End of Aramaean Christianity in North Iraq: OCHA Report Imposes Impeachment of Talabani, Barzani
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
March 04, 2010
Exodus of the Arameans of Mosul continues undiminished: According to UN report already 720 Aramean families (4320 people) have left Mosul.
http://www.iraqichristians.info/English/Arameans_Mosul_Exodus_Continues_3_3_2010.htm
Since the break out of violence against and killings of the Indigenous Arameans of Mosul at beginning of February this year already 12 Arameans of various denominations have been killed and 720 families (4320 people) fled Mosul for outlying villages and areas for more safety. The report, published on 2nd of February 2010, of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) details on the numbers and the places the Arameans fled to.
According to the report the Aramean families escaped violence to the following villages/cities:
Dohuk: 17 families es
Alqosh: 84 families
Batnaya 63 families
Tel Uskoop: 91 families
Telkeef: 16 families
Bashiqa: 66 families
Bartallah: 60 families
Karamles: 22 families
Qaraqosh: 278 families
Al-Hamdaniya: 35 families
Ainkawa: 23 families
Namrud: 35 families
OCHA Report
http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/UN_Office_Coordination_Humanatarian_report_Iraq_2_3_2010.pdf
This report was issued by OCHA Iraq. It covers the period from 28 February to 1 March 2010. The next report will be issued on or around Thursday, 4 March 2010.
I. Highlights / Key Priorities
The influx of Christian IDP families from Mosul city to the nearby districts of Al Hamdaniyah and Tilkaif in Ninewa governorate has slowed down in the two-day period between 27 February and 1 March 2010. As of 1 March 2010, the total number of IDPs is now 720 families (or 4,320 people), up from 683 families (or 4,098 people) on 27 February 2010, representing only a 5 There are protection concerns for the Christian families•percent increase. remaining in Mosul, including unconfirmed reports that they are confined to their homes out of fear for their safety; Christian university students are reportedly not attending classes and workers are not attending their places of work.
The Governor of Ninewa governorate has formed a committee, headed by the Director of Civil Defence, to address the humanitarian needs of the IDPs and oversee the humanitarian response by the humanitarian community. This complements the efforts of the Committee for International Organizations, also based in the office of the Governor in Mosul.
Most of the immediate shelter, NFI and food needs of the IDPs have been met by the humanitarian agencies the areas of displacement, except for NFIs in Bartalah, Bashiqa, Krmales, Batnay, and Tal Usquf in Al Hamdaniya district, where UNHCR will be undertaking an NFI distribution on 2 March 2010.
II. Situation Overview
Following the large influx of Christian IDP from Mosul city to Al Hamdaniya and Tilkaif districts, which tripled between 24 and 27 February 2010, the number of new IDPs arriving to the areas of displacement has now significantly slowed down between 28 February and 1 March 2010. According to churches and local community representatives in each location, the total number of IDPs is now 720 families (or 4,320 people), up from 683 families (or 4,098 people) on 27 February 2010, representing only 37 new families in the two-day period. This is significantly lower than themovement of 439 families over the two-day period between 26 February and 27 February alone. It should be noted that these figures are extremely difficult to verify, given the context.
The 720 displaced families are in the two Ninewa districts of Al Hamdaniyah and Tilkaif (204 families) and have also crossed over to Erbil and Dahuk governorates (17 families in Dahuk and 23 families in Ainkawa in Erbil governorate). The number of IDPs in Qaraqosh in Al Hamdaniya district has increased to 278 families (1,668 people) and 35 families (210 people) have moved to Namrood, while the number of IDPs in other Al Hamdaniya districts remains the same as reported on 28 February, i.e. 60 families (360 people) in Bartalah; 66 families (396 people) in Bashiqa; and 22 families (132 people) in Krmales. Those in Tilkaif town in Talkaif district have decreased from 40 to 16 families; Batnay has increased to 63 families (378 people); Tal Usquf has increased to 91 families (546 people); and Alqosh has increased to 84 families (504 people).
There are protection concerns for the Christian families who have remained in Mosul. Unconfirmed reports indicate that many individuals cannot move freely beyond their homes, such as going to work or attending university, out of fear for their safety. At present, it remains unclear how many Christian families were residing in Mosul before the displacement. Furthermore, the motives for and perpetrators of the killings of 12 Christians during January and February 2010, which triggered the recent displacement, are still not clear.
No security incident has been reported against the Christian families in the places of displacement and the IDPs have indicated that they feel safe in those areas.
III. Humanitarian Needs and Response
UN agencies and NGOs are continuing to monitor new IDP arrivals and are providing immediate shelter, NFIs and food support. The challenge now is the verification of IDP numbers. UNHCR and IOM are liaising with local authorities on the ground on the verification of figures.
