Humanitarian Situation
The July cycle of the Public Distribution
System (PDS) has been completed and the August cycle is underway. However,
there continue to be significant shortages in the supply of commodities
in many governorates. Market prices in some governorates have been noticed
becoming unstable as some of the commodities prices have risen. Shortages
in water and electricity continue to decline and public unrest has been
reported in the city of Samawa in Southern Iraq in protest against continuing
shortages in electricity, fuel and other public services. The protest resulted
in the death of one person and 14 others reported injured. Food shortages
are being reported by NGOs in the town of Talafar, north east of Mosul
near the Syrian border and also in several areas in Anbar governorate,
particularly in Heet, Qaim, Haditha and other surrounding towns where military
operations are underway. Representatives from more than 60 countries and
International Organizations gathered at the Dead Sea to attend a two-day
meeting of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)
that took place on 18-19 July in Jordan. WFP Iraq Office was represented
at the meeting.
The Iraqi Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation reiterated to the conference the National priorities as articulated in the National Development Strategy 2005-2007 that include the enactment of a social safety net programme for the poor and vulnerable, including reform and monetisation of the PDS basket.
The Minister also highlighted the need for projects to entice young Iraqis back to school and help relieve economic burdens that currently require many children to drop out of school to supplement family income.
New Donor Commitments to IRFFI were announced as follows:- The European Commission 110 million Euro, Spain US $ 20 million, Denmark US $ 5.5 million and Turkey deposited its unearmarked contribution of US $ 200,000.
Support to Vulnerable groups
A total of 21,576 mt of commodities (7,781 mt High Energy biscuits, 5,791 mt wheat flour, 3,166 mt vegetable oil and 4,838 mt pea/wheat blend) have so far been dispatched into Iraq under WFP's current emergency operation 10360.0.
Distributions so far amount to about 14,946 mt of the total dispatched commodities benefiting 1,324,740 beneficiaries. The present security situation continues to affect the overland transport of food into Iraq.
Food for education
Preparations are underway to preposition the High Energy Biscuits and vegetable oil for the children when the schools re-open in September after the end of the summer holidays.
During the last school year about 8,886 mt ( 7,781mt of HEB and 1,105 mt of veg. oil) have been delivered into various schools in Iraq with approximately 5,201mt of High Energy Biscuits and 806 mt of vegetable oil distributed under school feeding activities benefiting 806,558 school children.
The final results of the 2005 WFP School Feeding competition has been announced with one Iraqi being among the 36 winners. Ms. Maha Mohammad Dhyaa, aged 12, is in Grade 6 at Al Futwaa School in Mosul.
Vulnerable Group Feeding
A total of 12,690 mt of various commodities including Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil and Pea-Wheat blended food have been delivered into Iraq with 8,939 mt having been distributed to 518,182 beneficiaries.
The Project Management Committee (PMC) held a meeting with the Director of Respiratory and Chest Diseases to brief Dr. Dhafer on the implementation of the EMOP in relation to the assistance being provided to the TB patients.
A contract for the printing of the Vulnerable Group Feeding education materials has been approved by WFP Country Director and arrangements are underway with the printing house. The printing will begin shortly with the printing of the flip chart, recipes pamphlet and poster in addition to hygiene posters.
Household Food Security survey
A new Household Food Security Survey that started on the 26 June 2005 was completed on 13 July. The survey covered 16 governorates. Unfortunately, Dohuk and Erbil are not covered by the survey for the second time in spite of efforts by WFP, COSIT Management and the Minister of MOPDC to persuade the officials in charge for the two Northern governorates to participate in the survey. Work on data entry and validation for the new Household Food Security Survey is in progress. As soon as this is completed, the analysis of the data will commence. This exercise is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation and the Nutrition Research Institute of the Ministry of Health. Training has been provided to the staff of the two ministries to carry out the survey and produce the report.
The results of the survey are envisaged to be published in the 4th quarter of 2005.
Food Security Forum
The Food Security Forum (FSF) co-sponsored and organized by USAID/OFDA and USAID/FFP was held on 3-4 August in Amman. The FSF was attended by a number of Donors, the World Bank, Australian Government, NGOs and representatives from the Government of Iraq (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation and Ministry of Trade). The FSF objectives included discussion on food security issues in Iraq, and identification of specific, practical actions to meet food security needs in Iraq.
WFP was represented at the Forum by a team headed by the Country Director Mr. Calum Gardner. WFP made three presentations on Food Insecurity and Vulnerability in Iraq, the 2003/04 Baseline Food Security Analysis in Iraq and the Emergency Operation (EMOP 10360.0) including progress on its implementation. The presentations were made to highlight the food insecurity situation in Iraq especially among the vulnerable groups and the need for the donor community to consider increasing resources for the EMOP implementation.
There were extensive discussions on the current food security situation in Iraq including the difficulties being experienced by the Public Distribution System (PDS) which has been the main source of food for the Iraqis for 15 years.
UN Country Team
In the two weeks following the Donors Conference held at the Dead Sea for the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), the UN country team has been engaged in substantive discussions as well as preparation of projects to be implemented within six months as agreed upon at the conference. Outlines of 34 projects including one from WFP have been submitted to the Office of the Deputy SRSG for submission to the Iraq Strategic Review Board (ISRB) for review and approval. Results of the project submission are awaited.