Introduction
As part of the UNAMI mandate to coordinate
and deliver essential humanitarian assistance, the UN Country Team (UNCT)
in collaboration with Iraqi authorities and NGO partners, has a leading
role in emergency preparedness and response activities for Iraq. By using
the Cluster approach to address areas of common concern, UN agencies combine
resources and expertise to implement coordinated emergency humanitarian
responses and regular programme assistance.
When emergency situations arise, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator manages the humanitarian response of the UNCT and its NGO partners through the Emergency Working Group (EWG) in Amman. The EWG benefits from the participation of the UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Baghdad as well as NGOs and other stakeholders there. EWG members focus on the material and protection needs of communities affected by either military conflict or ethno-religious tensions.
Emergency Situations and Humanitarian Response Activities
Anbar: The Governorate of Anbar remained a focus of humanitarian need throughout the period, even though the overall security situation was calmer at the end of the period when compared to the past months. NGO monitors reported that at least 4,903 families remained displaced with many being temporarily sheltered in public buildings or tented camps and some were mixed with host communities. Many more displaced families are thought to have returned to their points of origin despite fears of insecurity and inadequate return standards in order to avoid spending the cold winter season in poor living conditions in temporary accommodation.
In support of Iraqi government activities and in liaison with the relevant ministries and NGOs, the UNCT completed its response to provide 4,907 affected families across Anbar province with targeted distributions of winter non food items. These distributions, which were implemented by an international NGO partner and availed of resources from IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and OCHA grants, included: 2,367 sets of children's clothes; 3,041 pieces of plastic sheeting; 2,231 kerosene heaters; 2,507 kerosene stoves; and 1,595 blankets. In addition, UNICEF undertook the water trucking of over 7.7 million litres of water to various locations in Anbar.
Emergency food distributions of two-week rations to 5,000 vulnerable IDP families were completed by an international NGO using an OCHA small grant. The distribution which began November targeted IDP areas which were either inaccessible to the government's Public Distribution System (PDS) rations or under-served due to either irregular or incomplete rations.
The rehabilitation of 11 Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCs) across the Governorate by WHO was nearing completion and the construction of a Primary Healthcare training hall was ed. WHO maintained an expanded immunization campaiEmergency Situations and Humanitarian Response Activities finishgn and preventive interventions to control diseases such as malaria, leishmania, typhoid, cholera, rabies, brucellosis and TB. Furthermore, the surveillance system to maintain a polio free status and to monitor communicable diseases throughout Anbar was ongoing.
The UN and its partners continued to monitor the IDP situations in other parts of the country where NGO reports suggested a need for winter items such as blankets, heaters, and warm clothing for displaced and vulnerable families. UNAMI is consulting with the relevant UN agencies and OCHA to determine how best to prioritize and meet these needs.
Flooding in Basrah:
In mid January approximately 100 families were displaced from their houses in Basrah Governorate as a result of floods. A reported 70 houses sustained major damage or destruction. Working with the local Iraqi Red Crescent Society and the Basrah Governor's office which took the lead in coordinating assistance to the displaced families, UNAMI coordinated the UN's support to the delivery of immediate relief items to the affected families. This followed a rapid needs assessment which was jointly undertaken by UN agencies on the ground. The Iraqi Civil Defense was deployed to evacuate people where necessary and they built sand dikes to prevent the flood water from advancing further.
Subsequently a more detailed joint assessment by the UN agencies was carried out to identify the extent of damages and families' intentions for recovery. UNHCR distributed 70 tents, 500 blankets, 100 stoves and 70 plastic sheets. WHO provided technical assistance to the Basrah Health Directorate to equip and staff a temporary tented primary health care facility. UNDP gave funding to Basrah Provincial Council to rent a water pump to drain flood water from the affected area.
At the close of the period, the UN was closely monitoring incidents of flooding affecting six other Governorates as a result of early and particularly heavy seasonal rainfall in areas that generally are flood-prone. As this situation evolves the possibility of a coordinated response through the EWG mechanism will be evaluated.
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