Iraq: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 31

1 HIGHLIGHTS
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, accompanied by a small team of agency personnel and technicians arrived safely in Baghdad on 1 May to re-establish an international presence. Since arriving, the team has begun assessing security in Baghdad, and is establishing contact with key institutions And agencies.

The UNOHCI centre team arrived in Erbil on 1 May. UN agencies travelled to Basrah on 3 May to establish a permanent presence there.

2 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN IRAQ

2.1 TABLE OF ASSISTANCE

FOOD AID

The IDP and TCN figures remain unchanged since sitrep No. 30 from 1 May. UNOPS reported that out of 24 sites and shelters established for the accommodation of IDPs from the GOI areas only 2 sites are remaining, hosting a total population of 49 people. These 49 people have so far been unable to return to the centre and south for security reasons.

2.3 OPERATIONAL ISSUES

In support of a Ministry of Education (MoE) initiative, UNICEF and UNESCO are following up with the coalition to encourage an immediate re-opening of schools in centre and south. Coalition forces are assessing safety of schools as some schools have been used as ammunition warehouses (see sector report below).

NORTH (Erbil, Dahuk, Sulaymaniyah)

UNICEF assessment teams report only minor damage in 90% of 179 schools that were occupied by IDPs in the three northern governorates.

As revealed by the second follow-up survey, most of the new caseload IDPs have returned home. The return process of the old caseload IDPs, who predate the current conflict, is much slower with only a small number of IDP families returning to their places of origin. In preparation of the announced survey of old caseload IDPs, UNOPS Erbil Office hosted a training course for their staff from all three governorates on 3 May. Joint teams are scheduled to commence the survey today, 4 May.

Erbil - The local ministry responsible for reconstruction and development hosted the first sectoral coordination meeting on IDPs with the participation from the UN agencies, NGOs, the USAID/DART and the Civil Military Operation Centre. The meeting concentrated on issues related to supporting the resettlement of around 300 Kurdish families that had returned to their villages of origin in Makhmour district previously under the GOI control.

Sulaymaniyah - The work on the establishment of the tent camp in Biyara for those affected by the recent conflict between the PUK and Ansar al-Islam is progressing smoothly. The NGO Norwegian People's Aid transferred small tents to the camp.

CENTRAL (Ninewa, Tameem, Salah al-Din)

Ninewa - MSF-S reports that, in Ninewa Governorate, health facilities visited are now under the control of Erbil and Dahuk governorate administration and Peshmargas are securing the premises. Drugs stocks currently available will last for one month. Ninewa Drug Factory, IV fluid factory and the Oxygen factory are not working due to lack of power supply.

BAGHDAD (Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala)

Baghdad - Security remains a concern for hospitals in Baghdad. In Rashad psychiatric hospital, materials and installation already repaired have been looted again, leading to suspension of ICRC work.

UNICEF reports that children who ran away or were abducted from an institution for street children in Baghdad have come under the "protection" of armed men and criminals. The search team has been confronted by armed men claiming to "protect" the children. Rehabilitation work has begun at Al Rahma centre for abandoned street children. Out of 160 children residing in the centre before the war some 40 have now returned. Efforts to persuade others to return to the centre are continuing, although most are too fearful to do so.

LOWER SOUTH (Basrah, Missan, Muthanna, Thi-Qar)

Basrah - On 3 May, UN agencies moved staff from Kuwait to Basrah. The agencies are in the process of establishing permanent presence in the city.

UNICEF reported that security at the R-Zero water treatment plant in Basrah is a problem. The British Forces are having difficulties in providing security for the site. UNICEF has asked the Water Directorate staff to arrange protection.

The first WFP vessel, carrying 14,000 MT of rice, berthed at Umm Qasr on 2 May.

3 SECURITY UPDATE

UN security assessment team now in Baghdad is continuing to assess parts of the city. Local police are slowly returning to duty in Basrah. ICRC suspended an assessment in Falluja because of the shooting incident involving the coalition on 28 April. A 'war souvenir' that a Japanese journalist brought from Iraq caused the explosion at the Amman airport, killing one person and injuring 3.

NGOs report that the road between the Yaroubia border crossing in Syria and Mosul is safe, but that in the Al Qaim area in Iraq (the other side of the Abou Kamal border crossing) the situation is still insecure. A local Bedouin tribe, filling the existing power gap, assumed responsibility for security and provides an escort without charging fee (and without being requested) between Yaroubia and Mosul.

4 SECTORAL FOCUS: EDUCATION SECTOR ACTIVITY REPORT

Schools have resumed in the North. The main problem now is lack of payment for teachers and administrative staff

Schools are to some extent being opened in centre and south. Teachers, school management and civil servants are coming back to work. A number of

schools lack water and satisfactory sanitation facilities and to some extent electricity.

Some looting of furniture is reported to have taken place, particularly office furniture in some of the schools. So far reports indicate that looting of student desks and teaching material has not taken place to the extent feared

Students use existing textbooks, in some cases tearing out certain pages and deleting sentences

With exams approaching in May, there is an increasing concern about the loss of the school year in areas where schooling has not resumed. Catch up classes, extension of school year and exams are options to be considered.

A short term plan of action has been completed by sector working group, which identifies priority areas. An assessment form, after the piloting in certain districts in the South is now completed. The form has been shared with NGOs and relevant UN agencies (can be obtained from UNICEF Amman Sector Coordinator).

A detailed matrix of areas of competence of NGOs has been finalised. Grid for more detailed information of possible participation, funding, staff and location of possible response is being finalised.

Briefing with all the NGOs and relevant UN agencies on short and long term challenges in Iraqi education has taken place

Lack of administrative decision power in the MOE is an increasing problem. Decisions are yet to be made on exams, the school year and getting students back to school.

5 HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

5.1 KUWAIT

The requirements for the border crossing procedures by Kuwait have changed. The green pre-stamped form which was to be filled in with name and passport number of personnel crossing the border now has to be filled in with name and visa number and delivered to the HOC for approval and additional stamping one day prior to the trip. The UN is following up with HOC on this matter.

5.2 SYRIA

UNICEF has completed the hand-over process of WATSAN Facilities in Al Hol Camp. UNHCR and the Syrian Camp management are now in charge of these facilities, but UNICEF will assist in operation of water supply systems until mid-May, when the situation will be reviewed.

5.3 JORDAN

According to HACC/West, the requirement for an Iraqi visa before crossing the Iraqi/Jordanian border, mentioned on 30 April, appears to have been a local initiative. HACC/West has investigated the matter and confirms that Jordanian authorities require no Iranian visa for border crossing into Iraq.