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File: 950811_251418ja_90.txt
Filename:251418ja.90
CDSN = LGX035 MCN = 91027/01962 TOR = 910270223
PTTCZYUW RUEKJCS0900 0270221---RUEALGX.
ZNY
P 270221Z JAN 91
FM JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEADWD/OCSA WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC
RUEADWD/PTC WASH DC
RUSNNOA/USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
RUFGAID/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKCCG/USDP-CCC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAMCC/CMC CC WASHINGTON DC
RUEOFAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
RUEORDF/DIRAFMIC FT DETRICK MD//IS//
RUCQVAB/USCINCSOC INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUCJACC/USCENTCOM REAR MACDILL AFB FL //CARA//
RUWSMXI/MAC INTEL CEN SCOTT AFB IL//IN//
RUEOACC/CDRPSYOP GP FT BRAGG NC//ASOF-POG-SB//
RUEDBIA/CDR513THMIGP FT MONMOUTH NJ//IAM-IC-D//
RHCGSRB/COMUSARCENT FT MCPHERSON GA//AFRD-DSO//
RULKNIS/COMNISCOM WASHINGTON DC//NAVATAC//
RUEALGX/SAFE
RUEADDS/DITDS
P 251418Z JAN 90
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0865
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 1669
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 1371
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 1382
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 1879
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5673
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 4493
RUFHMB/USMISSION USVIENNA 4497
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8211
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 8505
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0417
RUFHNA/USMISSION USNATO 1651
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 3513
BT
ADDID ABABA FOR OFDA (FARNSWORTH)
AIDAC
SECSTATE FOR RP, OFDA
E.O. 12356:
/*********** THIS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE ************/
TAGS: PHUM, EAID, OFDA, PREF
SUBJECT: GULF EMERGENCY HEALTH/MEDICAL CAPABILITY,
OFDA GENEVA SITREP NO. 3.
REF: A) STATE 019188 (NOTAL)
B) GENEVA 000616 (NOTAL)
C) GENEVA 000547 (NOTAL)
D) GENEVA 000528 (NOTAL)
1. (UN) SUMMARY. USMISSION STAFF ARE IN DAILY CONTACT
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS, LEAGUE, MSF, AND ICRC MISSIONS
TO MONITOR PREPARATIONS FOR HEALTH/MEDICAL COVERAGE OF
REFUGEES FLEEING IRAQ. AS WELL AS OF WAR AFFECTED
POPULATIONS IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT. FOLLOWING IS THE BEST
INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US ON A COUNTRY TO COUNTRY
BASIS AS OF JANUARY 22, 1991, BASED ON MEETINGS AND
REPORTS FROM UNDRO, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO),
UNICEF, THE ICRC, LICROSS, AND MSF. ACTIONS OF THE ICRC
AND UN IN THE GULF REGION ARE COMPLEMENTARY, SERVING
TOGETHER TO AUGMENT THE OVERALL HEALTH/MEDICAL CAPACITY
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. END SUMMARY.
2. (LOU) JORDAN
-----------------
A. ICRC
ICRC REPORTS THAT AZRAK-ONE CAMP PREPARED TO RECEIVE
REFUGEES. ASSESSMENT AND UPGRADING OF AZRAK-TWO CAMP
NOW UNDERWAY. TOTAL CAPACITY OF THE AZRAK CAMPS IS
50,000. ICRC TRANSIT CAMP (CAPACITY 5,000-7,000) T-28
AT THE IRAQI-JORDANIAN BORDER ALSO OPERATIONAL. THE
JORDANIAN RED CROSS IS PROVIDING THE PERSONNEL NECESSARY
FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
LEAGUE OFFICIAL AND SMALL ICRC STAFF.
