Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Situation Report No. 2
Middle East Emergency Preparedness MEEP-21
Iraq and Region
March 28, 2003


Information provided by ACT Regional Coordinator, Eszter Németh: ACT
Regional Coordination Office: Amman: Jordan

Overview of situation Reports indicate that due to the heavy bombardment
of Baghdad, damage to private buildings is growing. It is also reported
that the electricity and telecommunications sustained damage on Thursday,
March 27, due to the continued assault on the Iraqi capital.

In Jordan, the situation remains relatively calm, although demonstrations
are becoming increasingly prevalent. Foreigners have been told that it is
best to keep a low profile. Reports also indicate that several thousand
Iraqis living in Jordan have returned to Iraq to support their fellow
countrymen against the US-led military action.
 
Only third country nationals (TCNs) have arrived to date in Jordan from
Iraq. NO refugees however have crossed into Jordan. TCNs are being given
shelter for 48 - 72 hours in Camp B, after having gone through a security
screening at the border station. It has been reported that some Sudanese
and Somalis are not willing to be repatriated back to their home countries
and would rather remain in the camp.

ACT members' activities/ Program information


Iraq

It is becoming increasingly difficult to make contact with people in
Baghdad from Amman. The border is still permanently open and some shipping
companies continue to transport relief items to Baghdad - it remains a
hazardous exercise.

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is continuing to stockpile food and
non-food items in its distribution centers at churches and mosques in
Baghdad. Rice, tea, sugar, tomato paste, oil, milk powder, spaghetti, palm
honey, jam, and sardines, first aid kits and blankets have been bought at
local markets. 147 water tanks are also available. However, MECC staff
report that it is becoming very difficult to find cotton wool, as the
stocks have been bought up by the local hospitals. Some families have now
started sleeping in the churches in Baghdad as a safety precaution.

Local Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) staff continues running and maintaining
the purification units in Baghdad Hospital. They have confirmed that the
units are running and providing potable water to approximately 150,000
people. The capacity per water purification unit (WPU) runs at 20,000
litres per hour - there are two such WPU in use. Staff also report that
there is an urgent need for medicine, medical equipment and food, as well
as additional WPUs.

The co-operation between NCA and UNICEF on water programs is continuing
and its scale is increasing. NCA will second 6 water engineers to UNICEF -
three of whom will be based in Kuwait and three in Amman. They are
expected to be in place by early April. Approximately 7,800 kg of water
equipment pre-positioned in Amman by NCA is to be airlifted to Kuwait in
the next few days. Included in this shipment is one WPU. According to
UNICEF the equipment will be used either in Umm Qasr or Basra.  Seconded
NCA engineers will assist in this emergency operation and give advice on
how to operate the equipment.

Local ACT member MECC and NCA were both involved in relief work in central
and southern Iraq before the war started - as were Christian Aid (CA) and
the Dutch-based Inter Church Organization for Development
Cooperation/Kerkinactie ICCO/KiA who have been working through local
partners in the north of the country.


Jordan

MECC has donated 150 cartons of tuna fish and sardines for used by
International Organisations for Migration (IOM) in Camp B.

Latrine trenches have been completed.  However, the building of latrine
houses is a week behind schedule due to delays by the contractor and one
day of extreme weather conditions. The solid waste collection project has
been prepared and will be implemented if refugees arrive at Camp A.


Syria

MECC has contacted the UN and Syrian authorities to provide humanitarian
assistance through the local churches. An office has been set up in
Hassake, which is close to al-Hol camp where 14 refugees are being
sheltered. It is reported that the majority of Iraqis has not asked for
help and are living on their own in rented apartments.

Syria is keeping its border open to Iraq. Humanitarian agencies like MECC
are considering providing cross border assistance from there to Mosul,
Kirkuk and Baghdad.

The MECC Damascus office has reported that St. Mary Convent in Saydnaya
has started receiving Iraqi refugees.


Turkey

No refugees have arrived in Turkey. The Turkish Red Crescent Society is
putting up tents at the Iraqi border.

ACT members planning for involvement in Iraq

UN organisations appointed their sectoral focal points for humanitarian
assistance two weeks ago. They are based in Amman. The UN is mapping out
who their implementing partners for Iraq will be. ACT-members are working
on establishing contacts with them and sending letter of intent for future
co-operation. LWF has indicated an interest in camp management in the
central and/or in south of the country together with NCA, which intends to
provide water and sanitation services as well as psychosocial assistance.
LWF is interested in co-operation with WFP as well. MECC is working on
collaboration with IOM in assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs),
as well as working with WFP in food distribution. DanChurchAid (DCA) is in
negotiations with UNMAS and UNICEF on de-mining. Hungarian Interchurch Aid
(HIA) has indicated its interest in humanitarian assistance in the central
parts of the country. Christian Aid is mapping out its activities in the
north through its local partners. If Baghdad can be accessed, an office
will be set up there.


(The global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International are
responding to the emergency in Iraq through local member Middle East
Council of Churches (MECC), UK-based Christian Aid (CA), Norwegian Church
Aid (NCA), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Dutch-based Inter
Church Organization for Development Cooperation/Kerkinactie (ICCO/KiA).
All members have longstanding commitments to the people of the Middle
East. CA and ICCO/KiA are working through local partners in Northern Iraq.  
Several ACT members are supporting the humanitarian relief efforts through
financial contributions.)


For further information please contact:

ACT Field Communicator: Nils Carstensen (mobile +45-29-700641)

ACT Communications Officers Callie Long (mobile/cell phone
+41 79 358 3171)


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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of 
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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