Order Code RL31766
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian
Aid Organizations
Updated July 17, 2003
Tom Coipuram, Jr.
Senior Research Librarian
Information Research Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian
Aid Organizations
Summary
The war with Iraq, which began on March 19, 2003, has now moved into a new
phase as a result of coalition forces controlling all of the major cites in Iraq and the
end of the Iraqi political and military leadership. Currently, the main focus is the
reconstruction of Iraq, providing humanitarian assistance, and establishing a new
interim government. The United Nations (U.N.) and other international aid
organizations, including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), are coordinating
and providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, and the Coalition
Provisional Authority (CPA), headed by the new chief civil administrator in Iraq L.
Paul Bremer III, is responsible for the administration and humanitarian efforts in Iraq.
This report provides an annotated list of U.N. agencies that currently have
programs in Iraq, key U.S. government agencies, and a sample list of major
international and U.S.-based aid organizations that are providing humanitarian
assistance to Iraq. Internet links of the U.N. agencies and humanitarian aid
organizations are also provided. For detailed discussion on humanitarian and
reconstruction assistance in Iraq, see CRS Report RL31833, Iraq: Recent
Developments in Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance, and CRS Report
RL31814, Humanitarian Issues in Post-War Iraq: An Overview for Congress. This
report will be updated as events warrant.

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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
U.N. Agencies Currently Involved in Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Other U.N. Agencies—Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Key U.S. Government Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Selected Major International and Nongovernmental Organizations—Iraq . . . . . . 7
Selected U.S.-Based Humanitarian Aid Organizations—Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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Iraq: United Nations and Humanitarian
Aid Organizations
Introduction
The war with Iraq, which began on March 19, 2003, has now moved into a new
phase as a result of coalition forces controlling all of the major cites in Iraq and the
end of the Iraqi political and military leadership.1 Currently, the United Nations
(U.N.) and international aid organizations such as the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), including nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), are
coordinating and providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, and the U.N.
World Food Programme (WFP) is delivering thousands of tons of food to the people
of Iraq as part of its $1.5 billion bid to feed the entire Iraqi population through
October 2003.2
Former diplomat L Paul Bremer, appointed by the President on May 6, 2003, is
the chief civil administrator in Iraq. He also heads the Coalition Provisional
Authority (CPA), which is responsible for the administration of and humanitarian
efforts in Iraq.3 According to news sources, Mr. Bremer has appointed a 25-member
Iraqi “governing council” that will have control over some former government
ministries, which will be the first step toward handing authority over to a new Iraqi
government.4
Also, the U.N. Security Council, on May 22, 2003, voted on Resolution 1483
to lift the economic sanctions against Iraq and granted the United States and United
Kingdom authority to run Iraq until a new government is established.5 The
Resolution also authorizes U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint a special
representative to Iraq who will coordinate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction
efforts. Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian diplomat and the current U.N. High
1 For more on the U.S. military operations in Iraq, see CRS Report RL31701, Iraq: U.S.
Military Operations.
2 UN News Centre, UN Agency Sending 1,000 Tons of Food to Iraq Every Hour, July 4,
2003. Online at
[http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=7635&Cr=Iraq&Cr1=#].
3 CRS Report RL31833, Iraq: Recent Developments in Humanitarian and Reconstruction
Assistance, pp. 5-6.
4 Patrick E. Tyler, “Interim Iraqi Government Holds Inaugural Meeting,” New York Times,
July 13, 2003.
5 See UNWire: Iraq: Security Council Lifts Sanctions; Authorizes Roles for U.S. U.K., U.N.,
May 22, 2003. Online at
[http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/util/display_stories.asp?objid=33886].