The Governor of Ninewa governorate has formed a committee, headed by the Director of Civil Defense, to address the humanitarian needs of the IDPs and oversee the humanitarian response by the humanitarian community. The committee is now trying to determine the number of IDPs in order to prepare their response. Agencies are also working through the Committee for International Organizations, also based in the office of the Governor in Mosul.
The authorities in Ninewa had earlier said that while they are happy with the UN and NGOs quick response to the humanitarian needs of the IDPs, they warned that agencies should ensure that they do not involve or allow any groups with political interest in the vicinity of distribution points near churches.
Emergency Shelter and NFIs
UNHCR, IOM and UNICEF continue to liaise closely on the distribution of their shelter and NFI kits. Between 26 February and 1 March 2010, IOM and UNICEF jointly distributed NFI and hygiene kits to 348 families and will be distributing a further 160 kits on 2 March 2010 (total of 508 distributed kits). The NFI kits contain four mattresses per family, four blankets, one gas stove, one kerosene heater, one carpet, one plastic carpet and one water cool box. The UNICEF hygiene kit contains an adult hygiene kit, baby kit, female sanitary packs, washing powder and garbage collection plastic bags.
The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.
UNHCR will be distributing NFIs in Bartella, Bashiqa, Keremlis, Batnaya, Telsqof and Dahuk to a total of 358 families on 2 March 2010. It has distributed NFI kits jointly with IOM in Ainkawa in Erbil to 23 IDP families. The distribution was interrupted yesterday, 1 March, by bad weather.
Food and Nutrition
WFP, through its cooperating partner Islamic Relief, has started the distribution of 50 kg of wheat flour per family in a number of locations. Further details will be made available in the next situation report.
The authorities in Ninewa have advised that they have distributed food rations to 35 IDP families in Namrood village, close to Mosul. This village had not been previously identified as hosting Christian IDPs.
Protection
UNICEF, through its cooperating partner, International Medical Corps, will be providing child-friendly spaces in the areas of displacement and monitoring the psychosocial conditions of the displaced children. UNHCR has been monitoring the protection situation of the Christian families remaining in Mosul. It visited Christian community districts in Mosul and contacted mukhtars (local community leaders) and officials in charge of the Public Distribution System (government food rations) to try to establish the number of Christian families remaining behind in Mosul. Although it could not confirm the figures, the mukhtars say that about 44 percent of the Christian families who were present in the districts visited have been displaced. There are no official population figures for the Christian community in Mosul.
Logistics
No logistical constraints have been reported. Agencies have hired commercial trucks to transport their stocks to the distribution points. No access restrictions by the authorities have been reported. This ease of access is a considerable improvement on previous humanitarian responses in the area.
Education
Education is a challenge as many children have left their schools in Mosul. Local schools in the places of displacement may not immediately be able to accommodate them, due to limited capacity, especially if more IDPs come to the area. However, schools will be on vacation from 4 to 26 March 2010. UNICEF will monitor and update accordingly.
Health
There are no immediate health concerns for the IDPs as they are currently able to access local facilities. Agencies will continue to monitor the situation and UNICEF will provide children´s hygiene kits if needed.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Water and sanitation are not an immediate challenge for the IDPs as they are able to access local services. UNICEF will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate support, if required.
IV. Coordination
OCHA is supporting field coordination; UNHCR is the lead agency overseeing the humanitarian response in Ninewa governorate over this period.
The Ninewa Governor has established a committee, headed by the Director of Civil Defense, to address and oversee the humanitarian response to the IDPs. UNHCR and the UNAMI Office for Development and Humanitarian Support have established contacts with the Governor and the committee. Agencies are also working through the Committee for International Organizations, also based in the office of the Governor in Mosul.
UNHCR, OCHA, IOM, UNICEF and WFP have been meeting daily since 26 February 2010 to monitor the situation and provide updates on figures and responses.
The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.
V. Contact
Erbil: David Lubari, UN OCHA, lubari@un.org Mobile: +964 770 670 0314, +962 79 720 2512 Office: +39 083 105 2969 or internal ext. 2969
Erbil: Charles Lynch, UNHCR, lynchc@unhcr.org Mobile: +964 750 453 7820
Erbil: Andrea Recchia, UNAMI ODHS, recchia@un.org Mobile: +964 770 670 0312 Office: +39 083 105 2818 or internal ext. 2818
Mosul: Samuel Cheung, UNHCR, cheung@unhcr.org Mobile: +964 770 670 0144
Amman: Kristen Elsby, UN OCHA, elsby@un.org Mobile: +962 79 720 2511 Office: +962 6 553 4971 ext. 1353
New York: Farhad Movahed, UN OCHA, movahed@un.org Mobile: +1 917 367 2658
Note
Picture: Map of the Christian Aramaean IDP in the Mosul province (Nainawa)
From: OCHA website
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