Bulletin 26 UNJLC Iraq

1. OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

All UNJLC staff members involved in the tragic bomb attack at the UN HQ in Baghdad are safe and international staff have been relocated to Amman.
Flights to Basrah and Erbil have been maintained as near to the original schedule as possible. The intention is to maintain the Baghdad scheduled flights but some changes are to be expected.

2. SECURITY

Iraq: While there has been no formal change in the security phases within Iraq, all travel into and within Iraq now requires direct approval of UNSECOORD, New York.

Baghdad: Security phase 4. All UNJLC staff members involved in the tragic bomb attack at the UN HQs in Baghdad are safe and international staff have been relocated to Amman. Several of the UNJLC staff present received minor injuries, with one staff member hospitalised (since released).

For the time being UNJLC Iraq activities are being conducted out of the Amman office. If you would like further information about UNJLC staff or the events in Baghdad, please call + 962 6 569 2304.

Mosul: Security phase 4. In view of the incident in Baghdad, Tuesday 19 Aug 03, all UN International Staff have been ordered to relocate from Mosul and Kirkuk, to Erbil. There will be no security clearance issued for travel to Mosul and Kirkuk or to the Centre Area until further notice.

Basrah: Security phase 4. The situation in and around Basrah is still volatile. A WHO truck was attacked and had the windows smashed on the 19th of August. UNSECOORD, WFP and UNJLC have organized an armored vehicle to transport passengers from Basrah to the border twice a week. There is a ruling that only essential staff are allowed into Iraq in the South. UNSECOORD and UNJLC are working with the Coalition to provide increased security to the UN. UNJLC is also working to secure fuel for UN activities.

A complete daily listing of security incidents can be found in the “latest press releases” section of the www.centcom.mil.il.

3. AIR OPERATIONS

The fixed passenger flight schedule has suffered some disruption as a result of the events this week. Flights to Basrah and Erbil have been maintained as near to the original schedule as possible. The intention is to maintain the Baghdad scheduled flights but some changes are to be expected.
Flight details, updated as necessary, will be maintained on this website as before at http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/air/02_01.html. The standard baggage allowance remains at 25kgs. If passengers have a requirement to carry more than the standard allowance, a special application must be made at the time of passenger seat booking.

It seems unlikely that Baghdad International Airport will open to commercial traffic in the foreseeable future.

The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) has been updated with effect from 18th August, 2003. Work continues in respect of other restrictions namely: an easing of the need to arrive at destination within +/- 5 minutes; more direct routing between the Jordanian and Syrian entry points and Northern and Southern destinations; and early availability of aviation fuel.

In recognition of the recent increase in the need for official travel to Jordan by Contractors and military groups, the OCPA has authorised a “pay-as-you-go” charter between Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) and Amman (Marka Airport) for OCPA authorised travellers. The service is planned to depart from Amman at 08:00, arrive BIAP at 11:00, depart BIAP at 12:00 and arrive Amman at 13:00 local time. Initially, the charter service will fly up to 48 passengers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Travelers can register for the flight by contacting Chuck Litzleman of the Iraqi Assistance Centre, Jordan at ChuckLitz@hotmail.com or + 962 7748 5998. In conjunction with the flight arrival and departure times, the US company, CusterBattles, will offer a shuttle service between BIAP the Republican Palace, the Sheraton/Palestine hotels and the IAC/Al-Rasheed. Please consult with Chuck Litzleman for details.

UNHAS AIRCRAFT ASSETS AND UTILISATION

The UNHAS fleet currently consists of:

1. Passenger Aircraft. Two Beechcraft 1900 and an ATR 42. The ATR 42 now operates 6 times a week between Amman and Baghdad. In theory this aircraft can carry 48 passengers with 25kg of baggage each and one tonne of cargo. However, lack of availability of fuel together with restrictions on passengers processing in Baghdad, limits the planned passenger load to 30 for the time being. Detailed information about the ATR 42 is at WEB LINK TO FLEET.
2. Cargo Aircraft. Apart from the limited capacity offered by the Beechcraft and ATR aircraft, there is no cargo capacity. For very urgently required cargo destined for Iraq, UNHAS will arrange for special charter flights.

