U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction
Assistance
Fact Sheet #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 7, 2003
Background
Humanitarian conditions have deteriorated in Iraq since the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent
Government of Iraq (GOI) manipulation of international sanctions. In 1996, the GOI accepted the U.N. Oil-for-
Food Program (OFF), after which humanitarian conditions improved.
Between 1991 and 1996, the U.S. Government provided nearly $794 million in humanitarian assistance to
internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Iraq.
Since 1996, revenues from OFF have provided food, medicine, and other civilian goods to assist vulnerable Iraqis.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan noted in a letter to the U.N. Security Council, that the GOI has ordered and
paid for food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies under OFF that have not yet been delivered.
The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 16 million Iraqis—approximately 60 percent of the total
population—rely solely on food rations distributed through OFF in order to meet household needs.
On March 20, 2003, coalition forces began military operations in Iraq. As a result of the conflict, the U.N.
Secretary General suspended the OFF food distribution system. On March 28, the U.N. Security Council
unanimously passed a resolution that allows the U.N. to administer Iraq’s OFF program for 45 days. As the U.N.
takes over the OFF program, WFP’s first priority is to contact recently active suppliers able to rapidly provide food,
medicine, and other humanitarian supplies.
NUMBERS AT A GLANCE SOURCE
Internally Displaced in
Iraq
250,000-300,000 in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq
22,000 concentrated near Panjwin
2,386 in Arbil registered by IOM/UNOPS
617 in Dahuk
2,259 in As Sulaymaniyah
UNICEF (March 26, 2003)
UNOHCI (March 26, 2003)
UNOHCI (April 6, 2003)
UNOHCI (April 6, 2003)
UNOHCI (April 6, 2003)
Refugees from Iraq Old caseload refugees:
203,000 – Iran
5,100 – Saudi Arabia
250,000-300,000 – Jordan
40,000 – Syria
U.S. Committee for Refugees (2001)
Baghdad and Baghdad Governorate
On April 2, Medicens sans Frontieres (MSF) suspended its activities in Iraq, following reports that two MSF staff
members went missing on April 2. The two volunteers were a part of a six-person team that had been in Baghdad
for several weeks providing medical assistance to the Al-Kindi hospital in the northeast of the city.
As Coalition forces moved close to Baghdad on April 5 and April 6, media and humanitarian sources report a
steady flow of people out of the city in vehicles and on foot. Most of those fleeing were reportedly headed north
and east for Diyala’ governorate and expect to find shelter with friends or relatives until the situation in Baghdad
improves. The humanitarian needs of this population are reported to be minimal at this time.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports indicate that the majority of the city is without access to
electricity and that some areas no longer have access to piped water. ICRC indicated that most hospitals and water
installations are using backup generators to provided needed electricity.
As a result of the ongoing conflict in Baghdad, the disruption of the power supply produced by the national
electricity grid continues to affect water supplies in Ar Ramadi, Al Mahmudiyah, and Al Husseinya.
Umm Qasr
Initial reports indicate that a Coalition truck may have damaged the water pipeline from Kuwait near the tap stand,
disrupting the water supply. A British military assessment is ongoing. There is no indication of how long the
pipeline will be inoperable.

Prior to this incident, the pipeline was operating below capacity. The Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC)
water engineer reported that access and traffic difficulties at the water pipe stand significantly limited distribution
capacity. Only one tanker at a time, as opposed to three, can access the pipe stand, creating a bottleneck of water
tankers on narrow side streets. The maximum amount of water provided by the pipeline will not exceed 100,000
liters per day without additional water stands.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health (MOH) postponed the re-supply of chronic medicines and medical supplies to the
hospital in Umm Qasr. The MOH will implement simultaneous distributions to hospitals in Umm Qasr, Safwan,
Rumaylah, Az Zubayr, and Umm Khayyal.
According to WFP, the channel will not be available for an additional two to three weeks due to silt build-up and
mine clearance. In addition, port and maritime insurance has increased by 1,400 percent during the last few weeks.
The HOC estimates that the Umm Qasr port will be able to offload ships of up to 11.5-meter draft when the port is
functional.