B. UNITED NATIONS
MSF/INTERNATIONAL IS MOBILIZING EQUIPMENT SUFFICIENT TO
ESTABLISH A CAMP FOR 50,000 REFUGEES UNDER THE
ADMINISTRATION OF MSF/HOLLAND. THERE ARE 4 MSF STAFF IN
AMMAN AND 12 OTHERS, INCLUDING LOGISTICANS, SANITARIANS,
AND SEVERAL MEDICAL DOCTORS IN THE FIELD. ALL EQUIPMENT
IS NOT YET IN THE FIELD DUE TO TRANSPORTATION
DIFFICULTIES EX-LANACA, CYPRUS. LATEST INFORMATION
SUGGESTS THAT TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS ARE BEING
OVERCOME. ACCORDING TO WHO, JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF
HEALTH WORKERS WILL BE PROVIDING HEALTH SERVICES IN THE
CAMPS. OUTSIDE HEALTH EXPERTISE MAY BE NEEDED IN THE
AREA OF CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL WELFARE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND
SANITATION. WHO HAS A LIST OF EUROPEAN EXPERTS PREPARED
IN THE EVENT SUCH A REQUEST IS RECEIVED FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OF JORDAN, BUT FEELS CONFIDENT THAT JORDANIAN
EXPERTISE WILL BE LARGELY SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE
ANTICIPATED HEALTH/MEDICAL NEEDS IN THE CAMPS.
3. (LOU) SYRIA
A. ICRC
DUE TO THE SLOW MOBILIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (SEE
B. BELOW), THE ICRC IS RESPONDING TO AN APPEAL FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA TO SET UP A RECEPTION CENTER AND
REFUGEE CAMP ON THE SYRIAN BORDER. THE CAPACITY OF THE
ICRC FACILITY WILL BE 5,000 AT THE RECEPTION CENTER AND
30,000 AT THE REFUGEE CAMP. THE ICRC MEDICAL TEAM IN
SYRIA INCLUDES PERSONNEL WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH
WAR WOUNDED.
/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 002 ******/
MSF/INTERNATIONAL IS MOBILIZING STAFF AND EQUIPMENT TO
SET UP A CAMP FOR 50,000 IN SYRIA ON BEHALF OF THE UN
AND UNDER THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION OF MSF/FRANCE. THE
STAFFING PATTERN, I.E., 4 STAFF IN DAMASCUS AND 12
PEOPLE IN THE FIELD IS THE SAME AS FOR JORDAN. AS IN
THE CASE OF JORDAN, MSF IS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH
TRANSPORT OF CAMP MATERIALS EX0CYPRUS. WHO SAYS THAT
THE SYRIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS PERSONNEL AVAILABLE
LOCALLY TO WORLD IN THE CAMPS, BUT NEVERTHELESS HAS
ALERTED SEVERAL NURSES ASSOCIATIONS IN EUROPE IN CASE
EXTRA HANDS ARE NEEDED. FULL MEDICAL TEAMS WILL NOT BE
MOBILIZED BY WHO IN SYRIA SINCE MSF/F MAY BE PROVIDING
THAT SERVICE FOR THE UN. UN CAMPS IN SYRIA ARE ABU
KAMAL AND EL HOL. A RECEPTION CENTER FOR 15,000 AT
RUWASHDA RUN BY MEDICINS DU MONDE IS BEING REACTIVATED.
4. (C) IRAN
A. ICRC
THE ICRC HAS BEEN GIVEN THE GOAHEAD TO WORK IN IRAN, BUT
HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT SEND ADDITIONAL EXPATS TO
THE BORDER CAMP AREA. ICRC SAYS THEY WILL NOW ONLY SEND
MATERIAL FOR THE CAMP SET UP. COOPERATION WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF IRAN IS GOOD AND PLENTY OF MEDICAL STAFF
ARE AVAILABLE.
B. UNITED NATIONS
WHO EXPLAINS THAT REFUGEE AFFAIRS ARE RUN BY THE
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WHICH THEY DO NOT CONSIDER RELIABLE
OR HONEST. HOWEVER, WHO IS NOT REQUIRED TO WORK WITH
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SINCE THEIR COUNTRY AGREEMENT
IS WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. AS A RESULT, WHO SAYS
IT HAS GOOD ACCESS TO INFORMATION COMING FROM MOH STAFF
IN THE BORDER AREA TO THE WHO REPRESENTATIVE IN TEHRAN.
WHO IS PROVIDING DRUGS AND WHO KITS TO HANDLE UP TO
100,000 REFUGEES.
5. TURKEY
A. ICRC
ICRC IS WATCHING THE TURKISH BORDER SITUATION CLOSELY.
ONE STAFF PERSON ONLY AT THIS TIME.
