UNEP in Iraq · UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment, 1 Introduction The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the specialized body within the United Nations organization

UNEP in IraqPost-Conflict Assessment, Clean-up and Reconstruction

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First published in December 2007 by the United Nations Environment Programme.© 2007, United Nations Environment Programme.

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Table of contents

1. Introduction 4

1.1 ObjectivesofthisReport................................................................................................................................................................ 41.2 UNEPActivitiesinIraq2003-2006................................................................................................................................................... 41.3 OtherPublicationsfromtheIraqProject........................................................................................................................................ 51.4 FundingfortheIraqProject............................................................................................................................................................ 61.5 KeyPartnersfortheIraqProject..................................................................................................................................................... 61.6 SecuritySituationinIraqduring2003-2006................................................................................................................................... 6

2. Country Background 8

2.1 Orientation..................................................................................................................................................................................... 82.2 GeographicalFeatures................................................................................................................................................................ 102.3 LandCoverandLandUse........................................................................................................................................................... 112.4 PopulationOverview.................................................................................................................................................................... 112.5 OverviewofKeyEnvironmentalIssues.......................................................................................................................................... 112.6 InstitutionalStructuresforEnvironmentalGovernance................................................................................................................. 192.7 ParticipationinInternationalOrganizations/Agreements........................................................................................................... 20

3. UNEP Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq 21

3.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 213.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 21

4. UNDG’s Assessment of Needs 25

4.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 254.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 254.3 EnvironmentalNeedsAssessment–Synthesisof2004Priorities.................................................................................................... 25

5. Environmental Site Assessment 28

5.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 285.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 285.3 NationalPartners.......................................................................................................................................................................... 285.4 Training......................................................................................................................................................................................... 295.5 SiteAssessmentActivities.............................................................................................................................................................. 30

6. Institutional Capacity Assessment 32

6.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 326.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 336.3 Recommendations....................................................................................................................................................................... 34

7. Capacity-Building for Environmental Governance 35

7.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 357.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 357.3 TrainingEvents.............................................................................................................................................................................. 357.4 TechnicalAssistanceonEnvironmentalLaw................................................................................................................................ 367.5 StrengtheningAnalyticalCapabilities.......................................................................................................................................... 367.6 EnvironmentalInformationCentre............................................................................................................................................... 36

8. Hazardous Waste Collection and Storage 37

8.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 378.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 37

9. Environmental Diplomacy and Mainstreaming 39

9.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 399.2 Iran-IraqDialogueontheMesopotamianMarshlands................................................................................................................ 399.3 RelinkingIraqtotheRegionalOrganizationfortheProtectionofMarineEnvironment................................................................ 399.4 RelinkingIraqtotheRamsarConvention..................................................................................................................................... 399.5 Capacity-BuildingforEngagingotherMultilateralSystems.......................................................................................................... 409.6 EnvironmentalMainstreaming...................................................................................................................................................... 40

10. Capacity-Building for Depleted Uranium 41

10.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 4110.2 KeyActivitiesandOutcomes....................................................................................................................................................... 4111. IraqiMarshlandsProject............................................................................................................................................................... 4311.1 Background................................................................................................................................................................................. 4311.2 PilotProjectsonDrinkingWater,SanitationandWetlandRehabilitation...................................................................................... 4611.3 Capacity-BuildingandAwareness-Raising.................................................................................................................................. 5711.4 CommunityLevelInitiativesinThreeGovernorates...................................................................................................................... 6111.5 DataandInformationManagement........................................................................................................................................... 63

12. Project Achievements 67

Appendix I: List of References and Internet Sources 69Appendix II: List of Equipment Provided 70Appendix III: Training received by MoEn since 2003 75Appendix IV: List of Contributors 77

� UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment,

1 Introduction

TheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)is the specializedbodywithin theUnitedNationsorganization(UN)withaspecificmandatetoaddressenvironmentalconcerns.In1999,UNEPestablishedtheBalkansTaskForcetostudytheenvironmentalconsequencesoftheconflictinKosovo.Sincethen,UNEPhasundertakenpost-conflictenvironmentalassessments in Serbia,Montenegro,Macedonia,Albania, Afghanistan, Liberia, the OccupiedPalestinianTerritories,LebanonandSudan.

InFebruary2003,asthecoalitionforcesplannedtheirinvasionofIraq,UNEPinitiatedadesk-basedenvironmentalsurveillancetomonitortheconflictasitoccurred.ThisresultedinthepublicationoftheDesk Study on the Environment in IraqinApril2003.Sincethen,UNEPhasundertakenanumberoffollow-upactivitiesinIraq.

1.1 Objectives of this Report

AwiderangeofactivitieswerecarriedoutbyUNEPinIraqbetween2003and2006,primarilythroughthePost-ConflictandDisasterManagementBranch(PCDMB)based inGeneva,Switzerland,and theInternational Environmental Technology Centre(IETC)based inOsakaand Shiga, Japan.Manyactivitiescontinuedinto2007andbeyond.

This report is an up-to-date compilation of thevarious activities undertaken by UNEP in Iraqbetween2003and2006. Itsobjectivesare thefollowing:

1. To provide a complete description of thevariousactivitiesundertakenbyUNEPinIraqbetween2003and2006;

2. To make an objective assessment of theimpactsofUNEP’sintervention;and

3. TodocumentthelessonslearnedbyUNEPinimplementingactivitiesin acomplexsituationsuchasIraq.

1.2 UNEP Activities in Iraq 2003-2006

UNEP was active in Iraq even before the 2003conflict, but attention was particularly focused

ontheenvironmentalsituationduringtheconflictand ensuing reconstruction period, and theestablishmentoftheMinistryofEnvironment(MoEN)providedUNEPwithakeycounterpartinstitutioninitscapacity-buildingefforts.

To support the Ministry of Environment in Iraqin developing capacity for environmentalgovernance, and to address some of the keypriorityenvironmentalmanagementissues,UNEP’sinterventionshadthefollowingkeyobjectives:

1. Assess the existing environmental issues inIraq that require focusedattention from theministry and support from the internationalcommunity;

2. AssesstheexistingcapacitywithintheMinistryofEnvironmentandotherministriestoaddressthoseenvironmentalpriorities;

3. Undertake field-based assessments of en-vironmentalcontaminationcausedbyconflictandbyindustrialactivities;

4. SupportthesustainablemanagementoftheIraqimarshlands;

5. Re-link Iraq to regional and multilateralinstitutionsdealingwithenvironmentalissues;

6. Re-establish cooperation between Iraqand its neighbours on issues relating to theenvironment;

7. Strengthen the institutional capacity of theministry for environmental monitoring andinformationmanagement;

8. StrengthentheinstitutionalcapacityinIraqforresponding to environmental emergencies;and

9. MainstreamenvironmentalconcernsintootheractivitiesundertakenbytheUnitedNationsinIraq.

From February 2003, UNEP intervened in thefollowingkeyareas:

1. Desk study on the Environment in Iraq(February-April2003);

�Clean-up and Reconstruction

2. Post-conflictneedsassessment(June-October2003);

3. Capacity-building activities (March 2004-September2006);

4. Environmental site assessments (July 2004-November2005);

5. Institutional capacity assessment (January-December2005);

6. Clean-up of contaminated sites (November2005-December2006);

7. Environmental mainstreaming within the UNProgrammeforIraq(2005-2006);

8. Support to environmental management ofthe Iraqi marshlands (July 2004-continuing),including:

– Strategydevelopmentandcoordination;

– Baselinedatacollectionandanalysis;

– Capacity-building;

– Pilot project implementation in drinkingwater provision, sanitation and wetlandrestoration;and

– Awareness-raising;

9. Activities related todepleteduranium (June2005-continuing).

The activities in each of these areas whichrangedfromtraining,theprovisionequipmentand assistance to information management.ActivitieswereplannedandimplementedwithaviewtohelpingIraqrecoverfromthedamageits environment incurred through conflict,as well as to setting a basis for sustainabledevelopment.

