC is lead agency in Iraq, while the Federation is responsible for the Movement's humanitarian response in neighbouring countries (see explanatory text box below). The Federation's immediate overall priorities, reflected in updated contingency plans, are primarily focused on providing assistance to national societies to support the delivery of assistance to refugees (or other beneficiaries) by:

  • scaling-up of operational capacity;
  • enhanced disaster preparedness training;
  • pre-positioning of stocks; and
  • preparing refugee or displaced persons camp sites.

The Federation's immediate relief response will focus, more specifically, on health and care, water and sanitation, the distribution of non-food and food items, and temporary shelter.

The situation is clearly evolving, and there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the direction, duration, size, and impact of military action, and the resulting humanitarian crisis. But this response is part of a Movement-wide and coordinated humanitarian relief strategy, as well as operational partners such as UNHCR, WFP, other UN agencies, and NGO's. Despite the time involved in drawing up this strategy, it remains difficult to predict the total number of people that might eventually seek assistance and protection outside Iraq, and the length of time that this assistance might be needed. The Federation and respective national societies in the region have therefore agreed on a two-phase operation, consisting of:

  • Phase 1: reinforcing effective disaster response capacity in Iraq and neighbouring countries involving updated contingency plans, pre-positioning of relief stocks, and disaster response training (action already accomplished) in preparation for the anticipated relief operation; while

  • Phase 2: planning for rehabilitation programmes aimed primarily at national society capacity building.

The Federation has already made significant commitments related to the pre-positioning of non-relief items and delegates amounting to CHF 6.3 million. The deployment of Field Assessment and Coordination Teams (FACT) and Emergency Response Units (ERUs), utilisation of Dubai-based contingency stocks, establishment of refugee camps, assignment of additional personnel, and immediate restoration of the disaster preparedness capacity (replenishment of stocks in Iran and Turkey) has increased the Federation commitments another CHF 46.1 million, for a total commitment of CHF 52.4 million. The emergency operation will cost another CHF 17 million per month (projected), while it is anticipated that the rehabilitation budget will initially cost CHF 8 million (start up).

The Federation is therefore seeking CHF 111,039,000 (USD 79,776,929 or EUR 75,481,631) to implement a flexible operation based on assisting the national societies in the region to fulfil their mandates in effectively delivering critical assistance to vulnerable groups. Unearmarked funds are sought in order to provide enough flexibility to cover the already incurred expenses and to enable the operation to evolve in line with developments in the region at large.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is closely coordinating its response to the Iraq crisis. All components of the Movement, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its member National Societies, are committed to coordinated and complementary operations in response to the humanitarian needs arising from the crisis.

ICRC is the lead agency in Iraq and in countries directly involved in the conflict or affected by internal disturbances. It coordinates the relief operation in Iraq and is in charge of security management for the staff of all the components of the Movement (except host National Societies). The ICRC will act as a spokesperson concerning the international Movement operations in Iraq and formulate the Red Cross and Red Crescent partners' response to public interest in the conflict.

The International Federation is the lead agency assisting refugees and other affected populations in countries not directly involved in the conflict. There it coordinates the international Red Cross and Red Crescent relief operation including communications about the operations. National Red Crescent Societies have specific roles and mandates based on the respective national legislation and tasks assigned by their governments.

According to the expertise and respective mandates of the Geneva-based institutions and the coordination mechanisms of the Movement, the ICRC will have the lead role and will support other components of the Movement in the region in its fields of competence, for example tracing, whereas the International Federation has lead role and provides support in its own expertise such as capacity building of National Red Crescent Societies.

The main mechanism for the coordination of ICRC and International Federation activities for these operations is the Geneva Support Group, which has been set up at headquarters-level. Meanwhile, in countries surrounding Iraq which are not directly affected by the conflict, field management teams involving the International Federation, host National Societies, the ICRC and active participating National Societies meet to coordinate their work there.

Once the situation on the ground permits, a coordination group in Baghdad will be in charge of the overall conduct and coordination of Movement activities in Iraq, under ICRC leadership and with the participation of the International Federation, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, and National Societies taking part in the operation.

Given their different roles and areas of activity in the humanitarian response to the Iraq crisis, the ICRC and the International Federation are issuing separate but coordinated and complementary Appeals. The Federation's Appeal for 111 million CHF (for 9 months) and the ICRC Appeal for 108.5 million CHF (for 4 months) are being launched simultaneously.

Preparations to date

CHF 75,000 was allocated from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to enable operational preparations to begin. The table below reflects the current capacity of the Federation to meet immediate non-food relief needs (pre-positioning) for a three month period:

Country
No. of persons
Iran
100,000
Turkey
80,000
Syria
5,000
Jordan
5,000
Iraq
55,000
Regional stock Amman
40,000
Regional stock Dubai
20,000
Total
305,000

Details on the total regional preparedness stocks available for 65,000 families or 305,000 persons (approximately 5 members per family) are reflected in the following table:
Commodity
Iraq*(15,000 families)
Iran (20,000 families)
Turkey (16,000 families
Syria (1,000 families)
Jordan (1,000 families)
Regional in Jordan (8,000 families)
Regional in Dubai (4,000 families)
Total
Family tents 4x4
2,000
20,000
16,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
4,000
52,000
Blankets
45,000
100,000
160,000
5,000
5,000
40,000
30,000
385,000
Plastic tarpaul./pcs
10,000
10,000
Kerosene stove
15,000
20,000
16,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
45,000
Kerosene heater 5.2 l
8,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
34,000
Mattresses
16,000
5,000
5,000
40,000
50,000
Pillows
3,000
3,000
24,000
30,000
Beds
16,000
Kitchen sets (5 person)
15,000
20,000
16,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
5,000
66,000
Kettle
20,000
20,000
Bucket
20,000
20,000
Jerry cans 20 l
15,360
16,000
2,000
2,000
16,000
51,360
Jerry cans 10 l
15,000
15,000
Tanks for water and fuel
40,000
40,000
Kerosene lamps
15,000
20,000
16,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
61,000
Towels
45,000
3,000
3,000
24,000
75,000
Soap sets (5pcs/100g)
15,000
1,000
1,000
8,000
25,000
Hygiene parcels (1 / family/month)
60,000
60,000
Plastic sheet (rolls 60x4)
2,000
100
100
800
3,000
Rubbhalls
4
4
Food parcel (1 family/month)
60,000
60,000

* The distribution of these non-food items by the national society in Iraq will be carried out within the ICRC-coordinated Movement response.

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