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CRS-2
Commissioner for Human Rights, will serve a four-month mission to coordinate U.N.
relief efforts in Iraq.6
This report provides an annotated list of U.N. agencies that currently have
programs in Iraq, key U.S. government agencies, and a sample list of major
international and U.S.-based aid organizations that are providing humanitarian
assistance to Iraq.
U.N. Agencies Currently Involved in Iraq
Following is a list of U.N. agencies currently providing humanitarian assistance
to Iraq. Internet addresses of the U.N. agencies as well as links to their Web pages
on Iraq (if available) are provided.
Office of the Iraq Programme Oil-for-Food
[http://www.un.org/Depts/oip/]
Oil-for-Food is a unique program, established by the U.N. Security Council as
a temporary measure to provide for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people.
Mine Action Programme for Northern Iraq
[http://www.unops.org/textimageflash/default.asp?pmode=3&pno=142]
The U.N. Mine Action Services program in Northern Iraq was established in
1997 to locate and remove mines and resolve mine related problems such as raising
public awareness, providing medical, rehabilitation and vocational services to mine
victims.
UNICEF Programs in South and Central Iraq
[http://www.unicef.org/noteworthy/iraq/]
UNICEF (U.N. Children’s Fund) [http://www.unicef.org/] is an advocate for the
protection of children’s rights and is tasked to help children living in poverty, reduce
childhood death and illness in developing countries, and to protect children in the
midst of war and natural disasters.
U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq
[http://www.iq.undp.org/]
UNDP [http://www.undp.org/] is the U.N.’s global development network that
helps countries build solutions to the challenges of democratic governance, poverty
reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment, information and
communications technology, and HIV/AIDS. The United Nations Development
Programme has been present in Iraq since 1976.
6 Shino Yuasa, “New Envoy Due in Iraq for Four Month Aid Mission,” Agence France
Presse, June 1, 2003.

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CRS-3
The UNDP’s Electricity Network Rehabilitation Programme in Northern
Iraq (ENRP)
[http://www.enrp.undp.org/]
The ENRP’s overall objectives are primarily the rehabilitation, installation, and
development of the electricity network in the three northern governorates of
Dohuk, Erbil, and Suleimaniyah in Iraq.
World Food Programme (WFP) Country Involvement—Iraq
[http://www.wfp.org/country_brief/indexcountry.asp?country=368]
The WFP [http://www.wfp.org/index2.html] was set up in 1963 and is the U.N.
agency that combats global hunger and supports economic and social development
in countries of need.
World Health Organization (WHO) Iraq Country Page
[http://www.who.int/country/irq/en/]
WHO [http://www.who.int/en/] is the United Nations specialized agency for
health.
Other U.N. Agencies—Iraq
Following is a list of U.N. agencies which would likely be involved in
humanitarian efforts in Iraq in the event of a war.
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
[http://www.reliefweb.int/ocha_ol/index.html]
The OCHA works with governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
U.N. agencies and individuals, and helps them mobilize and coordinate their efforts
in responding to disasters, emergencies or a humanitarian crisis around the world.
U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP)
[http://www.unep.org/]
The UNEP works to promote the future of the earth’s environment. Its activities
cover a wide range of environmental issues, including the promotion of
environmental science and information and dealing with environmental disasters and
emergencies. The UNEP in 1993 issued a report on the environmental effects of oil
spills as a result of the 1991 Iraq-Kuwait conflict.7
7 U.N. Environment Programme, Updated Scientific Report on the Environmental Effects
of the Conflict between Iraq and Kuwait, Mar. 8, 1993. United Nations document
UNEP/GC.17/lnf.9. This document summarizes the U.N.’s findings on the environmental
impacts of the oil fires and oil spills during the 1991 Gulf War.

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CRS-4
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
[http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home]
The agency’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of
refugees, and coordinates efforts to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems
worldwide.
See Background Paper on Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Iraq at
[http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rsd/+8wwBmeiSJ69wwwwnwwwwwwwx
FqwqFqwmFqwnFqwhFqwtFqnfGw3rFqwoFqwzFqwAFqqejhrmFmmDFqm7y-d
Fqt2IygZf3zmtwwwwwww/rsddocview.pdf].
Following are two relevant U.N. Web sites that provide background information
and major documents pertaining to Iraq, and current news and information
concerning U.N. and other humanitarian efforts.
ReliefWeb Iraq
[http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/ByCountry/Iraq?OpenDocument&StartKey=I
raq&Expandview]