WhenUNEPdesigneditsIraqprogrammein2003,the assumption was that the security situationwould gradually improve, allowing UNEP toestablisha fieldoffice in Baghdadanddeployinternationalteamswithinthecountry.However,thedeterioratingsecuritysituationinIraqpreventedUNEPfromfieldinginternationalstaffthere.Instead,arangeofinnovativesolutionshadtobeputinplacetodelivertheproject.Asignificantpartoftheprojectwasimplementedbyprovidingadequate

trainingandequipmenttoIraqicounterpartsfromgovernmentministries.Substantialeffortsalsowentintoon-the-groundimplementationofpilotprojects.Capacity-buildingactivitieswereundertakenfromneighbouring countries such as Jordan, Syria,Egypt and Bahrain – and when required, fromSwitzerland,KenyaandJapan.Forthemarshlandsproject,trainingactivitiesinsideIraqwerecarriedout in cooperation with relevant ministries andlocaluniversities.Tofacilitateconstantdialogueand domestic implementation, the marshlandsproject also appointed a National Coordinatorand established a coordination mechanismwithnational,governorateandlocalinstitutions.Finally,internationalcontractorsworkingwithlocalemployeesundertooktheclean-upandhardwareinstallationactivities.

1.3 Other Publications from the Iraq Project

Aseriesofindividualreportswerepreparedduringthecourseoftheproject.

1. Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq(2003);

2. Environment in Iraq, Progress Report(2003);

3. Assessment of Environmental Hot-Spots in Iraq(2005);

4. Capacity-Building for Assessment of Depleted Uranium(2008);

5. ReportsontheIraqimarshlands,including:

a. Report of the UNEP Roundtable on Iraqi Marshland Management(September2004);

b. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Phytotechnology for Wetland Management(EnglishandArabic,2005);

c. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Water Quality Management – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

d. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Sustainable Sanitation – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);


e. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Community Level Initiatives – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

f. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: ESTs for Drinking Water Provision – A Training Kit (English andArabic,2005);

g. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: EST Assessment Methodology and Implementation – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

h. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Wetland Management – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

i. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: IWRM Policy Integration – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

j. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Marshland Information Network – A Training Kit (English andArabic,2005);

k. Environmental Management of the Iraqi Marshlands: Wetland Remote Sensing – A Training Kit(EnglishandArabic,2005);

l. Back to Life (information tool in English,ArabicandJapanese,2005,2006)

Thepresentdocumentdraws from theactivitiesreportedon inearlierpublications. Eachof thereportslistedabovewasreviewedwithaneyetoidentifyinghowtheindividualactivitiescontributedtoUNEP’soverallobjectivesofintervention.Suchananalysiswasnotpossibleatthetimetheactivitieswere undertaken. This current report, therefore,provides a significant insight into the overallsuccessofUNEP’sinterventioninIraq.

1.4 Funding for the Iraq Projects

ThetotalcostoftheoriginalUNEPenvironmentalassessment programme in 2003-04 wasapproximatelyUSD2.5million.TheUKGovernmentagreed to fund50percentof the totalamount(GBP 717,146/approximately USD 1.2 million),whiletheGovernmentofGermanyagreedtofundEUR100,000(approximatelyUSD122,000)towardscapacity-building activities related to disastermanagement.

InJuly2004,theGovernmentofJapan(throughthe IraqTrustFund) supportedUNEP’scontinuedinvolvementinIraqintwoareas:USD4.7millionwasprovided in supportof theentirecapacity-building related activities, while USD 11 millionwasgrantedforactivitiesrelatingtotherestorationand management of the Iraqi marshlands. Inaddition,theUKandItalianGovernmentsmadeallocationstosupportdonorcoordinationfortheIraqimarshlandsin2005.

InSeptember2005,theIraqTrustFundprovidedfurthersupportofUSD905,000fortheclean-upoftwoseverelycontaminatedsites.

In 2006, the Government of Italy and theGovernmentofJapanmadeadditionalbilateralallocations of approximately USD 880,000 andUSD 1 million to continue the Iraqi marshlandsproject into its second phase. In 2007, theGovernment of Japan pledged approximatelyUSD900,000forthethirdphaseofthemarshlandsprojecttowards2008.

1.5 Key Partners for the Iraq Project

Anumberofinstitutionalpartnershipswereforgedthroughouttheimplementationoftheproject.Keypartnerswere:

1. TheIraqiMinistryofEnvironment(MoEn);

2. TheIraqiMinistryofWaterResources(MOWR);

3. TheCentrefortheRestorationofIraqiMarshlands(CRIM);and

4. TheUnitedNationsOfficeofProjectServices(UNOPS).

In addition, the Iraqi marshlands project hascooperated extensively with local communitygroups,non-governmentalorganizations(NGOs)andIraqiuniversities.

1.6 Security Situation in Iraq during 2003-2006

ThesecuritysituationinIraqchangedconsiderablyduring the period of implementation of UNEPprojects. In July-August 2003, it was possibleto obtain security clearances to travel into thecountry.AfterthebombingoftheUNofficeand

7Clean-up and Reconstruction

consequent lossof staffmembers,however, theUNdecidedtowithdrawfromIraq.

ThesecuritysituationimpactedtheUNEPoperationsinthefollowingways:

1. TerrorismclaimedlivesofsomeIraqigovernmentofficialsassociatedwiththeproject,whileothersresigned from their positions citing securityconcerns.Thefocalpointforthemarshlandsproject and other high-level officials withintheMinistryofMunicipalitiesandPublicWorkswere killed in terrorist attacks that targetedtheDeputyPrimeMinister inside theministrypremises in early 2007. Such loss of humanlife is tragic and devastating, and destroysthe much-needed human and institutionalcapitaltorebuildIraq.UNEPoperationswereputonholdwhiletheministryregroupedandappointed new personnel. While activitieswerecontinuedwithnewresolve,suchviolentlossofdedicatedindividualsandcolleaguesinevitably had psychological impacts onpersonnelassociatedwiththeproject.

2. Implementationoffieldactivitiesincurreddelaysduetosecurityproblems.Workhourswereoftenshortened to enable personnel movementduring safer time periods. Border closings,curfewsandotherrestrictionsalsoimpededthemovementofequipmentintoIraqandimpactedpersonnelmovementforinstallation.

3. Some projects had to be modified andadaptedindesignanddeliverytominimizetime and efforts inside Iraq. For example,to shorten the time needed for installation,water treatment equipment was deliveredin prefabricated containers that were theninstalled in the field to minimize furtherneed for shelter constructions and securityprovisions. All meetings and training that

required participation of international staffhad to be undertaken outside Iraq. Asoperations progressed into 2005 and 2006,even road travel between Baghdad andAmmanbecamedangerous.Theunitcostofdelivery of training increased substantially,resultinginaproportionalreductioninthetotalnumberofpeoplewhocouldbetrainedforsomeprojects,whileotherprojectsshortenedthenumberoftrainingdaysbyconcentratinglectures and scheduling for longer traininghoursperday.

