Iraq Joint Needs Assessments to Plan for Reconstruction

MINE ACTION

Task Manager /

Archie Law

/ 212-963-4905 /
Team Leader / Salomon Schreuder /

MAIN COUNTERPARTS

CPA /

Dan Layton

/
Agency Focal Point / Scott Pilkington, UNOPS /
Iraqi Representative

CONFIRMED PARTICIPATION

Convening Agency / UNMAS
Other Participants / Bill Van Ree, UNMAS
Martin Donoghue, UNMAS
Salomon Schreuder, UNMAS
Sayad Aqa, UNDP /

Member State Participation

ISSUES THAT NEED ATTENTION

Cross Cutting Issues:

Human Rights:
Gender questions to be addressed:
A.Do communications strategies consider outreach to women and girls in all regions of Iraq?
B.Are women’s organizations mobilized to provide awareness-raising and public information on unexploded ordinance and landmines?
C.Is medical assistance biased? Is priority given to military personnel (most often male) while civilian casualties take longer to reach medical services? Does gender segregation result in slower emergency services to women?
D.Who cares for victims of landmines? Are caretakers receiving adequate support? Are women and girls providing for the injured immediately following the injury and providing long-term support?
E.Do landmine injuries affect women and men differently? For example, does an amputee have fewer chances for marriage? Do spouses have grounds for divorcing landmine victims due to their injuries?
Environment: Analysis of used DU (amounts, coordinates), need of DU clean-up/decontamination activities, DU awareness for soldiers, UN workers, local population (leaflet etc.)

TIMELINE/WORK PLAN

Date /

Activity

/ Responsibility
07 August 2003 / Stakeholder briefing Basrah / AMACT Team Leader
07 August 2003 / Workshop with CPA and NMAA / Martin Donoghue
07 August 2003 / Donor Briefing / Martin Donoghue/Rodney Cocks
09 August 2003 / Meeting with Military / Martin Donoghue
11 August 2003 / Initial Report provided to Stakeholders / Martin Donoghue
Mid August 2003 / Liaison with UNEP Assessment / AMACT Team Leader

STATUS OF ONGOING ASSESSMENTS

The initial work in conducting the desk assessment has been completed. Extensive amount of information is available from new assessments conducted countrywide (new data is available from HI, NPA, ICRC, MAG, Minetech, UNOPS and the military) the analysis of this will provide a general overview and some estimation of impact. Stakeholder briefings have been conducted by the Assessment Team in Erbil on the 4th August 2003 (attended by UNOPS and the representatives of all the National NGOs). Other briefings were provided to CMOC and Cranfield University representatives. In Baghdad a stakeholder briefing was held for NGOs, UN participants, Commercial Companies and ICRC on the 6th August 2003. The weekly NGO meeting was briefed on the overall process by Jason Pronyk, and the Mine Action Coordination Team acting OIC gave an overview on the state of the mine action assessment and encouraged NGOs to have input in to the process, contact details were shared.

Stakeholder briefings have been held to explain the purpose of the needs assessment and to discuss the methodologies and requirements for the assessment.
Preliminary work has commenced on the needs assessment report
Some team members have deployed to 3NGs this week for discussions with the northern Iraq Mine Action Programme, CPA and local authorities.
Needs assessment activities continuing in the south.

In the south there are few nationals with experience in the mine action sector therefore there is not as much Iraqi involvement as we would wish. Another major challenge is the deteriorating security environment.
Team had meetings with Dan Layton from CPA Emergency Mine Action Team .
Team met with Siraj Birzhani (Director General designate) of the National Mine Action Authority.
UNDP have met with the Director of the Civil Defence Organisation (CDO) that has an EOD capacity.
Met with UNEP to discuss issues concerning Depleted Uranium and clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance from the marshlands.

LIST OF RESEARCH AND BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION

WFP Extent Distribution of Chronic Poverty in Iraq's Center South
WHO/FAO Crop Food Supply and Nutrition Assessment Mission

OFFERS OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Name / Agency/Expertise / Based in / Contact Information
Kent Paulusson / UNDP, Capacity Building & Advocacy
Johannes van der Merwe / UNOPS, Mine clearance
Lisa Gomer / UNOPS, Mine clearance