The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
Baghdad on
12 April.52
Further
flights were expected in the coming days and Coalition
commanders
would try to ensure flights were highlighted to the
media.
The Inquiry
has seen no evidence of further discussion of the air
bridge.
70.
The Cabinet
Office reported on 13 April that “despite media reporting of
widespread
looting and
disruption”, the humanitarian situation continued to show “signs
of
stabilisation”.53
The ICRC
had said that security remained the greatest concern
in
Baghdad.
Liaison between Coalition Forces and Iraqi technicians and managers
on
restoring
and maintaining utilities had begun.
71.
In his
conversation with President Bush on 14 April, Mr Blair
identified the need to
improve
conditions in hospitals as the top humanitarian priority and the
main focus of
media
interest.54
Baghdad was
still not a safe environment for humanitarian
assistance.
72.
By the middle
of April, USAID and DFID were beginning to look beyond
humanitarian
assistance to longer-term recovery and reconstruction.
73.
Mr Suma
Chakrabarti, DFID Permanent Secretary, visited Washington on 14
April.55
74.
The UK
Delegation to the IMF and the International Bank of Reconstruction
and
Development
(UKDEL IMF/IBRD) reported that USAID officials had told
Mr Chakrabarti
that, in
the absence of the expected refugee crisis, USAID would be able to
divert some
resources
from humanitarian assistance to reconstruction.
75.
UKDEL IMF/IBRD
also reported that: “US reconstruction plans are
comprehensive,
and well
advanced.”
76.
A DFID team
visited Kuwait from 14 to 16 April and reported on 22
April:
“Broadly,
the humanitarian crisis that was feared in Iraq has not
materialised.
The need
for acute relief
operations
has been limited. In the South, localised needs
are being
addressed by the military and International Committee of the Red
Cross.
As soon as
security permits, UN agencies and NGOs are ready to begin
operations
on the
ground – this is already happening in South and North Iraq. In
Baghdad and
other
central towns, the humanitarian situation is more
difficult.
“However,
there is an urgent need for recovery. Key
issues here include restoring
law and
order; restoring water, fuel and power supplies; re-opening
schools, medical
facilities
and other public services; restoring the underlying public
administration
including
payment of salaries …
52
Letter
Watkins to Manning, 12 April 2003, ‘Baghdad: Medical
Support’.
53
Paper
Cabinet Office, 13 April 2003, ‘Iraq: Afternoon Round-Up, 13
April’.
54
Letter
Cannon to McDonald, 14 April 2003, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s
Conversation with Bush, 14 April’.
55
Telegram 33
UKDel IMF/IBRD to FCO London, 14 April 2003, ‘Iraq: Post-Conflict –
US Government
Thinking,
IFI and UNDP Preparations’.
16