4. UNEP experts could not travel to Iraq tosupervise the national experts undertakingvarious assessment activities. This however,mayhavehadapositiveoutcomeasitledtonationalexpertstakingmoreownershipoftheprocess.

5. ThemobilityofthenationalexpertsinsideIraqwasalsogreatlyrestricted.Consequently,someexpertscouldnotmakefulluseofthevariousskillsimpartedtothemforsomeprojects.

6. ThecompletionofvarioustasksinandaroundtheBaghdadareacouldnotbeverified,evenforcontractualpurposes.Exemptionshadtobemadeinregardstothis.

7. Installation and commissioning of someequipment took a disproportionate amountoftime,duetothedifficultyexperiencedbysomesuppliers’techniciansingainingaccesstoministrypremises.

Workingunder suchdifficult securityconditions,it is a testament to the dedication of the Iraqinationalsinvolved,andtheflexibilityoftheprojectmanagementteam,thattheprojectachievedallofitsstatedobjectives.


2 Country Background

2.1 Orientation

This chapter presents the basic geographical,geo-political and socio-economic backgroundinformation to provide a context for theenvironmentalissuesdiscussedinthesubsequentchapters.Thisinformationisnotintendedtobefully

comprehensive,butsourcesaregivenforreaderswishingtoobtainfurtherdetails.

Iraqcurrentlyhas18provincesorgovernorates.Since 1970, three of the northern governorates(Dahuk,SulaymaniyahandErbil)havebeenofficiallydesignatedasaKurdishautonomousregion,withaseparateelectedlegislature.ThisregioncameunderUNandcoalitionprotectionafterthe1990-1991GulfWar, toprevent the Iraqi regime fromtakingmilitaryactionagainsttheKurds.

MAP1: IraqandNeighbouringRegion

The boundaries and names shown and The designaTions used on This map do noT imply official endorsemenT or accepTance by The uniTed naTions.

�Clean-up and Reconstruction

MAP2: ElevationsandPrincipalGeographicalRegionsinIraq3

A R A B I A KUWAIT

T U R K E YJ

OR

DA

N

S Y R I A N A R A B

R E P U B L I C

I S L A M I C R E P U B L I C

O F

I R A N

S A U D I

BAGHDAD

KUWAIT

Kirkuk

Al Mawsil(Mosul)

Dahuk

Samarra'

An Najaf

Al HillahAl Kut

Karbala'

Al 'Amarah

Ba'qubah

An NasiriyahAs Samawah

Al Basrah

Ad Diwaniyah

Ar Ramadi

AsSulaymaniyah

Arbil

Nukhayb

Al Qurnah

Qal'at Sukkar

'Ali al Gharbi

As Salman

Qal'at Salih

Jalibah

Al Hayy

Bayji

Al Hadr

Tawuq

'Aqrah

Zakhu

Tall 'Afar

Sinjar

Makhmur

Kuysanjaq

Al Qayyarah

Rayat

Hit

Al Hadithah

'Anah

Al Qa'im

Akashat

Trebil

Al Walid

Ar Rutbah

Umm Qasr

Khanaqin

Al Fallujah

36˚

34˚

32˚

30˚

36˚

34˚

32˚

30˚

42˚ 44˚ 46˚ 48˚

42˚ 44˚ 46˚ 48˚40˚

RazzazaLake

Tigris

ThartharLake

-

Lake Urmia

Tigris

HabbaniyahLake

Euphrates

PersianGulf

Euphrates

Tigris

DesertPlateau

Uplandsregion

Northeasternhighlands

Alluvialplain

0 100 15050

0 100 15015050 200

200 mi

300 km

Source: UN Cartographic Section DPI, UN Habitat, HIC Iraq

International boundary

National capital

Governorate capital

Town, village

Water body

Elevation and principal geographical regions of Iraq

Governorate boundary

Express way

Main road

River

Temporary drainage

50

<025

1002505001000150020002500300035004000

No data

Elevation (m)

The boundaries and names shown and The designaTions used on This map do noT imply official endorsemenT or accepTance by The uniTed naTions.

10 UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment,

2.2 Geographical Features

Iraqcoversanareainexcessof430,000squarekilometres,withtheprecisefigurevaryingfromonesourcetoanotheranddepending,forinstance,onwhetherbothlandandwaterareasareincluded.Iraq’sGulfcoastlineisjust58kminlength.

Four main geographical zones have beenrecognized.1,2Thesearedescribedbrieflyas:

a. Desert plateau: Approximately 40 percentof Iraqi territory. A broad, stony plain withscatteredstretches -of sand, lyingwestandsouthwestoftheEuphratesRiverandsparselyinhabitedbypastoralnomads.Anetworkofseasonalwatercourses(orwadis)runsfromthebordertotheEuphratesRiver.

b. Northeasternhighlands:Coveringapproximately20percentofIraqiterritory.ThisregionextendssouthofalinebetweenMosultoKirkuktowards

theborderswithTurkeyandIran,wheremountainrangesreachupto3,600minaltitude.

c. Uplands region:About10percentof Iraq.Atransitionalareabetweenthehighlandsandthedesertplateau,locatedbetweentheTigrisnorthofSamarraandtheEuphratesnorthofHit,andformingpartofalargernaturalareathatextendsintoSyriaandTurkey.Muchofthiszonemaybeclassifiedasdesertbecausewatercoursesflowindeeplycutvalleys,makingirrigationfarmoredifficultthaninthealluvialplain.

d. Alluvialplain:Approximately30percentofIraq.Formedby thecombineddeltasof the TigrisandEuphratesRivers.ThisregionbeginsnorthofBaghdadandextendstothePersianGulf.Theonce-extensivewetlandsoftheregionhavebeendecimatedbydamminganddiversionof theEuphratesinTurkeyandSyria,andbylarge-scaledrainageworkscarriedoutbytheIraqiregimeinthewakeofthe1991GulfWar.

Aerial survey near Baghdad in August 2003


2.3 Land Cover and Land Use

Thedesertplateauprovides thecountry’smainrangeland grazing, as well as limited dry landcultivation. The uplands and mountains yieldacorns, almonds, walnuts and pine nuts, withadditional grazing and dry land cultivation.Irrigatedagricultureoccursmainlyinthealluvialplain.4 It is estimated that about 11.5 millionhectares (approximately one quarter of thecountry’stotalarea)arecultivable.However,duetosoildegradation,thepracticeofleavingfallowland,andtheunstablepoliticalsituationofrecentyears,itisestimatedthatonly3-5millionhectaresarecurrentlycultivatedannually.5

Iraq’sprincipalcropsincludedates,wheat,barley,maize,riceandcotton,aswellasawidevarietyoffruitandvegetables.Otherplantsaregrownforforestry,medicinalandornamentalpurposes.6

2.4 Population Overview

TheestimatedpopulationofIraqinJuly2006was26,783,3837withanationalaveragepopulation

densityof51personspersquarekilometre.8However,actual density varies from 5 inhabitants/km2 inthewesterndesertprovinceofAl-Anbar (Anwar)province,tomorethan170inhabitants/km2inthefertilelowlandsofBabil(Babylon).Approximately75percentof thepopulation isconcentrated inurban centres. Average population growth wasestimatedat3.6percent in theperiod1980-90,but emigration of foreign workers and severeeconomichardshiphavereducedtheratesince1990,9withestimatedgrowthof2.82percent in2002.Inthesameyear,theinfantmortalityratewasestimatedat57.61deaths/1,000livebirths,withlifeexpectancyatbirthof67.38years.Womenwereexpectedtobearanaverageof4.63children.10

2.5 Overview of Key Environmental Issues

Water Resources

PrecipitationinIraqislimitedandthemajorityofthecountryisaridtosemi-arid.Annualprecipitationinthenorthernhillsandmountainrangesvariesfrom

Children playing at the Ouireej site


300-1000mm,whileintheextremesouthandwestitisintheorderof100-200mm,andhighlyirregular.ThecentralalluvialplainreliessubstantiallyupontheflowoftheTigrisandEuphratesRiversandtheirtributaries.