This page contains the latest major documents and background information on
humanitarian issues pertaining to Iraq.
ReliefWeb [http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf] is a project of the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and serves the
information needs of the humanitarian community.
UN Wire
[http://www.unwire.org/]
UN Wire is a news service sponsored by the UN Foundation and its sister
organization, the Better World Fund. UN Wire provides daily news briefings
covering the United Nations, global affairs, and key international issues.
See the Humanitarian and Food Security page for news briefings concerning
current humanitarian issues at [http://www.unwire.org/Channels/HAFS.asp].
Key U.S. Government Agencies
Following is a list of key U.S. government agencies that are currently involved
in providing humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Internet addresses of the U.S.
government agencies as well as links to their Web pages on Iraq (if available) are
provided.
Agency for International Development (USAID)
Assistance for Iraq
[http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/]

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CRS-5
USAID is an independent federal government agency responsible for providing
economic and humanitarian assistance around the globe. Information is provided on
all USAID assistance programs by country and region.
Following are offices within USAID that also provide some type of specialized
humanitarian assistance:
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
Iraq: Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction Assistance
[http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistanc
e/countries/iraq/hra_index.html]
The OFDA focuses on disaster prevention, preparedness, and delivery of
disaster relief.
Office of Food for Peace (FFP)
[http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/ffp/]
The FFP makes commodity donations to NGOs to address the needs of
food security through 5-year development projects and through emergency food
assistance.
Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
[http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/transition_assistance/]
The OTI helps local partners advance peace and democracy in major
conflict-prone countries, and works closely with local, national, international,
and nongovernmental partners to carry out short-term, high-impact projects that
increase momentum for peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction, including
encouraging measures to bring the military under civilian democratic control.
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM)
[http://www.state.gov/g/prm/]
The PRM of the Department of State coordinates U.S. international population
policy and promotes its goals through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. It works
closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development, which administers U.S.
international population programs. PRM also administers and monitors U.S.
contributions to international and nongovernmental organizations to assist and
protect refugees abroad.

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CRS-6
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA)
[http://www.cpa-iraq.org/]
The CPA is responsible for the administration and humanitarian efforts in Iraq,
and is headed by former diplomat L. Paul Bremer III, who was appointed by the
President on May 6, 2003, as the chief civil administrator in Iraq.8
Department of Agriculture
[http://www.usda.gov/]
U.S. International Food Aid Programs provides humanitarian assistance to
needy people throughout the world, including poor countries.
[http://www.fas.usda.gov/food-aid.html]
See Country Pages—Iraq.
[http://www.fas.usda.gov/hotpages/default.asp?lstCode=IZ&submit=Submit+Query]
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
[http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/index.html]
The OFAC of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces
economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security
goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers,
and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. The OFAC also issues licenses for American NGOs planning to provide
humanitarian assistance independently to the Iraqi people.
See OFAC’s Sanctions Program and Country Summaries—Iraq for specific
guidelines for NGO registration.
[http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions/index.html]
Office of Humanitarian Assistance and Mine Action (HA/MA)
[http://www.dsca.osd.mil/programs/HA/HA.htm]
The HA/MA is part of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). It
provides supervision and oversight of the Department of Defense (DOD)
humanitarian mine action and humanitarian assistance programs for the Director,
DSCA. The DOD programs include the Humanitarian Mine Action program (HMA),
the Humanitarian Assistance (HA) program, the Humanitarian and Civic Assistance
(HCA) program, and the Foreign Disaster Relief Assistance and Emergency
Response (FDR/ER) program.
8 CRS Report RL31833, Iraq: Recent Developments ..., pp. 5-6.