According to DART and NGO assessments, three major problems face Umm Qasr’s population: lack of security
and resultant looting; limited propane for cooking; and a lack of money because the port, cement factory, and
government offices remain closed and people are out of work.
A 12-person U.N. assessment team visited Umm Qasr on April 4, and included representatives from the Office of
the U.N. Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), the U.N. Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq
(UNOHCI), the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), WFP, the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the U.N. Joint Logistics Cell (UNJLC). Initial reports indicate that access to
potable water remains a concern, with basic drugs, vaccines, and school supplies in short supply. Reports indicate
that water was supplied via tankers prior to the conflict and that the current water shortage is within normal levels.
Similarly, the current shortage of measles, hepatitis, and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (tuberculosis) vaccines existed
prior to the conflict.
The U.N. will not be required to deem Umm Qasr a permissive environment for U.N. missions to enter Iraq from
Kuwait City.
The U.N. assessment confirmed that the Umm Qasr hospital has a three-month supply of most essential drugs and
received a basic health kit from UNICEF.
Al Basrah
ICRC staff reported that its first convoy of medical supplies reached hospitals near Al Basrah on April 4. In
addition, ICRC began trucking water to the three main hospitals in Al Basrah and to neighboring Az Zubayr.
According to Coalition forces, 60 percent of the population in Al Basrah has access to potable water. U.K. forces
indicated that an estimated 1,500-2,000 residents from Al Basrah are staying with family and friends in Umm Qasr.
An Nasiriyah
A Kuwaiti Joint Relief Committee convoy carrying water, food, and blankets is expected to arrive in An Nasiriyah
on April 6. Residents have started to return to work.
Northern Iraq
As of April 4, monitoring teams from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported
continued difficulties accessing Turkey’s 331-kilometer (km) border with Iraq due to inclement weather and roads
blocked by landslides.
On April 5, U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reported that the security situation in Arbil and As
Sulaymaniyah was generally calm with an increasing presence of Coalition forces in the area. UNOPS is providing
shelter to approximately 3,700 IDP families living in eight settlements throughout Arbil governorate.
The situation in Dahuk is becoming increasingly tense due to heavy bombardment of nearby areas. UNOPS
reported that insecurity has resulted in population movements from Dahuk city and the surrounding areas towards
the northern part of the governorate. UNOPS continues to provide potable water to 2,361 IDP families, of which
approximately 2,051 are newly displaced.
Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members in Turkey report that a total of 70 WFP trucks began
transporting 1,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat flour from Silopi to Dahuk last week. Twenty-five trucks crossed
into northern Iraq on April 4 and an additional 12 trucks crossed on April 5.
According to UNOHCI, a health assessment of As Sulaymaniyah indicated that the primary health concerns of the
IDP families in Qaradagh-Sangaw area include skin infections, allergies, insect bites, and children with symptoms
of chest infections.
World Health Organization (WHO) reports indicate that acute respiratory illnesses and diarrheal diseases are the
primary health concerns in health facilities in the three northern governorates.
Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector

Assessments
UNSECOORD has determined that for U.N. missions into Iraq, between two and four vehicles, U.N. Level Four
security (body armor without helmets), and day travel with no overnight visits will be mandatory. In addition, each
new U.N. mission will require approval from U.N. headquarters in New York.
Health
On April 6, ICRC reported that all of the hospitals in Baghdad are under pressure to assist with the steady influx of
wounded. ICRC reports that hospitals lack antibiotics and anesthetics needed to treat hundreds of people who have
been wounded since the war began.
According to WHO, more than 600,000 Iraqis are diabetic, of which 10 percent are insulin-dependent. The
ongoing conflict may result in a deterioration of the health situation as supply lines and distribution networks for
pharmaceuticals to treat chronic illness are disrupted. WHO also cites waterborne illnesses as a primary concern in
areas where water and sanitation infrastructure is insufficient.
The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) recommended that an assessment of locations targeted with
weapons containing depleted uraninium be conducted as soon as security permits. UNEP would base the study on
similar assessments conducted in post-conflict Kosovo (2001), Serbia Montenegro (2002), and Bosnia Herzegovina
(2003). The early field studies will examine the risks posed to human populations through ground water, surface
water, potable water sources, and waste-management contamination, as well as related infrastructure, factories, and
other sources of toxic chemicals.