CatchmentsandgroundwaterrechargezonesareconcentratedinthenorthandeastofIraqandtheneighbouringcountries.Inthemorearidhillyareasto the east, networks of wadis provide isolatedareas with significant recharge. Evaporationrates in the arid areas are much higher thanprecipitationandnaturalrechargerates,resultinginnaturalsalinizationofgroundwater.

Bothsurfacewaterandgroundwaterareheavilyextracted,withmost urbancentres servicedbyriver water extraction and purification plants.In rural areas, village wells and springs are thepredominantwatersources.

Obtainingandmaintainingthenecessaryquantityand quality of water represents a significant

problem for Iraq. Root causes of the problemincludeinternationalcaptureofupstreamwater,pollution,salinization,wastageandleakage.

Extensive dam projects since 1950 in Iraq, IranandTurkeyhaveresultedinasignificantreductioninannualflowsoftheTigrisandEuphratesRivers,permanentlychangingtheriverineandwetlandecology. Excessive river water abstraction andseveral millennia of irrigation have resulted inchronicsalinityproblemsformuchofthealluvialplain,puttingmanytraditionalwellfieldseffectivelyoutofuse.Surfacewaterquality incentralandsouthernIraqisgenerallypoorintermsofpotabilityduetohighsuspendedanddissolvedsolidsandsewagecontamination.

Environmental and Population Vulnerability

The importance of hazardous waste and landcontaminationissuesonaparticularsiteisstrongly

Stream draining sewage and contaminated by metal water


linkedtoitssurroundingsandinparticulartothevulnerabilityofthelocalnaturalenvironmentandpopulation.Assessingthesefactorsonanationalscalecanhelp to identify importantareasandtopicsforassessment.

For the natural environment, the indicators ofimportance are biodiversity and sensitivity todegradation. In general, the industrial areas inIraqaresitedinheavilydevelopedregionsoflowbiodiversityandsensitivity.BiodiversityisparticularlylowinthecentralplainandtheBaghdadregionduetoahistoryofsustainedagriculturalactivityandthepopulationdensityintheriverineareas.

The most significant environmental receptors– vulnerable people or environments – arethe Tigris and Euphrates River systems and theundergroundwateraquifers.InthesouthofIraqthemostimportantareasare:theIraqimarshlandsinsouthernIraq,theriparianzones,theestuarineShattAl-Arabandthecoastalmudflats.

For the population, the pattern of land use inIraq indicates that the human health issues forcontaminated land and hazardous waste aresimilar to those observed worldwide. Potential

pathways to exposure from toxic chemicals onsuch sites include direct contact (a risk for siteworkers or trespassers) from blown dust andcontaminateddrinkingwater.

ThemostimportantsourcesofdrinkingwateraretheTigrisandEuphratesRiversystems,withdozensoflarge-scalemunicipalsupplyriverwaterintakeslocatedinthecentralplainregion.Muchofthedeveloped central plain has saline or pollutedgroundwater, which prevents its use. Shallowvillagewellsarehoweverstillwidelyusedinruralareas,evenifsaline.

AnissueparticulartoIraqisthecontinuedlootingandlackofsecurityonmanyderelictandabandonedindustrialsites.Thisimpliesthattherisktothepublicfromdirectcontactwithhazardouschemicalsandwastesleftonsuchsitesisparticularlyhigh.

Basedon thisbroadassessmentof vulnerabilitytocontaminatedlandin Iraq,humanhealthrisksappeartobethepredominantissue.Thevulnerabilityof the surfacewaterandgroundwater resourcestopollution isacriticaland joint humanhealth/environmentalconcern.Otherenvironmentalrisks,thoughfarfromnegligible,areoflessconcern.

Garbage dump in a street of Baghdad

1� UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment,

Industrial Development

Contaminated sites and hazardous waste ariseprincipallyfromindustrialsites.AnunderstandingofthehistoryandstatusofIraqiindustrycanthereforeassistinthedirectionofeffortstoidentifyandassesscontaminationandhazardouswasteissues.

Iraq’sindustrialdevelopmenthashadaturbulenthistory,withperiodsofrapidgrowthanddecline.Developmentbeganatthestartofthetwentiethcentury with the commencement of significantoilproductionnearKirkukandBasra.Thisgrowth,however,waslargelylimitedtotheoilindustryandrelatedservices,andmostoftheequipmentwasimported.

Broaderindustrialdevelopmentbeganinthe1970swhentheIraqiGovernmentstartedadevelopmentprogrammelargelyfundedfromoilexportrevenues.The focuswasonmedium technology industriessuchastextiles,foodproductionandconstructionmaterialsandheavyindustryincludingiron,steeland basic petrochemicals. Higher technologygoodswere,andstillare,largelyimported.

Themineralsindustrygrewgraduallywithafocusonsulphur,phosphateandpotash,includingpost-processingoforestoproducesulphuricacid,alumandfertilisers.Atitspeakinthe1980s,Iraqwasoneoftheworld’slargestproducersoffertiliser.

Fromthe1970s,Iraqdevelopedadomesticarmsindustry that produced the full range of low tomedium technologygoods, suchasexplosives,smallarmsandartillerymunitionsaswellashigher-gradeitemssuchasmissiles.

OilwasdiscoveredincommercialquantitiesinIraqin1927,butproductionwasrelativelylimiteduntilthe1970s.Followingnationalizationin1972andthe rise inoilprices,oilproduction rose rapidly.By 1979 oil production represented 63 percentof Iraq’s gross domestic product (GDP). Peakproductionof3.7millionbarrelsperday(bpd)wasachievedin1979,comparedtoalowof1.5millionbpdin2002andthecurrentrate(June2005)ofapproximately1.9millionbpd.

MostindustrialdevelopmentinIraqwasbaseduponanationalizedsystemwithcentralgovernmentownershipanddirectionof industries. The internalmarketwastightlycontrolledanduncompetitive:uneconomicindustrieswerecommonlyunderwrittenandsubsidisedwith funds fromoilexports. This systemdeterioratedandthenlargelycollapsedintheperiodfrom1980to2003,dueacombinationofinherentinefficienciesandexternalevents.Asofmid2003,therewere45majorstate-ownedenterprises,manyeffectivelyderelict.

The Iran-Iraq war from 1980 to 1988 led to thediversionoffundstothearmsindustryanddrained

The Al Qadissiya site is unsecured, contains quantities of highly toxic chemicals and has been demolished in an uncontrolled manner, resulting in severe human and environmental hazards

1�Clean-up and Reconstruction

thenationaltreasury.Industriesthatwerepreviouslyhighlysubsidisedbeganaslowbutnearterminaldecline.Productionlevelsdropped,newcapitalprojectswerelimitedandexistingplantsbegantodegradeduetolimitedmaintenanceandalackofimportedspareparts.