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CRS-7
Office of International Information Programs (IIP)
[http://usinfo.state.gov/]
The IIP, part of the Department of State, is the principal international
communications service for the State Department and the foreign affairs community.
See Iraq Update for latest news, including U.S. plans on humanitarian assistance
and fact sheets concerning Iraq. [http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/]
Selected Major International and Nongovernmental
Organizations—Iraq
Following is a list of major international aid organizations that may possibly
provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Internet addresses of the humanitarian aid
organizations as well as links to their Web pages on Iraq (if available) are provided.
Doctors without Borders (known in French as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF)
[http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/]
MSF, founded by French doctors in 1971, delivers emergency aid to victims of
armed conflict, epidemics, and natural and man-made disasters, and to others who
lack health care due to social or geographical isolation.
Iraq Update: Humanitarian Needs in Iraq.
[http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/iraq.shtml]
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
[http://www.hrw.org/]
HRW is an NGO dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the
world.
Background on War in Iraq. [http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/iraq/]
HRW World Report 2003—Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.
[http://www.hrw.org/wr2k3/mideast4.html]
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
[http://www.icrc.org/]
The ICRC, established in 1863, is impartial, neutral, and independent
international organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the
lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with
assistance.
ICRC in Iraq.
[http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList74/F8EB853A6796F202C125
6B6600601EDD]

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CRS-8
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
[http://www.ifrc.org/]
The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, and its mission is
to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.
IFRC in Iraq. [http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/cn6.asp?countryid=87]
Mercy Corps International
[http://www.mercycorps.org/]
Mercy Corps is a not-for-profit organization that exists to alleviate suffering,
poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just
communities.
Crisis in Iraq: Mercy Corps Responds.
[http://www.mercycorps.org/article.php?id=1265]
Oxfam International
[http://www.oxfam.org/eng/]
Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working together in
more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering, and injustice.
Oxfam—Iraq. [http://www.oxfam.org/eng/campaigns_emer_iraq.htm]
Selected U.S.-Based Humanitarian Aid
Organizations—Iraq
Following is a selected list of U.S.-based aid organizations that may
possibly provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Internet addresses of the aid
organizations as well as links to their Web pages on Iraq (if available) are provided.
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): Statement on Iraq
[http://www.afsc.org/human-face/default.htm]
The AFSC [http://www.afsc.org/] is a Quaker organization that includes people
of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian
service.
Bread for the World: Statement on Iraq
[http://www.bread.org/iraq.html]
Bread for the World [http://www.bread.org/] is a nonpartisan Christian citizens’
movement of 46,000 people of faith, including 2,000 churches, that addresses hunger
in the United States and around the world.

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CRS-9
CARE USA: Iraq Regional Crisis
[http://www.careusa.org/iraq/iraq-war.asp]
CARE USA [http://www.careusa.org/] is a part of CARE International, a
confederation of 11 CARE organizations that strives to be a global force and partner
of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS): Iraq Humanitarian Response
[http://www.catholicrelief.org/emergency_responses/iraq_humanitarian_response/
index.cfm]
CRS [http://www.catholicrelief.org/] was founded by the Catholic Bishops of
the United States to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country.
Church World Service (CWS): Statement on Iraq
[http://www.churchworldservice.org/news/Iraq/index.html]
CWS [http://www.churchworldservice.org/] is the relief, development, and
refugee assistance ministry of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations
in the United States. CWS works worldwide to meet human needs and foster self-
reliance.
Lutheran World Relief (LWR): Iraq Update
[http://www.lwr.org/mideast/news.html]
LWR [http://www.lwr.org/] works with partners in 50 countries to help people
grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods,
and recover from disasters.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR): Research and Investigations—Iraq
[http://www.phrusa.org/research/find/find_iraq.html]
PHR [http://www.phrusa.org/] promotes health by protecting human rights.
Using medical and scientific methods, PHR investigates and exposes violations of
human rights worldwide and works to stop them.
U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR): Iraq: Refugees
[http://www.refugees.org/news/press_releases/2003/Iraq/region.cfm#iraq]
USCR [http://www.refugees.org/] defends the rights and calls for adequate
protection and assistance of all uprooted people, including refugees and asylum
seekers.
Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children/IRC: Iraq Watch
[http://www.womenscommission.org/special/iq/index.html]
The Women’s Commission [http://www.womenscommission.org/] is an
advocacy organization that monitors the care and protection of refugee women and
children.

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CRS-10
World Resources Institute (WRI): Environmental profiles for Iraq and other
Middle Eastern countries
[http://www.wri.org/iraq/index.html]
WRI [http://www.wri.org/] is an environmental think tank that provides
information, ideas, and solutions to global environmental problems and finds
practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives.

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