Logistics
WFP is finalizing agreements with ports in Dubai and Port Said to serve as trans-shipment points for OFF
commodities. Both ports have massive infrastructure capability that could support offloading and transferring
cargo onto WFP vessels for onward delivery.
Refugees
Despite reports of large numbers of people fleeing Baghdad as a result on the ongoing conflict, no significant
refugee movements into neighboring countries have occurred.
On April 6, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that third country nationals (TCNs)
continue to cross into Jordan. A total of 756 TCNs have crossed into Jordan. Of these, 513 have returned to their
home countries. There have been no confirmed reports of Baghdad residents moving toward the Jordanian border to
date.
Internally Displaced
On April 4, UNOHCI confirmed that the total number of IDPs registered in northern Iraq is 5,241.
U.S. Government Response
Pre-Positioning
Prior to Coalition military activity in Iraq, USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA)
provided funding to assist U.N. and NGO preparedness activities. In addition, USAID/OFDA has pre-positioned
relief commodities in three warehouses in Jordan, Kuwait, and UAE.
USAID/FFP has supported WFP’s planning and preparation efforts to meet the emergency food needs of vulnerable
populations in Iraq.
The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) provided assistance to
UNHCR and IOM to pre-position supplies for 600,000 potential Iraqi refugees and IDPs located at Iraq’s borders,
to establish transit camps for TCNs fleeing Iraq, and to pre-position supplies for the transportation of refugees and
other migrants.
Emergency Relief
The United States Government deployed a DART to the region to assess humanitarian needs and coordinate the
emergency relief effort. Sixty-one DART members are located in Kuwait, Turkey, Jordan, Cyprus, and Qatar and
are working closely with U.N. agencies, NGOs, and in coordination with U.S. military Civil Affairs personnel at
the HOC.
USAID/OFDA is supporting NGO emergency assistance activities with quick-impact projects and IDP support.
USAID/FFP has provided emergency food commodities through the Emerson Trust to WFP to meet the food needs
of vulnerable Iraqis. USAID/FFP has also provided P.L. 480 Title II emergency food assistance to be distributed to
food insecure Iraqis and cash to purchase commodities in the region.
USAID/OTI has supported IOM and Development Alternatives, Incorporated (DAI) to prepare for the
implementation of the Iraq Transition Initiative (ITI), which supports political stabilization and community
recovery activities in post-conflict Iraq. On April 3, USAID/OTI signed a one-year cooperative agreement with
IOM to continue support for ITI, bringing total assistance to IOM to $1.7 million.

State/PRM has contributed assistance for the pre-positioning and emergency response activities of UNHCR, ICRC,
IFRC, and IOM.
Reconstruction
To date, USAID’s Bureau for Asia and the Near East (USAID/ANE) has provided assistance for reconstruction
activities in Iraq. USAID/ANE has supported UNICEF and WHO for health, education, and water and sanitation
needs, and Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) to assess and manage the Umm Qasr port.
Other Donor and International Organization Assistance*
On April 6, the HOC reported that the Kuwaiti Government offered to provide propane, diesel fuel, and unleaded
gasoline to NGOs in Iraq.
UNOHCI reported that the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has prepositioned 10,000 tents and enough
rations to meet the needs of 10,000 people for ten days at a Haj facility at Judaidat Arar, 60 kilometers from the
town of Arar.