The1991GulfWardealtanimmediateblowtotheIraqieconomyandthesubsequentprogrammeofUNsanctionsacceleratedtheprocessofindustrialdecay. Imports of key spare parts and sourcechemicalswereeffectivelycutoffandthelocalmarketforgoodsbecamedepressed.

Manyplantscontinued tooperateona limitedbasis,dismantlingtheirownequipmentforsparepartsanddevisingalternativesolutionsformissingpartsandchemicals.Thisprocesswasparticularlypronouncedinthearmsindustry,whichinmanycases reverted to older technology, e.g. forexplosivesproduction,whichcouldbeproducedusingdomesticgoodsandservices.

UNsanctions,whichwereinplacefrom1990to2003,the1990conflict,andotherproblemseithercurtailedorpreventedtheexportofmineralsandfinished materials. As a result, large stockpilesofunsoldmaterialbuiltupat someminingandmineral processing sites. As an example, up to500,000tonnesofsulphurwerestockpiledattheAlMishraqminingcomplexpendingexport.

Irrespectiveoftheproductionlevelsandeconomicconditions, state-owned industrial companiesemployed very large workforces, which werelargely retainedat leastupuntil2003.Manyofthemanagementandtechnicalstaffwerehighlyqualified,withparticularexpertiseinscienceandengineering.

ThearmsindustryinIraqdeclinedfromsanctionswithrespecttotheprocurementandmanufacturingofmoreadvancedweaponryandsomeexplosives,althoughtheoverallvolumeofproductionremainedhigh. The US military estimates the cache ofstockpiledmunitionsinIraqpriortothe2003conflictto be between 600,000 and 1 million tonnes.Environmental issues associated with munitionsdisposalarethereforepotentiallysignificantinIraq.

Theenvironmentalperformanceof Iraqi industrypre-2003ispoorlydocumentedandmanyrecordswerelostfrom2003onwards.Ingeneral,however,theenvironmentalperformanceofindustryinIraqcan be classed as poor and in line with basicinternationalstandardsfromthe1960stotheearly1980swhenmostoftheplantswereconstructed.

Discharges to air, water and soil were largelyuncontrolled,withtheexceptionofmajorplantsdischargingchemicaleffluentstotherivers.Insuchcases,modern(1970-90s)watertreatmentplantswereinstalledandtheireffectivenessmonitored.

Al Mishraq sulphur mining and acid complex


Hazardous Waste Management Issues

Theissuesofhazardouswastemanagementandcontaminatedlandarecommonlylinkedintwoways:

• Poormanagementofhazardousmaterialsandwastesisacommoncauseoflandcontamination(e.g.bythedumpingofwasteonsite);

• Remediationofcontaminatedlandcommonlyresultsinthegenerationofhazardouswastes,which then require proper management,includinganappropriatetreatmentordisposalroute.

AthirdlinkisalsoapparentinIraq.Previouslysoundsiteshavebeenextensivelydamagedbylootingand in the process, the chemicals previouslystoredonsitehavebeendumpedonsite,therebycreating hazardous waste and leading to landcontamination.

From the evidence available, it appears thathazardous waste management in Iraqi industrywas particularly poor, with many industriesdisposing of waste on site in an uncontrolledmanner.Thepredominanceoflarge,state-ownedindustriesandmilitaryprioritiesmeantthatexternalaccountabilityforwastemanagementwaslimited.IntheAl-QaaQaaexplosivesmanufacturingsiteforexample, flammablewasteswereburned intheopen,non-flammablewastesweredumpedonsiteandliquidwastesweredumpedintolargeunlinedevaporationponds.

With respect to hazardous waste treatmentanddisposal,atpresent there isnonationalorregional facility. The most common solution formajorfacilitiessuchasrefineries,minesorfactorycomplexesisunlinedpitslocatedonsite.

Municipalwastemanagementincludedtheuseoflocalandregionallandfills–essentiallyuncontrolleddumpsites.Insomecases,hazardouswastesfromindustrywerealsodisposedatsuchsites.

Inspection of a demolition site


Aid initiatives since 2003 have undertaken theupgrade of Iraq’s waste management facilitiesto modern standards. A modern municipallandfillhasbeenconstructedonthesouthwesternoutskirtsofBaghdadandasecondfacilityisunderconstructioninthenorthofBaghdad.

However, as of June 2005, based on publicdomain information, thereareno firmplans fortheconstructionoffacilitiesforthetreatmentanddisposalofhazardouswaste,althoughtheWorldBankhasgeneratedproposalsonthistopic.Thelack of an appropriate central waste facility inIraqisaseriousconstraintforthemanagementofcontaminatedlandandhazardouswaste.

Ecosystem Degradation of the Mesopotamian Marshes

ThewetlandsinthemiddleandlowerbasinoftheTigrisandEuphratesRiversinIraqwere,untilrecently,themostextensivewetlandecosystemintheMiddleEast.Intheirlowercoursestheriverscreatedavastnetworkofwetlands–theMesopotamianmarshes–coveringupto20,000km2.Thesecomprisedacomplexofinterconnectedshallowfreshwaterlakes,marshes and seasonally inundated floodplains

extendingfromtheregionofBasraintheeast,towithin150kmofBaghdadinthewest.

Massive drainage works in southern Iraq in thelate 1980s and early 1990s, together with theeffectsofmajorupstreamdamming,devastatedthewetlandssothatonlyminorandfragmentedparcelsremainedastheformerregimecollapsedin2003.Satelliteimageshaveshownthatmassivelossanddegradationhastakenplace,withthegreatestchangeoccurringbetween1991-1995.ThecentralandAl-Hammarmarshlandshadbeenalmostcompletelydestroyed,withapproximately95percentof theircover transformed intobareland and salt crusts. The water-filtering role ofthe marshland had ceased and the remainingdrainagecanalscarriedpollutedirrigationwastewater directly toward the Gulf, with potentiallyharmfulimpactsonlocalfishresources.11

TheentiremarshArabcommunity sufferedhugesocialandeconomicupheavalasaresultofthemarshlands’destruction,withabout40,000peopleforcedtofleetosouthwestIran.12There-floodingofthedriedmarshlandareasstartedin2003,whenlocalresidentsopenedthefloodgatesandbrokethebankstoletwaterbackintosomemarshes.

Heavy metals waste at Al Qadissiya. This demolished site represents a severe risk to human health, due to the cyanide contained in hazardous waste


The impact on biodiversity has also beencatastrophic.Prominentlossesincludeextinctionof the endemic smooth-coated otter (Lutra perspicillata),andtheprobabledisappearanceoftwowaterbirds:theAfricandarter(Anhinga rufa)andthesacredibis(Ibis Threskiornis aethiopica)fromtheMiddleEast.Afurther66birdspeciesareconsideredtobeatrisk.Awide-rangeofmigratoryaquaticspecieswereaffected,includingpenaiedshrimpthatmigratebetweentheGulfandnurserygrounds in the marshlands, causing seriouseconomicconsequencesforcoastalfisheries.

In 2003, the United Nations-World Bank Needs Assessment Initiative for the Reconstruction of Iraq(assummarizedinsection4ofthisdocument)identifiedtheextensivedamageto the Iraqimarshlandandtheaccompanyingdisplacementoftheindigenouspopulationasoneofthecountry’smajorenvironmentalandhumanitariandisasters.Inparticular,criticalandpriorityproblemsfortheareaincludedthemarshlanddegradation, lackofdrinkingwaterand lackofsanitation.Theseproblemshaveposedasignificantthreat tohumanhealthand the livelihoodof theindigenouspopulation,aswellastotheecosystem.

