1. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Humanitarian flights to Iraq were suspended on the eve of the 10th June due to the closure of Baghdad airport. The airport was re-opened midday on the 11th.

A temporary 30km line-up of trucks was reported at the Turkish border with Iraq due to truck drivers striking over an increased cargo levy imposed by the Peshmerga. There is still a 6km line-up of trucks the cause of which is being investigated.

There is a line-up of approximately 5.5km on the Iraqi side of the Jordanian border at Trebil. The Jordanian and Coalition authorities have agreed to move to 24hr processing.

The use of Syrian ports and corridors for shipments to Iraq has been estimated, by a private company, to be approximately 40% cheaper than any other ports/corridors in the region (depending on the origin of the vessel)

2. SECURITY

Iraq: Baghdad remains at security phase 4. To the west of Baghdad, organised attacks continue on highway 10 which runs to the Jordanian/Iraq border. The majority of the attacks are directed towards the coalition and occur to the west of Baghdad between Ar Ramadi and Al Fallujah. Incidents should be reported to massart@un.org. The mine action group report that all major highways are clear of mines and unexploded ordnance. Around Al-Hillah, the situation is relatively calm with only sporadic shooting incidents particularly at night. Car jacking has also been reported in areas surrounding Qadisiyah/Diwaniya.

Jordan: The country remains at security phase 2.

Syria: The country remains at security phase 1.

Kuwait: The country remains at security phase 1. Despite this, the British Embassy, Kuwait has issued a warning of “heightened concern” about potential threats to British nationals and possible terrorist attached against Westerners.

3. AIR OPERATIONS

Baghdad International airport will open a new passenger terminal within the next week which will improve both passenger flow and aircraft handling.

Humanitarian flights to Iraq were suspended on the eve of the 10th June due to the closure of Baghdad airport. The airport was re-opened midday on the 11th.

It is critical for all air operators working in the Iraqi airspace to obtain a Prior Permission Required (PPR) before sending any flights in to Basrah. The RAF and RAMCC are currently working on new procedures to make the system more user friendly.

It is reported that there is 3-4 million gallons of aviation fuel in underground bunkers at Baghdad airport which has been tested and is fit for use. There are some problems with pumping equipment which are expected to be solved in the coming week. Baghdad airport is expected to be open to commercial traffic sometime in July.

Passenger flights are now being directed to Mosul instead of Erbil. Flights are available on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. UNHAS is running a minibus between Mosul and Erbil which may expand if there is a demand. The first cargo flight landed in Mosul on the 31st May. UNDP has provided at 5Mt forklift truck to support the cargo handling facilities.

A Japanese Governmental Delegation met with UNJLC/UNHAS and expressed their interest in assisting the UN Air operations.

Since the start of the Iraq Emergency, 1,050.2 tonnes/5,555.4m3 have been airlifted over 155,692 nautical miles.

In Syria, the discount of 25% granted by Syrian Arab airlines on handling and equipment charges for humanitarian cargo flights has been increased to 50%

The weekly UNHAS flight schedules are posted on the UNJLC website at http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/air/02_01.html.

4. BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS

At the Turkish border with Iraq, WFP has reported that the Peshmerga briefly imposed extra levies on cargo causing a temporary 30km queue on the Turkish side of the border. However, there is still a 6km queue the cause of which is being investigated by UNJLC.

The Syrian border is now officially open for commercial traffic. Traffic is flowing mainly through Al Yaroubiah and Al Tanf border crossings. For an update of the Syrian/Iraq border crossing see http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/border/06_01.html.

A UNJLC mission to the Jordanian/Iraqi border crossing point of Al-Karamah reported that eastbound traffic into Iraq was flowing relatively smoothly with 500 trucks crossing daily with an average waiting time of 3-4 hours. There were however, delays on the westbound route with a 5.5 km long queue of up to 350 trucks. Many of the trucks had been waiting for 3-4 days to cross the border. The causes of the delays seem to be (a) the lack of a dedicated humanitarian lane into Jordan (there is one into Iraq) and (b) a ‘petrol inspection’. UNJLC has chaired a meeting with UN agencies, the Government of Jordan and the Coalition and gained in principle agreement that (a) the border can be opened 24 hours a day and (b) a westbound humanitarian lane can be setup.

The border from Kuwait to Iraq is open to both humanitarian and commercial traffic although there are some delays due to the paperwork required at the three separate checkpoints (police, Immigration and customs).

Also see customs procedures for Syria on the website. 

A border crossing map is available at http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/border/01_01.html

5. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Under the Oil for Food Programme, UNJLC has successfully gained agreement from the Syrian Ministry of Transport for the provision of 60 days free storage for goods imported under the programme. Following this, a tariff of 0.15 to 0.20 USD/MT will be charged.

The use of Syrian ports and corridors for shipments to Iraq has been estimated, by a private company, to be approximately 40% cheaper than any other ports/corridors in the region (depending on the origin of the vessel)

5.1 UMM QASR PORT UPDATE

The latest information from Barwil and SSA Marine on Umm Qasr Port is as follows.

The Grain berth will be dredged to available depth 13.5m/width 50m/length 300m thereby allowing Panamax vessels to berth. This work should be completed 17 June. The entrance channel will be dredged to a depth of 12.5m. An international invitation to tender will be issued for this latter project.

On the 18th June, when work on the grain berth is complete, dredging will begin in berths 11 to 19 of the new port, opposite berths 20 and 21. Berth 21 is RO/RO. The new port will be dredged to a depth of 12.5m, with a width of 200m. At present, the available depth in the new port is approximately 9m except near berths 20 and 21 where there are a few “humps” of only 6m. These will be removed first. No date has been given for completion of dredging in the new port.

It has also been decided to dredge berths 1 to 10 in the old port. Start/completion dates for this project have yet to be announced.

Work on the grain elevator is proceeding as planned. Bechtel expect it to be operational by 30 June. Twenty generator sets arrived 6 June. As soon as enough power is available, tests will be conducted on fire pumps, lighting, container cranes etc.

It is hoped that temporary Customs and Immigration procedures, as well as stevedoring tariffs, will be approved by appropriate authorities within the next few days. If this is achieved, Umm Qasr port should be open for commercial traffic within 7 to 10 days.

6. LOGISTICS COORDINATION

In Al-Hillah, UNJLC co-chaired the first IO/NGO meeting with over 50 NGOs attending. These meetings will be organised every week in addition to twice monthly regional meetings.
Delays in the offloading of trucks in Iraq causes additional two to four extra days for turn around time and is affecting the Syrian trucking capacity. UNJLC has approached the Syrian Government to be granted the permission to use Iraqi trucks to overcome this bottleneck.

7. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

In Baghdad, the chief of the Civil Military Coordination group has confirmed that UN agencies requiring armed escorts need to have the request approved by the Designated Official for Iraq (Mr Ramiro Lopez da Silva) and submitted 96 hours before the planned trip. The request will then be considered in the context of other military priorities.

8. FUEL

The lack of security and effects of ongoing looting, combined with the lack of spare parts, tools and primary materials, continue to delay recovery of the oil industry. Damage from indigenous looting far exceeds that caused directly by the conflict. Sabotage is also becoming a greater problem.

The lifting of U.N. and separate U.S. sanctions in May has raised expectations but there has been insufficient time for this to translate into meaningful improvements in spares and materials supply, or availability of fuels.

Exports of crude oil have recently commenced mainly from the 8 million barrels of pre-war inventories held at Turkey’s Mediterranean Port of Ceyham, with limited exports through the Arabian Gulf. Both are crucial as they free up storage space for new production.

The Ministry of Agriculture has requested priority allocation of oil and gas for wheat harvesting.

Refining: Basrah Refinery has increased production after bringing a second train on line last month, effectively doubling output. However, the Baiji Refinery, near Baghdad, is now in a planned maintenance phase which has shut down most operations. This will lead to heavy tanker traffic between Basrah and Baghdad in the coming weeks.

Diesel. Strategic stocks of diesel remain adequate, even high, but distribution is poor. Illegal tapping of pipelines in various areas continues to be a problem and is unlikely to cease until security is restored. Allocation priorities are centrally planned through consultations between the Oil Minister and other Ministries, with a formal letter between Ministries necessary to release stocks. However, diesel is generally available in most operational outlets.

Gasoline: Production of gasoline is about half of the total daily requirement but distribution remains uneven. For example, availability in Baghdad exceeds pre-war levels but has declined in many other areas. This is creating tensions and potential security problems. Production has increased to the highest level since the end of hostilities with small plants such as one at Nassirya processing what is known as a “skimmed product” that requires minimal refining at around 10,000 barrels per day for local consumption. A similar plant will open shortly in Amara.

A key additive used in the domestic production of gasoline is Tetra Ethylene Lead (TEL), as Iraq still uses leaded petrol, not having converted to unleaded fuels. The UNJLC has in conjunction with the Oil For Food Programme in New York fast tracked supplies either with the supplier or in the pipeline with shipments for about 6500 tons from U.K. and Russia expected to arrive in Iraq from the last week of June onwards. This will improve gasoline supplies. However the current stocks of TEL are critically low; unless the gap is filled before the new stocks arrive, further shortages will occur.

Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG): LPG is the main fuel used for cooking in Iraq. Supply is extremely poor, although improving, but requires more attention. Major plants at Basrah (Khor Zubair) and Kirkuk are both working at a very low capacity. Supply from the country’s second most important plant at Baiji, near Baghdad, with a capacity of 2,000 tons per day, will be affected by the planned maintenance programme for the adjacent refinery which will place it offline this month. The Khor Zubair plant has a production capacity of around 270 tons per hour but this will be difficult to realise as the refrigeration plant requires a charge of 100 tons of pure propane for start up. This is exacerbated by serious damage to the electrical system from looting. It is evident from a site visit to the plant that it will be unable to produce substantial quantities until at least early August

For Fuel availability in Iraq please see the website.

9. OTHER

In order to avoid confusion over locations in Iraq, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq is placing special significance on the use of P-Codes which have been developed by the HIC as unique, location identifiers. For more information on this see http://www.agoodplacetostart.org/pcodes.php

The last disaster Telecommunications course in Syria will be held on Thrusday 12th June, 2003 at the UNHCR premises. For further information please see the following website pages http://www.reliefweb.int/telecoms/training/index.html

Where There is No Telephone, by John G. Corbett
http://www.reliefweb.int/library/wtint/toc.html

Disaster Communications, by Mark Wood, Disaster Relief Communications Foundation. First Edition, June 1996
http://www.reliefweb.int/library/dc1/dcc1.html