The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

706.  At DOP(I) on 11 January 2007, Ministers commented that Internally Displaced

People (IDPs) were “principally an Iraqi Government responsibility – it should address

the violence and push forward reconciliation, and had the resources to address the

needs of the displaced”.401

707.  Mr Benn wrote to Mr Blair on 24 January to provide an update on the situation:

“Displacement is causing a de facto geographical separation along sectarian lines,

as different ethnic groups move to areas in which they will be the majority.

“There is clearly a strong political dynamic to the situation and it is essential

that we address both the cause and the symptoms … We should press the Iraqi

Government to address displacement issues as part of reconciliation, and to do

more itself to provide basic services to meet humanitarian needs. The picture is

unpalatable for the Iraqi Government … and indeed for the coalition (hence the

largely silent nature of the humanitarian crisis so far) …

“It is clear that while not letting the Iraqi Government off the hook, we must also

continue to respond to humanitarian needs in Iraq … ” 402

708.  The first set of reports requested by Mr Blair’s Private Secretary on 8 January

was passed to Mr Blair on 19 January.403 It included a report from Dr Marsden on

developments in Basra.404

709.  On the economy, Dr Marsden reported that the PRT “continues to focus on building

the capacity of the Provincial Council to identify priority investment, secure funding and

spend it in a transparent way”.

710.  DFID produced its first fortnightly update on reconstruction for Mr Blair on

25 January.405 The paper, which he welcomed,406 highlighted the need to persuade

Prime Minister Maliki to see reconstruction as a strategic issue:

“As the sectarian conflict in Iraq deepens, the coalition’s ability to buy consent

through quick impact reconstruction projects is waning. Alongside security, Prime

Minister Maliki’s Government must start providing basic services to help it win back

legitimacy from the militias and other armed groups …

“There are some signs that the Government is at last starting to grasp this agenda.

It has set up an economic committee … and a basic services committee … These

committees, with US support, aim to co-ordinate civil-military action to build local

401  Minutes, 11 January 2007, DOP(I) meeting.

402  Letter Benn to Blair, 24 January 2007, [untitled].

403  Minute Banner to Prime Minister, 19 January 2007, ‘Iraq Update, 18 January’.

404  Letter Marsden to Aldred, 18 January 2007, ‘Basra: Weekly Report’.

405  Paper DFID, 25 January 2007, ‘Iraq: Reconstruction Update’.

406  Paper DFID, 25 January 2007, ‘Iraq: Reconstruction Update’; Letter Banner to Siddiq, 29 January 2007,

‘Iraq’.

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