Biodiversity

Protectedareas

TheUNEP-WorldConservationMonitoringCentre(WCMC) Protected Areas Virtual Database listsjust eight small protected areas (none biggerthat110ha) in Iraq.13NoneofthesequalifiesforinclusionintheofficialUN List of Protected Areas maintained by UNEP-WCMC, which only coverssitesofmorethan1,000ha.

The majority of sites important for biodiversityconservation have no protected area status,although many have been recommended fordesignation. For example, BirdLife Internationalhasrecognisedatotalof42sitesasImportantBirdAreas(IBAs).Thesecoveratotalareaof35,000km2,orabout8percentofthecountry’ssurfacearea.14However,nonebenefitfromanylegalprotectionfromabiodiversityperspectiveandmanyof thewetlands,inparticular,arecriticallythreatenedbyfloodcontrol,irrigationanddrainageprojectsbeingcarriedoutinIraqandinneighbouringcountries.

Species

TheUNEP-WCMCSpecies Databaselists73terrestrialmammal species, plus a further three species

known tobeextinct.Of these, theEurasianotter(Lutra lutra),and threebat speciesare listedasvulnerable.15

AlargenumberofreptilesarefoundinIraq,butinformationontheirdistributionandconservationstatus is limited. The International Union forConservation of Nature and Natural Resources’(IUCN) Red List 2002, ranked the Euphratessoft-shelled turtle (Rafetus euphraticus) asendangered,andthecommontortoise(Testudo graeca)asvulnerable.

Over400speciesofbirdshavebeenrecordedinthenorthernGulfRegion(comprisingKuwait,Iraq,easternSaudiArabiaandwesternIran).AmongthespeciesoccurringinIraq,thewhite-headedduck(Oxyura leucocephala) is listedasendangeredin the 2002 IUCN Red List, while the socotracormorant(Phalacrocorax nigrogularis),marbledteal(Marmaronetta angustirostris),greaterspottedeagle (Aquila clanga), imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca),lesserkestrel(Falco naumanni),corncrake(Crex crex) and the sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)arelistedasvulnerable.Afurtherninespecies are listed as conservation-dependent,or near threatened.16,17 The region is especiallyimportantaspartof the intercontinental flywaysusedbyhugenumbersofbirds,andagreatvarietyofspecies,movingbetweenAfricaandEurasia.ItisestimatedthatsometwotothreebillionmigrantsmovesouthacrossArabiaeachautumn.18,19

Inagenerallyaridtosemi-aridregion,Iraq’swetlandsareofimmenseimportanceforthemaintenanceofbiodiversity.Untiltheirvirtualdisappearance,theIraqimarsheswereofglobalconservationvalue.Incentralandnorthern Iraq,mostof thenatural freshwaterlakesandmarsheshavelongsincebeendrainedforagriculturalpurposes,althoughsignificantremnantsstillsurviveintheHaweija(Huweija)marshesintheLittleZabValley,andaroundBaqubaintheDiyalaValley.Thevalleysof theTigrisandEuphrates themselveshave been extensively modified for agriculturalpurposes.Mostoftheoriginalriverineforestwhichoncelinedthebanksofthesetworivershasbeenreplacedbyorchardsandothercultivated land,althoughsomesignificantstandsofforeststillexist,especiallyonsmallislands.Thesurvivingpatchesofforestprovideanimportantbreedinghabitatforawidevarietyofbirds,notably regional specialitiessuchasthegreyhypocolius(Hypocolius ampelinus),Iraqbabbler (Turdoides altirostris)anddeadseasparrow(Passer moabiticus),andareusedasstaging


areasby largenumbersofmigratorypasserines.Other importantnaturalwetlands incentral Iraqincludetwolargebrackishtosalinelakes–ShariLaketotheeastoftheTigris,northofSamarra,andHaurAl-ShubaichaontheplainstotheeastoftheTigris,southeastofBaghdad.20

BirdLife International has submitted a dossier ofinformationtoUNEPandtopermanentmembersoftheUNSecurityCouncildetailingtheorganization’sfearsconcerningthepossibleimpactsofthecurrentconflictonbirdsandbiodiversityingeneral.

ThereisverylimitedinformationavailableonfishdiversityinIraq.TheWorldResourcesInstitutestatesthatthecombinedEuphratesandTigriswatershedsupports71nativefishspecies,plusafurther21introducedspeciesofwhich28areendemictothebasin, thoughnoneof these is indicatedasbeingunderthreat.21

2.6 Institutional Structures for Environmental Governance

The Iraqi Ministry of Environment (MoEn) wasestablishedin2003.IncontrastwithothercountriesintheMiddleEast,however,Iraqhadawell-developedsystemofenvironmentalgovernanceandmonitoringprior to the formalconstitutionof theministry. AHuman Environment Directorate was createdundertheMinistryofHealthin1972,aftertheUnitedNationsConferenceontheHumanEnvironment.Thiswas followed in1986bytheenactmentofa lawestablishinganEnvironmentProtectionCentre(EPC)withintheHealthMinistry.Withtheintroductionofthe Environment Protectionand Improvement Law in1997,theEPCwastransformedintotheEnvironmentProtection and Improvement Directorate (EPID).The lawwas thenamended in September2001,extendingthemandateandresponsibilitiesofEPIDtoaddressbroaderenvironmentalissues.Atthattime,EPIDwasdesignatedasanindependentbodyandformallydissociatedfromtheMinistryofHealth.

An Environment Protection and ImprovementCouncil(EPIC),consistingofvariousgovernmentaland non-governmental representatives andexperts, was set up within this new institutionalframework.Itsprincipaldutieswereto:

• Create an overall environmental policyframework;

• ReviewEPID’sworkplan,atbothnationalandgovernoratelevels;

• Approveenvironmentalqualitystandards;

• Serveasanintra-governmentalcoordinationbody;

• Deliver decisions, including sanctions forenvironmentaloffences;and

• Formulate Iraq’s position in regional andinternational environmental negotiationsand consider accession to internationalagreements.

TheCouncil’sdecisionshad tobeendorsedbytheCabinet(CouncilofMinisters),whichwastheultimatepoliticalandlegislativedecision-makeronenvironmentalmatters.ThenewlawalsoallowedfortheconstitutionofenvironmentalcouncilsandEPIDbranchesinthefifteengovernoratesunderthecontrolofthecentralgovernmentinBaghdad.22

Finally,theEnvironmentProtectionandImprovementLawestablishedEPID’sbudgetaryandtechnicalindependence. Despite these legislative andstructural changes however, EPID continued toreceive administrative support from the MinistryofHealth,ofwhichitwaswidelyregardedtobeanintegralpart.Accordingly,intheadministrativevacuumcreatedbythe2003conflict,andintheabsenceofafunctionalEnvironmentCouncil,EPIDwas initially re-integrated foradministrativeandbudgetarypurposesintotheMinistryofHealth.

Inmid-August2003,EPIDstaff relocated fromtheMinistryofHealthtotheDepartmentofEnvironmentalLaboratoriesbuildinginBaghdad.TheDirectorate’soperations, though, were seriously curtailed bythe limitedoffice spaceavailable.Asa result, itsimmediateconcernwastoidentifyorconstructanewbuilding.Moreover,EPID’scapacitywascriticallydegraded,asmostlaboratoriesinBaghdadwerelootedaftertheconflict.Throughoutthecountry,theremainingequipmentwasold,andreagentswereinshortsupply.TheneedtorebuildIraq’senvironmentalmonitoring capacity by reconstructing and re-equippinglaboratorieswasclearlyurgent.

