Bulletin 2 UNJLC Iraq
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Preparedness and Contingency UNJLC Iraq
Bulletin No 2
up to the 11th Feb 03
Bulletin No 2
up to the 11th Feb 03
UNJLC preparedness and contingency bulletins aim to provide a concise weekly overview of UNJLC activities and the present logistical situation in regard to the potential 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.
1. Civil Military Relations
- US Military plans for the positioning of a Humanitarian Operations Centre (HOC) in Amman have been postponed for the present period as the Government of Jordan considers an open US Military presence in the country inappropriate at the current time.
- The Core UNJLC participated in a coordination meeting between WFP, UNJLC and the US Humanitarian Planning Team (HPT). The latter took note of a number the questions and concerns regarding airspace restrictions and other possible bottle-necks. UNJLC emphasised the need for receiving proper updated information directly from operational sources.
- A CMCoord Officer for UNJLC has been deployed in Kuwait where he will deal with operational issues relating to CMCoord.
2. Transport Infrastructure
- UNJLC has, in conjunction with WFP, carried out an assessment of the Port of Iskenderun in Turkey. The assessment is now available on the UNJLC Iraq website.
3. Transport Sector
- UNJLC Iran has established a weekly Trans-border and Logistics meeting. Chaired by UNJLC and co-chaired by WFP, the participants include ICRC, UNICEF, OCHA and UNHCR. The meeting aims to act as a platform for de-confliction (e.g. in ensuring the avoidance of competition over warehousing contracts) and to enhance co-ordination.
- UNJLC has received, and aims to receive weekly, retail fuel prices for diesel and petrol around the region. At present information is available for Turkey, Jordan and Iran however reporting will cover a wider range of countries in the future.
- Average transport rates for Turkey, Jordan, and Iran have been collected by UNJLC and will be published on the UNJLC Iraq website in the near future.
4. Air Operations
- The Government of Turkey suggested Erzurum airport for use by the humanitarian community in replacement of Diyarbakir which might be reserved primarily for military usage. Nevertheless, UNJLC will insist on obtaining landing rights at Diyarbakir and Gaziantep, which have been assigned as important humanitarian hubs.
- Marka airport in Amman, Jordan, normally restricted to specific flights, is now available for potential UN cargo and passenger traffic.
- UNJLC is awaiting further comments on the air transport plan that was forwarded last week to the wider humanitarian community.
- UNJLC visited the airport authorities in Larnaca and an official request was forwarded to the Government of the Republic of Cyprus for use of facilities by the UN at the International airport of Larnaca.
5. Border Crossing and Customs
- GIRI (Governement of the Islamic Republic of Iran) has confirmed that all access corridors (land, port, airport) and borders into Iran (including Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan) will be open for the importation of commodities. The Iranian transport system will be available to forward these commodities to the affected areas in Iran or towards cross border operations. Iranian transport facilities would be available for carrying commodities from third countries into Iran while commodities for trans-border operations into Iraq would require trans-shipment onto Iraqi trucks. Third country trucks however would be free to transfer through Iran to Iraq if the humanitarian nature of their cargo was ensured.
- Habur (Silopi and Zakho) border crossing between Turkey and Iraq is currently open and the Government of Turkey has committed to readily making the crossing accessible to Humanitarian Agencies.
- The border area with Iraq in Jordan has been declared a military zone and access has therefore been restricted to a greater degree. However, the border at Al Karama to Iraq is open for traffic carrying relief and commercial cargo. Customs clearance for trucks carrying cargo takes approx. 2-3 hours.
6. Stocks/Fuel/Warehousing:
- UNJLC has embarked on the regular weekly collection of fuel and exchange rate information for the region. Limited currently to Jordan, Turkey, and Iran, it is planned that, as UNJLCs presence in the region expands, data from additional countries will be included. It is hoped that this collation of information will allow for both geographical and chronological comparison and analysis. All data relating to fuel and exchange rates is posted on the UNJLC Iraq website.
- In Iran, several humanitarian organisations have rented warehousing in both Kermanshah and Urumiyeh. UNJLC are currently compiling a detailed picture of which Agencies are operating in which hubs, with further breakdown of warehousing rented/utilised and stock already in region. This information is made readily available on the UNJLC Iraq website.
- Collection of stock positions for the major Humanitarian Agencies has been begun by UNJLC in those countries surrounding Iraq. All data is posted on the UNJLC Iraq webpage and, when integrated with information on ports of entry and corridors, will allow for a strategic picture of the humanitarian preparations in the region as a whole.