B. UNITED NATIONS
WHO HAS A SEVEN MAN TEAM NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER WITH
IRAQ CONSISTING OF A BURN SPECIALIST, EPIDEMIOLOGIST,
LOGISTICIAN, AND CHEMICAL INJURY SPECIALIST. THEY ARE
MEETING REGULARLY WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SITUATION THERE. THE
TURKISH HEALTH SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED TO BE EXCELLENT,
WELL DECENTRALIZED, AND ABLE TO HANDLE ANY REFUGEE
INFLUXES. THE GREATEST PROBLEM THREATENING THE DELIVERY
OF HEALTH SERVICES TO POTENTIAL REFUGEES IS THE INTERNAL
DISPLACEMENT OF POPULATIONS APPARENTLY OCCURING ALONG
THE TURKISH BORDER. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THE POPULATION
MOVEMENT MAY BE OCCURING BUT ONE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT
THERE IS FEAR OF CHEMICAL WARFARE. INCLUDED IN THIS
INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT ARE LOCAL HEALTH WORKERS WHO ARE
EXPECTED TO BE IN PLACE TO ASSIST REFUGEES. TO STEM THE
FLOW OF HEALTH WORKERS AWAY FROM THE BORDER, WHO HAS
DECIDED TO RESPOND TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENTS REQUEST
FOR GAS MASKS FOR THIS GROUP AND IS PROCEEDING TO
/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 003 ******/
PROCURE 2,000 GAS MASKS FROM SWEDEN AT A COST OF USD
131,000. WHO ALSO SENDING MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR UP TO
100,000 PEOPLE AS WELL AS WATER AND SANITATION
EQUIPMENT. NO CAMPS ARE PLANNED - THE TURKISH
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO TREAT PEOPLE IN ALREADY ESTABLISHED
FACILITIES. REQUEST TO WHO FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF
TURKEY IS BEING FAXED SEPARATELY FOR DEPARTMENT'S
INFORMATION.
6. (C) IRAQ
A. ICRC
AS REPORTED SEPTEL, ICRC CLOSELY MONITORING THE
SITUATION IN IRAQ AND IS PREPOSITIONING SUPPLIES IN
SOUTHERN IRAN FOR OVERLAND TRANSPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
IN IRAQ. THE TWO-PERSON SURVEY TEAM WHICH LEFT BAGHDAD
OVER THE WEEKEND, HAS ARRIVED SAFELY IN TEHRAN AND WAS
DUE TO DEBRIEF WITH ICRC HEADQUARTERS BY TELEPHONE ON
JANUARY 22. ICRC WILL WORK WITH THE IRAQI RED CRESCENT
IN ADDITION TO THE FINNISH RED CROSS TEAM THAT WILL MAN
THE FIELD HOSPITAL THAT IS BEING PREPOSITIONED IN IRAN.
B. UNITED NATIONS
WHO TOLD MISSION IT HAD BEEN APPROACHED SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO TO SUPPLY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WITH MEDICINES BUT
HAD ADVISED ITEMS REQUESTED WERE AVAILABLE ON MARKET IN
ABSENCE OF AN EMBARGO. ON JANUARY 14, WHO RECEIVED A
FURTHER REQUEST FOR DRUGS AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND AN
INVITATION TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE)S) TO QUOTE WITNESS
THE SHORTAGES IN DRUGS, MEDICAL NECESSITIES, FOOD, AND
MILK, UNQUOTE. WHO HAS PASSED THE NOTE TO UN NEW YORK.
UNNY OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR PERSONNEL SECURITY IS TAKING
POSITION THAT UN/TECHNICAL AGENCY STAFF SHOULD NOT ENTER
IRAQ FOR THE TIME BEING. WHO NOT CURRENTLY DOING ANY
ACTIVE PLANNING FOR IRAQ BUT SAYS UNICEF MAY BE WORKING
ON A MOTHER/CHILD ACTIVITY. MISSION WILL REPORT ON
FURTHER INFORMATION GATHERED DURING JANUARY 22 MEETING
WITH UNICEF/GENEVA.
A UNICEF OFFICIAL WITH SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
BEIRUT BELIEVES THAT THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS IN BAGHDAD
WILL BE POTABLE WATER, SANITATION AND GARBAGE CLEAN-UP,
BASIC FOODS, AND ESSENTIAL DRUGS. HE FEELS SURE THAT
THE MEDICAL RESPONSE IN IRAQ WILL BE MORE THAT ADEQUATE
WHEN THE HOSTILITIES CEASE BUT IS LESS SANGUINE ABOUT
THE ADEQUACY OF A SANITATION AND WATER RESPONSE. UNICEF
HAS ALREADY HAD SOME EXPERT PERSONNEL IN AREA OF WATER
AND SANITATION ON STANDBY. OF COURSE, IF UNICEF WERE TO
BECOME OPERATIONAL IN IRAQ, THEY WOULD REQUIRE FUNDS.