On1September2003,theIraqiGoverningCouncil(IGC)announceditsCabinet,whichincludedtheappointmentofaMinisterofEnvironment,Mr.Abdul-RahmanSidiqKareem.Inparallel,theGoverning


Council developed and submitted a proposalforaninstitutionalstructureforanewEnvironmentMinistry.Underthisproposal,theexistingEnvironmentProtectionand ImprovementDirectorate formedthecoreoftheministry,whichintegratedallEPIDdepartmentsandcentresexceptfortheNationalCentreforOccupationalHealthandSafety,whichwasreassignedtotheMinistryofLabourandSocialAffairs.UndertheMinister,twounder-secretarieswereresponsible for the technicalandadministrativeportfolios, respectively. The Ministry of Financeopenedanewaccount (inUSdollarsand Iraqidinar),towhichEPIDassetsheldundertheMinistryofHealthweretobetransferred.

TheMinistryof Environment (MoEn)wasofficiallycreatedbyaresolutionpassedbytheIraqiGoverningCouncil and signed by Coalition ProvisionalAuthority(CPA)Administrator–AmbassadorL.PaulBremer,on3September2003.

The resolution known as CPA Order #44 gaveMoEnthemandatetoprotectandconserveIraq’senvironment,aswellasprotecttheresidentsofIraqfromenvironmentalpollutantsandenvironmentalriskstohumanhealth.TheOrderfurtherstatedthatMoEnwasresponsibleforintegratingenvironmentalconcerns in other sectors such as economicdevelopment,energy,transportation,agriculture,industry and trade. Other duties included thedevelopment of environmental policies andprogrammes, as well as the creation andenforcementofenvironmentalstandards.

Finally, theCPAOrderabolished theEnvironmentProtectionandImprovementCouncilconnectedwith

thepreviousregime’sCouncilofMinisters.Instead,itsetupaconsultativebodycomposedofrepresentativesof other ministries to coordinate policies andprogrammesaffectingtheenvironment.

AftertheUnitedStates’handoverofsovereigntyinJune2004,Ms.MishkatAl-MouminwasappointedasthenewMinisterofEnvironment.Oneyearlater,on3May2005,whentheIGCwasreplacedbytheIraqiTransitionalGovernment,Mrs.NarminOthmanwassworninasMinisterofEnvironment.HEOthmanwasreconfirmedasMinisterofEnvironmenton21May2006.

2.7 Participation in International Organizations/Agreements

Iraq belongs to the following internationalorganizations: theUnitedNationsandsomeof itsspecializedagencies,includingtheWorldBank(WB),the International Monetary Fund (IMF), andInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency(IAEA).ItisalsoamemberoftheOrganizationoftheIslamicConference(OIC), Arab League, Organization of PetroleumExportingCountries (OPEC),OrganizationofArabPetroleumExportingCountries(OAPEC),InternationalTelecommunicationsSatelliteConsortium(INTELSAT),International Police (INTERPOL),G-19,andG-77.Iraqisalsopartytoarangeofinternationaltreaties.Thosemore recentagreementswhichhavemostenvironmentalrelevancearelistedinTable2.Iraq,however, isnotapartytoanyof theconventionsdealingwithdesertification,wetlands,biologicaldiversity,climatechangeormigratoryspecies.

Title Entry into forceprotocol for the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare

08.09.1931

international plant protection convention 01.07.1954Treaty banning nuclear weapon Tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water 30.11.1954Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons 05.03.1970agreement for the establishment of the arab centre for the study of dry and barren land 25.01.1971Treaty on the prohibition of the emplacement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on the sea-bed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof

13.09.1972

convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and Toxin weapons and on their destruction

19.06.1991

convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage 17.12.1975protocol concerning regional cooperation in combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances in cases of emergency

01.07.1979

Kuwait regional convention for cooperation on the protection of the marine environment from pollution 01.07.1979convention on early notification of a nuclear accident 21.08.1988convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency 21.08.1988protocol concerning marine pollution resulting from exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf 17.02.1990protocol for the protection of the marine environment against pollution from land-based sources no date provided

Table1:InternationalConventionsandAgreementstowhichIraqisParty


3 UNEP Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq

3.1 Background

In early 2003, as the invasion of Iraq by thecoalitionforcesbecameimminent,UNEPsetupateamofexpertstomonitorenvironmentalimpactsrelated to the conflict. The team conductedregular surveillance of conflict-related newsfeedsand,placingthisagainstthebackdropofthe environmental situation in Iraq, prepared aseriesofsituationreportsonenvironmentalissuesassociated with the conflict. A roundtable wasorganized in Geneva, with the participation ofexpertsfromaroundtheworldwhowereinterestedandconcernedabouttheenvironmentalimpactsassociated with the conflict. These activitiesresulted in the publication of the Desk Study on the Environment in Iraq, in April 2003, andthe Environment in Iraq UNEP Progress Report, in October 2003. Both reports outlined the keychronic environmental problems faced by thecountry,aswelltheenvironmentalthreatsposedbythevariousmilitaryconflicts.

3.2 Key Activities and Outcomes

The following are the key findings on theenvironmentalsituationinIraqin2003:

Pollution Associated with Disruption of Power Supply

• Baghdad,Basraandothercitiesexperiencedextendedpowercuts,withseriousimpactsonthealreadyinadequatewaterdistributionandsanitationsystemsthatweresubjecttofurtherdegradation during the conflict. Millions ofciviliansweredeprivedofbasicservices.Theriskofdiseaseepidemicswasmostlikelyelevated,andthepollutionburdenoftheTigrisRiverwasincreased.

Oil Well Fires in Southern Iraq and Oil-filled Trenches around Baghdad

• Reportsofoilwellshavingbeendeliberatelyseton fire in theRumeilaoilfieldof southernIraqbegan toemergeon20March,anda

thickhazeofdarksmokecouldbeseenfromKuwaitCitythefollowingday.Pentagonofficialsindicated that the fires were at wellheads,ratherthanoil-filledtrenches.Initialreportsofupto30fireswerelaterscaledbacktonine.On25March,Reutersstatedthatthreeofthefireshadbeenextinguished,whileon27MarchtheAssociatedPressreported‘asmanyasfivefireswerestillburning’,althoughaspokespersonfortheKuwaitioilindustrysaidthatonlythreefiresremained.SpecialistcontractorsfromCanadaandtheUSwerepreparingtotacklethesesites.Britishforcescastdoubton initialclaimsthatmanyofthewellheadshadbeensabotaged,reporting only very limited evidence oftampering.Onlytwofireswerestillburningon3Aprilandthesewerereportedlyclosetobeingextinguished.23

• Oil-filledtrenchesclosetoBaghdadweresetalight inanattempt to reduce visibilityandimpedecoalitionweapons.Thesefires,togetherwith fires at targeted sites, generated largequantitiesofdenseblacksmokecontainingarangeoftoxicsubstanceswithpotentialhealthrisksforlocalpeople.Thetrenchesalsocausedsoilpollutionandthreatenedtocontaminategroundwater bodies and drinking watersupplies.