DONOR US $
(MILLIONS) DATE
(2003)
ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT
Australia $29.6
$4.4
$5.9
March 21
March 20
---
100,000 MT of wheat and distribution costs
U.N. Agencies and ICRC
Planning and preparation funding
CIDA
$67.5
March 26
U.N. agencies, international organizations (IOs), NGOs, CARE
Canada for water and sanitation, food, shelter, and health
Canada
$3.81
-----
Response to U.N. Preparedness Measures Appeal
China March 27 Tents
Republic of
$2.75 April 3 Blankets, sleeping bags, flour, sugar, water purification
Croatia
disinfectants
European Union $3.2 March 21 ICRC
France $10.7 Humanitarian Assistance
Germany $10.7 U.N. Agencies and ICRC
Ireland $0.8
March 20 UN OCHA
$15.9
U.N. Agencies for planning and preparation
Japan $112.5 March 25 Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction
Korea $10 April 3 U.N. Agencies and Korean NGOs
Kuwait March 24 45,000 meals/day and an emergency medical center
Netherlands $19.6 April 2 U.N. Consolidated Appeal and ICRC
New Zealand $3.3 March 20 U.N. Agencies, IOs, and NGOs for humanitarian relief
Norway $21.6 March 20 NGOs for humanitarian assistance
Russia March 22-23 150 MT humanitarian supplies for refugee preparation in Iran
Spain $20.0 March 27 Refugee assistance in Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey
Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, NFIs
United
$330 March 24 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs -- food, health kits, water units,
Kingdom
winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance
TOTAL DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** .....................................................................................$676.5 MILLION
*This compilation was drawn from ReliefWeb and may not be comprehensive.
** This total is approximate as the value of donated commodities is not available in some cases.
Public Donation Information
The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash donations to humanitarian organizations
that are conducting relief operations. A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for their
activities in the Gulf can be found in the "How Can I Help" section at [www.usaid.gov/iraq].
USAID encourages cash donations because they: allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often
in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such staff time, warehouse space, etc); can be
transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the disaster-stricken region;
ensure culturally, dietary, and environmentally appropriate assistance.
General information on making donations and volunteering can be found at:
o USAID: www.usaid.gov/iraq -> "How Can I Help?"
o The Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org or 703-276-1914
o InterAction: www.interaction.org -> “Guide to Appropriate Giving”
1 In previous Fact Sheets, dollar figures were incorrectly reported in Canadian rather than U.S. dollars.

o Information on relief activities of the humanitarian community can be found at www.reliefweb.org.

U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN AND RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ
Agency
Implementing
Partner Sector Regions Amount
FY 2003
EMERGENCY RELIEF
USAID/OFDA ...........................................................................................................................................$41,068,782
Administrative Costs Administrative $198,046
AirServ Logistics Country-wide $2,151,585
The Cuny Center Research studies Country-wide $40,260
IMC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $4,000,000
IMC Capacity building Country-wide $202,900
InterAction Coordination Country-Wide $92,860
IOM IDP programs Country-wide $5,000,000
IRC Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000
Logistics Commodity prepositioning and DART
support
$6,300,000
Mercy Corps Quick-impact projects Country-wide $3,000,000
NGOs Cooperative agreements Country-wide $4,000,000
SCF/US Quick-impact projects Country-wide $4,000,000
SCF/US NGO Consortium Country-wide $883,131
UNICEF Health, nutrition, water/sanitation Country-wide $2,000,000
UN OCHA Coordination and Information Country-wide $200,000
UN OCHA Coordination and Information Country-wide $1,000,000
WFP Logistics and preposition of food Country-wide $5,000,000
USAID/FFP ..............................................................................................................................................$430,000,000
WFP Prepositioning funding $55,000,000
WFP Emerson Trust – 161,000 MT $84,000,000
P.L. 480 Title II emergency food
commodities –105,000 MT $91,000,000
WFP Regional Purchase $200,000,000
USAID/OTI ..................................................................................................................................................$2,333,612
IOM ITI Country-wide $1,700,000
DAI ITI Country-wide $473,253
Internews Media Country-wide $160,359
STATE/PRM..............................................................................................................................................$36,630,000
UNHCR Emergency refugee assistance $21,000,000
ICRC Emergency assistance $10,000,000
IFRC Emergency assistance $3,000,000
IOM TCN – transportation assistance $2,630,000
RECONSTRUCTION
USAID/ANE ..............................................................................................................................................$23,800,000
UNICEF Health, Education $9,000,000
WHO Health $10,000,000
SSA Port Management $4,800,000
TOTAL USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003....................................................................... $495,102,394
TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 ........................................................................ $36,630,000
TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003......................................................... $531,732,394
*Factsheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq