UNJLC bulletins aim to provide a concise weekly overview of UNJLC activities and the current logistical situation in regard to the crisis in the Middle East. In addition, sector/country specific reports will be released regularly in order to provide in-depth coverage of priority areas.

The password restrictions have been lifted from the UNJLC website www.unjlc.org, on which full details of all items mentioned in the bulletin below are available. Contact details for all UNJLC offices are available on the UNJLC website at http://www.unjlc.org/home/ref/04/02.html.


CONTENTS

• 1. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
• 2. SECURITY
• 3. AIR OPERATIONS
• 4. BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS
• 5. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
• 6. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION
• 7. FUEL
• 8. OTHER

1. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Coalition has given approval for UN flights to operate in Iraqi airspace provided the aircraft operator signs the statement of release of liability.

700 Metric Tons of cargo, equivalent to 3,340 cubic meters, has been transported by air under the Iraq operation since the end of March.

UNJLC Jordan has successfully negotiated for the use of a dedicated lane at the border with Iraq for humanitarian traffic.

Basrah airport is open and operational with the first UN flight planned for 17th May.

The underproduction of LPG continues to cause alarm. Imports of Liquid Petroleum Gas are having limited effect on the deteriorating public services.

2. SECURITY

Iraq: Most of Southern Iraq and the three Northern governorates remain at security phase 4. At least ten security incidents have been reported by the HACC on the highway from Jordan to Baghdad, mainly around Al-Ramadi. UNSECOORD requires convoys to have a minimum of FOUR vehicles, with appropriate communications equipment, when entering Iraq.

Iran: The five provinces bordering Iraq – West Azarbayejan, Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah and Kurdistan along with the two provinces bordering Afghanistan on the East, Khorasan and Sistan are at security phase 2. The rest of the country is now classified phase 1.

Jordan: The country is at security phase 2.

Kuwait: The country is now reclassified as security phase 2. UNSECOORD advises that only one car is required when travelling to Umm Qasr or Basrah.

Syria: The country is at security phase 1. Notification for cross border cargo movements should be made to HOC at hoc.ops@shownetmail.com or hoc.trans@shownetmail.com.

Turkey: The country is at security phase 2 in South East and at phase 1 elsewhere.

3. AIR OPERATIONS

The Statement of Release of Liability (SOROL) issue has been resolved. Provided the aircraft operator signs the document, the UN may now operate flights in to Iraq using UN call-signs.

The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) contains all information necessary to conduct flights in Iraqi airspace and is published by RAMCC on their website (http://www.centaf.af.mil/ramcc/).

The following UNHAS aircraft are being used in support of the Iraq operations.

• Two Beechcraft 1900 are now operating regular flights out of Larnaca to Erbil and Baghdad.

• An Antonov12 cargo only aircraft is operating as required.

• An Ilyushin76 cargo aircraft, currently deployed in Brindisi, may be used for direct flights into Iraq.

• The Belgium Air Force C-130 with UN markings for the use of UNHAS is being regularly used. It is available to operate in both a Strategic and Regional Role as required.

• A Boeing 737, 100-seat aircraft is expected to arrive soon. It will provide considerable flexibility and operate from Amman.

700 Metric Tons of cargo, equivalent to 3,340 cubic meters, has been transported by air under the Iraq operation since the end of March.

The Air Cargo User Group, convened by UNJLC, met on 12 May for Larnaca based users; a similar meeting will be held in Amman on Sunday 18 may 03. The focus of the group is to act as a planning forum with the aim of promoting customer satisfaction and efficient use of capacity. More importantly it provides transparency of use of air cargo capacity.

In Iraq, Erbil North West is the only airport being used by non-military aircraft in the three Northern Governorates. Discussions are underway to secure a portion of the apron for the UN to use as a storage location. UNJLC is negotiating with Civil-Military Operations Centre (CMOC) and a private contractor in order to secure a forklift for unloading cargo.

The first UN flight to Basrah airport is planned for 17th May. The Coalition will unload cargo and agencies need to move cargo directly out of the airport as there are no storage facilities available.

4. BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS

Vehicles travelling from Jordan through Trebil into Iraq should note that the last point for refuelling diesel vehicles in Jordan is at Al Ruwayshid town located 85 km from Trebil border crossing.

In response to WFP’s request to resolve a bottleneck at the Jordanian border, UNJLC contacted the CMC, HACC, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the Director of Customs requesting a dedicated lane for humanitarian cargo at the Jordanian Al-Karamah border. The Customs Authorities in Jordan have now established a dedicated lane and agreed to increase the number of customs officials to ensure smooth passage of goods.

Following a comparative study which took into account economics, customs clearance, transit time, infrastructure and other key factors, UNICEF is encouraging the use of Syria as a corridor for entry of humanitarian aid into Iraq.

Border crossing procedures negotiated between UNJLC Syria, the UN community and the Government of Syria have now been implemented and are dramatically improving cross border movements. Transit time (when papers are in order) is under 30 minutes. The border remains closed to commercial traffic. Customs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

MSF Spain has confirmed that customs officials are now present on the Iraqi side of the Al-Yarubiyeh crossing border between Syria and Iraq and have started registration and control of traffic entering the country.

There has been a dramatic increase in contractor traffic at the Kuwaiti/Iraq border crossing as part of the Coalition’s efforts to rebuild infrastructure. So far there is no commercial traffic. For further information relating to cross border entry visas, residency visas, vehicle registration and organisation registration contact sue.mcintyre@shownetmail.com.

WFP continues to transport large quantities of food aid to Northern Iraq through the Turkish Border crossings. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognised the fact that an increase in commercial traffic may create bottlenecks for humanitarian traffic and that a dedicated lane may be required.

5. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

UNJLC has conducted a joint assessment of a damaged bridge between Erbil and Mosul. The Khazir Bridge is one of two bridges on the main road link between Mosul and Erbil and thereby also the most important connecting road between the Turkish border at Habur Gate and Erbil. A quarter of the west-bound lane has totally collapsed and a military bridge has been set up to allow the continuation of traffic. The east-bound lane has collapsed in the same part as the west-bound one, however to a lesser extent. This lane has been closed due to the danger of total collapse after having still been utilized initially. All traffic at present is directed over the west-bound lane where the military bridge has been set up

On May 13th, UNJLC Jordan, organised an assessment mission to visit a damaged bridge located on the main supply route over highway 10 at the 174km mark between Jordan and Baghdad. The team, including 3 civil engineers from the Jordanian Ministry of Public Works, UNSECOORD, de-mining experts, a fuel expert and a UNJLC officer, visited the Al-Ramadi bridge and are currently compiling their assessment report. This mission follows an initial assessment made last week of a second damaged bridge on highway 10 which is fully documented on the UNJLC website.

Transport rates in Syria have been reported in the range of 23USD to 30USD per MT/100km depending on volumes and regularity of contact.

6. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

Discussions between UNJLC and CMOC are underway in Erbil regarding the possibility of re-fuelling UN aircraft at the airport; procedures for cargo unloading and equipment handling as well as provision of storage space.

7. FUEL

In Mosul, CMOC has reported that Turkish trucks are entering Iraq with fuel tankers and bottled gas. The quantity supplied is 15,000 bottles of propane gas and 400,000 litres of benzene each day which is intended to support public facilities.

In Basrah, UNJLC is coordinating the procurement of contingency fuel for UN vehicles.

The underproduction of LPG continues to cause alarm. Whilst the Coalition forces are working to improve the production rate to meet internal demands, the occupying power is importing large quantities of LPG & gasoline from the surrounding countries. Despite these efforts, the intervention appears to have had little effect and public services continue to deteriorate.

UNJLC has negotiated with the occupying power, the delivery of diesel fuel to mills. A simple monitoring system has been set up and will be published on the UNJLC web site later this week.

A major contract that involves the transport of numerous empty Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) containers in the Gulf region has been identified. UNJLC is hoping to move the containers through Kuwait where they will be filled with LPG and then forwarded to Iraq for distribution. This will assist in alleviating the current LPG crisis.

Details of fuel availability and prices inside Iraq are available at the UNJLC website.

8. OTHER

UNJLC has established offices in Baghdad (co-located with UNHAS), Basrah, Erbil and Hilla.