U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Iraq – Humanitarian and Reconstruction
Assistance
Fact Sheet #5, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 April 4, 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 19, 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
UNICEF (March 26, 2003)
UNOHCI (March 26, 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
International media sources report that civilians are trying to escape the fighting around Baghdad’s international
airport, located 12 miles southwest of the city center. Electricity to the city ceased late on April 3.
The U.N. Office for the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (UNOHCI) reported on April 3 that water treatment
plants in Ar Ramadi and Al Fallujah in Al Anbar governorate, Al Iskandariyah and Al Mahmudiyah south of
Baghdad, and Al Hillah in Babil governorate operate at 40-50 percent capacity due to power cuts.
Due to the destruction of a bridge on the main highway from Baghdad to southern Iraq, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not been able to assist people in Al Hillah, Karbala’, An Nasiriyah, and
An Najaf. ICRC canceled a delivery of medical supplies to Al Hillah hospital that was scheduled for April 4.
ICRC assessments of Baghdad governorate indicate that populations in Ar Ramadi, Al Mahmudiyah, and Al
Husseiniya lack potable water, due in part to disruptions in the power supply.
Umm Qasr
As a result of low water pressure, a 24,000-liter water tanker takes between two and three hours to fill with water at
the pipeline from Kuwait near Umm Qasr. When the pipeline is operating at full capacity, each tanker takes 45
minutes to fill. On April 4, a water engineer from the Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) in Kuwait will
inspect the Umm Qasr end of the pipeline to identify the problem and a means to increase the water pressure flow.
Al Basrah
On April 4, a two-truck ICRC convoy will attempt to deliver water containers and medical supplies to hospitals in
Al Basrah. The ICRC has received assurances from U.S.-led military forces and Iraqi militia leaders that the
convoy will be granted safe passage.

According to the HOC, residents who fled Umm Qasr for Al Basrah prior to the conflict are returning to Umm Qasr
on foot or by civilian vehicles.
ICRC reported on April 3 that ICRC technicians and local engineers from Al Basrah have repaired two water-
treatment plants in Shaebe and Al Zubayr in southern Iraq. More than 80,000 beneficiaries in Shaebe, Al Zubayr,
and Safwan who have been without piped water since March 22 are now receiving potable water.
Northern Iraq
According to World Health Organization (WHO) water quality control tests in Arbil governorate, the percentage of
contaminated water has increased from 11.8 percent in February 2003 to 15.2 percent in March.
On April 3, WFP distributed approximately 9 metric tons (MT) of dried whole milk and 6 MT of iodized salt to
37,500 beneficiaries in a densely populated area of Dahuk.
On April 4, WFP began transporting 1,000 MT of wheat flour to Dahuk governorate from Turkey. The Turkish
Ministry of Health has also approved the movement of an additional 2,000 MT of wheat flour to Arbil and 3,000
MT to As Sulaymaniyah.
Current Humanitarian Situation by Sector
Coordination
According to UNOHCI, beginning on April 1, Turkey’s Ministries of Transportation and Finance issued a new
decree that lifts taxation on foreign vehicles that carry goods or passengers for Iraq humanitarian operations to
Turkey or to other countries via Turkey. However, access in southeast Turkey remains difficult for humanitarian
organizations due to insecurity.
Food Security
UNOHCI reported on April 3 that the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has noted some depletion in
Iraq of animal vaccine stocks (black leg disease and brucellosis) and an anti-tick dipping chemical for small
ruminants, which may pose a problem in one month’s time. However, no animal disease outbreaks have been
reported.
Health
On April 3, International Medical Corps (IMC) conducted an assessment of the Az Zubayr city hospital. The 132-
bed hospital serves 30 hospitalized patients and 500-600 outpatients daily. A full-range of medical specialists are
on staff. Essential drugs are limited, with acute shortages only in hypertension and psychiatric medications. The
medical staff appeared well trained and knowledgeable of modern medical practices and techniques.
On April 3, ICRC reported that ICRC technicians continue to try and repair water- and power-supply systems in
seven hospitals in Baghdad. ICRC has provided 10,000 1-liter bags of drinking water to two hospitals in Al
Qadissiyah and Ibn Al Nafees. Medical needs have been identified at Al Hillah surgical hospital, located 60 km
from Baghdad. ICRC is assessing the security environment and may provide emergency medical assistance to the
hospital.
Internally Displaced
According to UNOHCI, population movements have been reported within Iraq and close to border areas, but no
refugees have fled the country. In Iran, local authorities have advised UNHCR of an estimated 30,000 internally
displaced persons (IDPs) from Al ‘Amarah area (Maysan governorate) currently hosted by relatives 5 km from the
border. Approximately 10,000 people may have fled Baghdad and are located in Badre, 10 km from the Iranian
border.
UNOHCI reports that a small, undetermined number of displaced may be seeking assistance in Umm Qasr, Al
Basrah, An Najaf, and An Nasiriyah.
The U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) reported on April 3 that local authorities are encouraging IDP
families in Arbil governorate who are living in 14 schools in Soran, to return home. The number of families
returning home has decreased the number of IDP families in the schools from 267 to 156, and two of the 14 schools
occupied by IDPs are empty. However, military operations near Dahuk have resulted in increased population
displacements from Dahuk city towards northern villages in the governorate.
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 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*
The United Nations reported on April 3 that it had received pledges totaling $1.2 billion in response to its $2.2
billion aid appeal for the Iraq crisis issued on March 28. The US has provided $435 million to the appeal, and the
European Union (EU) has committed $305 million for food and humanitarian efforts.
On April 3, the Government of Korea announced that it will provide $10 million to UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP,
WHO, and Korean NGOs to implement emergency assistance programs in Iraq.
DONOR US $
(MILLIONS) DATE
(2003)
ASSISTANCE SNAPSHOT
China March 27 Tents
Spain $20.0 March 27 Refugee assistance in Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey
CIDA
Canada
$100.0
$5.6
March 26
-----
U.N. agencies, international organizations (IOs), NGOs, CARE
Canada for water and sanitation, food, shelter, and health
Response to U.N. Preparedness Measures Appeal
Taiwan $4.3 March 27 Refugee assistance – food, medicine, NFIs
Japan $112.5 March 25 Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction
United
$330 March 24 U.N. agencies, IOs, and NGOs -- food, health kits, water units,
Kingdom
winter supply kits, primary health, IDP assistance
Kuwait March 24 45,000 meals/day and an emergency medical center
Australia $29.6
March 21
100,000 MT of wheat and distribution costs
$4.4
March 20
U.N. Agencies and ICRC
$5.9
---
Planning and preparation funding
European Union $3.2 March 21 ICRC
Ireland $0.8
March 20 UN OCHA
$15.9
U.N. Agencies for planning and preparation
New Zealand $3.3 March 20 U.N. Agencies, IOs, and NGOs for humanitarian relief
Netherlands $19.6 April 2 U.N. Consolidated Appeal and ICRC
Norway $21.6 March 20 NGOs for humanitarian assistance
France $10.7 Humanitarian Assistance
Germany $10.7 U.N. Agencies and ICRC
Russia March 22-23 150 MT humanitarian supplies for refugee preparation in Iran
Korea $10 April 3 U.N. Agencies and Korean NGOs
TOTAL DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE** .....................................................................................$735.2 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”
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 ...........................................................................................................................................$40,777,876
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
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.......................................................................$496,911,488
TOTAL STATE ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003 ........................................................................$36,630,000
TOTAL STATE/USAID ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ IN FY 2003.........................................................$533,541,488
*Factsheets can be obtained from the USAID web site at http://www.usaid.gov/iraq