UNICEF IS PREPOSITIONING ESSENTIAL DRUGS AND WATER
SUPPLIES IN THE REGION FOR USE IN A REFUGEE EMERGENCY OR
IN IRAQ/KUWAIT IN NECESSARY.
7. (UN) KUWAIT
A. ICRC
AS REPORTED SEPTEL, ICRC HAS SENT AN ASSESSMENT TEAM TO
BAHRAIN ALONG WITH SOME ESSENTIAL MEDICINES AND
SUPPLIES. ICRC WILL WORK WITH THE KUWAITI RED CRESCENT
ON ANY ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN IN KUWAIT.
B. UNITED NATIONS
WHO HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY THE KUWAITI MINISTRY OF
HEALTH (IN LONDON) TO ASSIST IN THE REHABILITATION OF
/****** BEGINNING OF SECTION 004 ******/
THE HEALTH SECTOR WHEN THE WAR IS OVER. WHO SAYS THEY
ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING PLANS TO THIS EFFECT. UNICEF
PLANS FOR WATER AND SANITATION PER IRAQ ABOVE.
8. (UN) GENERAL INFORMATION
A. ON JANUARY 21, MSF OPENED A GULF LIAISON OFFICE IN
GENEVA REPRESENTING ALL MSFS. THEY EXPECT TO ISSUE A
SITREP THIS WEEK.
B. WHO ALSO HOLDING DAILY COORDINATING MEETINGS OF ALL
THEIR ACTIVITIES. WHO SAYS THEY WILL BE PREPARING A
COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON THEIR ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK.
9. COMMENT
A. WITH REGARD TO REF. A, MISSION HAS INFORMED ITS NGO
AND UN CONTACTS IN GENEVA OF US NGOS' INTERESTS IN
WORKING IN HEALTH/MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN THE GULF AND OF
OFDA'S PLANNING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THERE SEEMS TO BE
ADEQUATE COVERAGE OF PROJECTED HEALTH/MEDICAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REFUGEE RECEIVING COUNTRIES OF
SYRIA, JORDAN, IRAN, AND TURKEY.
B. THE UNKNOWN FACTOR IS WHETHER THE REFUGEES' HEALTH
PROFILE WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE LAST OVERFLOW, OR WHETHER
THERE WILL BE MASS CASUALTY/CHEMICAL WARFARE CASES, IN
WHICH CASE THE CURRENTLY MOBILIZED SYSTEM MAY BE
OVERSTRETCHED. HOWEVER, THE PRESENT REFUGEE RECEIVING
SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN TESTED YET SINCE THERE ARE NO
SIGNIFICANT POPULATION FLOWS AT THIS TIME SO IT IS
DIFFICULT TO SAY WITH ANY CERTAINLY WHERE THE GAPS WILL
BE.
C. IRAQ/KUWAIT RELIEF PLANNING IN GENEVA IN CONDUCTED
IN A LOW-KEY WAY, WITH BOTH THE UN AND ICRC
PREPOSITIONING MATERIALS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
UNICEF BELIEVES THAT THE WATER SUPPLY WILL BE A CRITICAL
AND IMMEDIATE NEED IN BAGHDAD, AND IS CONCERNED THAT
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PLANNING GOING ON FOR A WATER
INTERVENTION. MISSION MENTIONED THAT OFDA WAS EXAMINING
THAT ANGLE THROUGH AN AMERICAN NGO. THE UNICEF OFFICIAL
THOUGHT THAT HEALTH/MEDICAL NEEDS MIGHT BE SURPRISINGLY
LOW SINCE IT SEEMS SO FAR THAT ALLIED AIRSTRIKES HAVE
NOT HIT CIVILIAN TARGETS AND FEELS THAT THERE WILL BE NO
SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL TEAMS IF THEY ARE NEEDED. ICRC TOLD
MISSION CONFIDENTIALLY THAT ICRC IS ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING
ACCESS TO BAGHDAD WITH BOTH SIDES AT THE PRESENT TIME.
END COMMENT. ABRAM##
BT
#0900
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