10.2 |
Reconstruction: July 2004 to July 2009
•
examining
DFID’s assistance to key Iraqi ministries, in particular
defence,25
“to ensure
real robustness and … if necessary, our people put in”;
and
•
unblocking
funding for reconstruction, in the Sunni triangle and
elsewhere,
as the
“key to winning hearts and minds”.
“When I
meet Allawi in September, it should be with a coherent plan to
change
the situation.”
58.
Mr Benn
visited Iraq from 31 August to 1 September, despite significant
security
concerns.26
He reported
to Mr Blair on 3 September that despite worsening
security,
some
progress was being made:
“But the
pace of reconstruction is still too slow …
“DFID’s
approach of encouraging the international system to help rebuild
Iraq and
working
through bilateral programmes at the national level (to build
capacity in key
ministries)
and in the South (to help create jobs, renew infrastructure and
reduce
poverty) is
still right. But I will want to see substantial progress on
spending and
delivery
before committing any more to the [World Bank and UN] Trust
Funds.
I have therefore
concentrated on new bilateral programmes this financial
year.” 27
59.
Mr Benn
reported that, while in Iraq, he had announced new funding for
projects
in the
South to respond to critical needs in essential services and create
jobs and build
capacity in
the four southern Governorates. The MOD had also secured
additional
funding for
QIPs.
60.
Mr Benn
concluded: “We will need to stay flexible in responding to
changing
circumstances.”
61.
The projects
referred to by Mr Benn were the £16.5m southern Iraq
Employment
and Service
Programme (SIESP) and the £20.5m Governorates Capacity
Building
62.
On 3
September, at the request of the MOD, the Current Intelligence
Group (CIG)
assessed
the impact of the recent Shia violence on the situation in
MND(SE).29
25
Support to
the Iraqi Ministry of Defence was provided by the MOD.
26
Letter
Gibbons to Simpson, 23 August 2004. ‘Ad Hoc RMV – Hilary Benn’s
Visit to Iraq’.
27
Letter Benn
to Prime Minister, 3 September 2004, ‘My Visit to
Iraq’.
28
Paper DFID,
4 November 2009, ‘Iraq – DFID Timeline and Financial Commitments:
2003 – 2009’.
29
CIG
Assessment, 3 September 2004, ‘Iraq Security: Shia Violence in
Multinational Division
(South East)’.
207