4. BORDER CROSSING AND CUSTOMS

OCPA is planning to open a customs/immigration office soon at Safwan. This would increase the confidence of the Kuwaiti authorities, and the security of all traffic going through this border crossing point.

On the Jordanian/Iraqi border, WFP has halted its humanitarian traffic in response to the blast that took place in Baghdad on Tuesday.

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

5. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The collection of information on the locations of Petrol Stations and Governmental Warehouses in Baghdad has been completed in all areas where access was permissible in view of the security situation. All this information has been forwarded to the UNJLC main office for the preparation of a map which will be posted on the UNJLC website shortly.

UNJLC Mosul visited the Fatha Bridge near the Baiji Refinery, about 6 Km out of Mosul, on the 18th of August. The Bridge crosses the Tigris river and carries pipelines that pump different oil products in addition to crude oil. A span of the bridge was bombarded during the war and a missile hit the bridge on the other spans. Some of the spans were deformed due to the bomb shelling. One of the pipes is still burning on one end of the bridge.

The rehabilitation of the bridge is the responsibility of the company, Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR). The rehabilitation will include the re-laying the pipe lines in the river bed and may take up to two years to execute. Given the urgency of restoring the route, KBR in coordination with the US Engineering Division, will replace the damaged span by a temporary one. The pipes crossing the bridge will be installed on this span.

5.1 UMM QASR PORT UPDATE

The amount of traffic at the port has decreased with no WFP vessels arriving within the last week.

Improvements at the port including repair and dredging work on the berths and reinforcement of the customs and immigration services is running smoothly.

Several security incidents have been reported in the last week and British coalition forces are assisting in providing security at the port, notably at the main entrance gate.

For a more complete weekly update about Umm Qasr see http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/infrastructure/a_01_01.html

6. LOGISTICS COORDINATION

UNJLC Basrah is facilitating car maintenance support for the UN Agencies in Basrah by identifying three Iraqi companies and two foreign ones and supporting the establishment of service arrangements.

UNJLC is also providing support for the provision of fuel for WFP operation in the Lower and Upper South Areas: to mills, silos, UN vehicles, WFP contractors. UNJLC is facilitating tanks and fuel distribution. The transport of fuel to these areas has not yet been possible for security reasons.

7. CIVIL-MILITARY COORDINATION

In the south, UNJLC together with UNSECOORD etc. and the Coalition Forces , have prepared a project to reinforce the security of UN Basrah House including the East and West walls, establish lookout posts on the roof and place barriers at the entrance and the external side-walks.

8. FUEL

The production of a fuel report has been disrupted this week. We expect to produce a full report on schedule next week.

It had been agreed with the HCI, that the UNJLC fuel team should remain functional beyond the envisaged phasing out of the facility towards the end of September. This is under review due to the recent security incidents and is awaiting decisions on the scale of operations to be carried out by UN agencies.

For Fuel availability in Iraq please see http://www.unjlc.org/iraq/fuel/01_01.html

9. OTHER

UNHAS Duty Officer. UNHAS now has a duty officer who can be contacted in case of EMERGENCIES ONLY. It is NOT a number for passenger enquires which may be made at the times and with the points of contact listed at para 10 below. The Duty Officer's phone number is + 962 796 726 723.

UNHAS and UNJLC Offices. The UNJLC and UNHAS are located in Amman at: PO Box 941631, Amman 11194. The UNJLC is very near (50m to the East) to the UNDP building and in what is known to some as the old UNHCR building. There is no house number but there is a UNJLC sign on the gate. UNHAS and the UNJLC Air Cell are in the WFP Annex B building which is also close to the UNDP building; see address at para 10 below. Both locations are in the district of Shmeisani. Points of contact are as follows.

UNHAS - Passenger and Cargo Bookings:

• For entitled passengers and cargo users only (see UNHAS SAOPs)
• Opening days/hours: Sunday – Thursday/0900 - 1300
• Kjersti Bang, Omar Abdullah, Saba Jamil and Jackline Saad