Cablegate: Ninewa: Unami Srsg Visits Qahtaniya Blast Sites --
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PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3253 2711320
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281320Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3600
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003253
SIPDIS
NEA/I PLEASE PASS TO USAID
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL USUN UN IZ
SUBJECT: NINEWA: UNAMI SRSG VISITS QAHTANIYA BLAST SITES --
ASSESSMENTS PLANNED
REF: A. BAGHDAD 2723
B. BAGHDAD 2744
C. BAGHDAD 2780
D. BAGHDAD 2833
E. BAGHDAD 3044
This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.
1. (SBU) On September 17, United Nations Assistance Mission
for Iraq (UNAMI) Special Representative to the Secretary
General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi visited the blast sites in
Qahtaniya and Al-Jazeera (reftels) to see the situation on
the ground and assess the possibility of UNAMI coordination
of future relief efforts. Accompanied by Deputy PRT Leader,
Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Commanding Officer, and UNAMI staff
members, Qazi met the Governor Kashmoula and Deputy Governor
Ghoran of Ninewa and mayors of the affected districts who
informed him on the relief efforts to date and asked for more
help.
Assessment is Needed
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2. (SBU) The SRSG condemned the August 14 attacks on the
Yezidi villages, and expressed interest in providing further
assistance to the towns affected by the blasts and discussed
potential long-term reconstruction efforts in the area.
However, he stressed the importance of a full and complete
assessment of the villages, household by household, to ensure
that the needs of the people are fulfilled. He suggested
that the local government coordinate with the provincial
government and Iraqi Red Crescent to conduct such an
assessment. The Governor stated that the Government of Iraq
(GOI) had offered USD ten million in reconstruction aid to
the villages, but none of that money had been disbursed.
(Note: Condolence payments financed by the GOI had already
been disbursed to most of the victims. The GOI is also
determining how to target the USD ten million pledge of
assistance; the Minister of Environment visited the area in
early September to begin an assessment. End note.)
Equanimity of Aid Vital
-----------------------
3. (SBU) Both the Governor and BCT Commanding Officer
stressed the importance of equality in the provision of
assistance to the victims of bombings in Ninewa Province.
There had been numerous car bombs over the past months, and
those the victims of those deserved the same level of
assistance as the victims in Qahtaniya. (Note: Two
USAID-funded programs, the International Medical Corps and
the International Relief and Development's Community
Stabilization Program, are providing assistance to
communities struck by car bombs this year in western Ninewa.
The assistance includes delivery of potable water,
psychosocial services for children, income generation
activities, health clinic and school rehabilitation, and
delivery of health services and supplies. End note.)
Comment
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4. (SBU) The PRT will continue to work closely with our
counterparts in the BCT to monitor the situation in the areas
affected by the August 14 blasts. We will also maintain
close contact with UNAMI to coordinate future assistance.
CROCKER