• As the number, extent and intensity of oilfires(whetherfromwellsortrenches)werefarsmallerthanduringthe1991GulfWar,itcouldbeexpectedthatdamagetotheenvironmentand/orhumanhealthwascomparativelylessserious.However,furtherstudieswereneededtoconfirmthistentativeconclusion.

Targeting of Industrial Sites

• The intense coalition bombardment wasthought to have included the targeting ofindustrialsites,especiallythosewithpotentialdualuses,suchasfertiliserandpharmaceuticalfacilities. These sites were potential sourcesofair, soilandwaterpollution,withpossibleattendantrisksforhumanhealth.

• On29March,acoalitionairstrikeonamissilefactoryclosetoAl-Rasheedwater treatmentplantcauseddamagetobuildingswithinthetreatmentplantcompound.


Targeting of Military Sites

• TheAl-Kindi rocketandmissiledevelopmentsitelocatedatMosul,neartheTigrisRiversome400kmnorthofBaghdad,wastargetedbyacoalitionairstrikeon30March.30ThesitehadbeenvisitedbyIAEAandUNMOVICinspectorsonfouroccasionsbetweenDecember2002andFebruary2003.

• On3April, thePentagonreporteddroppingprecision-guided bomb on a surface-to-airmissilefactoryinthesouthwesternoutskirtsofBaghdad.

Physical Degradation of Ecosystems

• Themovementofthousandsofmilitaryvehicles,intensive fighting and air bombardmentscaused widespread and locally severedegradation of fragile desert ecosystemswhichcouldtakemanydecadestorecover.

Depleted Uranium

• Depleteduranium (DU),aby-productof theprocessthatenrichesnaturaluraniumoreforuseas fuel innuclear reactorsandnuclearweapons,hasbothdefensiveandoffensive

militaryapplications.32Itshighdensitymakesitsuitableasacomponentofarmourplating(e.g. forpartof the turretsofUSAbramsM1main battle tanks), as well as for piercingarmour plating. DU munitions are currentlymanufactured for use by aircraft (includinghelicopters)andtanks.

• Many Iraqi tanks and armoured personnelcarriers(APCs)weretargetedduringtheconflictbyUSA10Thunderbolt(‘warthog’or‘tankbuster’)aircraft,usedthroughoutthemilitarycampaign.A10sareequippedwithmissiles,aswellasgunsthatfireroundsofdepleteduranium.Televisionpictures broadcast by western media on 8April showedA10aircraftattackingboth thePlanningandInformationMinistriesinBaghdad.ExpertobserversconsideredthatDUmunitionswereusedintheseattacks.Inotherincidents,USAbramstanksareknowntohavecaughtfire.

• DUwasreportedlyusedextensivelyinthevicinityofBasraduringthe1991GulfWar,soitislikelythatfuturefieldinvestigationswoulddetectsiteswhereDUcontaminationwaspresentfromtwoconflicts–12yearsapart.DUwasalsousedinKuwaitin1991andIAEAconductedastudyofaffectedsitesin2002,althoughtheresultsofthatstudyarenotyetpubliclyavailable.

In June 2003, looting of the Al Mishraq complex caused a massive sulphur stockpile fire, causing regional scale damage to human health and crops


Impacts Due to Looting and Other Acts of Vandalism

One of the distinguishing features of the 2003conflictwasthelootingthatfollowedthecollapseoftheregime.Lootingwasbothwidespreadandindiscriminateandmanyofthefacilitieswereburntdownduringorafterbeinglooted.Thisresultedinenvironmentaldamageinmanycases.

TheAl-MishraqSulphurStateCompany,located30kmsouthofMosul,conductedsulphurminingandcomprisedasulphuricacidandanaluminiumsulphateplant,aswellassupportinginfrastructure.Miningof sulphurbeganatAl-Mishraq in1972,andby1988productioncapacitywasabout1.25million tonnesperyear. Thesulphurwasmainlystoredinloosestockpiles.On26June2003,itwasreported that the Al-Mishraq sulphur plant wasburningandemittingahugeplumeofgasoverIraqandotherMiddleEasterncountries.Itwasnotyetknownwhetherthiswasanactofsabotageorcausedbyanaccidentintheproductionprocess.Althoughnotconfirmedbylaboratoryanalysis,itwaslikelythatthevisibleplumewasgeneratedby the reaction of the primarily combustionproduct (sulphurdioxide)with sunlight,oxygen,dust particles and water in the air, to form amixtureofsulphate(S04-2),aerosols(tinyparticles

anddroplets),sulphuricacid(H2SO4)andotheroxidized sulphur by-products. On the basis ofsatelliteimages,thefiretookplaceattheminingandmillingarea.Thoughtheextentoftheplumeappearedtopeakbetween29June-1July2003,itwasreportedthatthefirehadbeenextinguishedby25Julyusingbulldozers,firetrucksandotherfirefightingequipment.ItwasalsoreportedthatthemoundsofelementalsulphurhadturnedmoltenintheintensityofthefireandhadthreatenedtoimpacttheTigrisRiver.

Accordingtolocalmediareports,thepersistentplumecausedsignificantenvironmentalimpactsas well as health impacts among the localpopulation,suchas respiratorydistressandskinirritations. The UNEP Fact Finding Mission of July2003 confirmed the concerns of local peopleregarding the ongoing sulphur burning at theAl-Mishraq plant. Local experts estimated thatapproximately0.5milliontonnesofsulphur(0.5to1milliontonnesaccordingtoMinistryofIndustryandMinerals)weredestroyedduringtheapproximateonemonththatthefireburned,affectingawideareaextendingfromAl-SharqattoMosulandErbil.Inaddition,theimpactofcontaminatedfirewaterandpotentialrun-offintotheTigrishadnotbeendetermined.

Midland (Al-Doura) Refinery Stores

The Al-Doura refinery warehouses near AbuGharaib, 35km west of Baghdad, were one ofthe largest stores of chemicals in the country.The looting and ransacking of the refinerywarehouses after the 2003 conflict caused amajorenvironmentaldisaster.Over5,000tonnesofchemicals,includinghighlyhazardousmaterials,particularlytetraethylenelead(TEL)andfurfural,were spilled, burnt or stolen. Burning of thechemicalsreportedlygeneratedwhitetoxicfumesaffectinga radiusof2-3kmaround thestoragefacility,withneighbouringvillagesalsoreportedlyaffected. The entire area was assumed to beheavilycontaminatedwithavarietyofhazardouschemicals.Theriskofgroundwaterpollutionwasalso high, given the permeable nature of thesandysoilsinthearea.AdetailedinventoryofthechemicalsandquantitiesdestroyedorstolenwasmadeavailabletoUNEP.

The site of Khan Dhari used to be the Iraq central rafinery che-micals warehouse facility. It now represents a moderate risk to the health of site workers, and as such is unfit for normal use


Sabotage of Oil Pipelines

During 2003, a number of oil pipelines weresabotaged all over Iraq. The damage resultedin temporaryhalts tooilexportsand significantlocalenvironmentaldamage.Areviewofdifferentinformationsourcesindicatedthattheoilpipelinesystem was subject to at least nine attacksbetween12June-16October2003, resulting infurtheroilfiresandspillages.

Theoilpipelineexplosionsidentifiedincludedthefollowing:

• 12June–15kmfromMosul,2blasts;• 21June–Samepipeline(nearHit),

140kmnorthwestofBaghdad;• 24June–Barwanah,

250kmnorthwestofBaghdad;• 26June–NearAl-Fatha(nearTigris);• 15August–Kirkuk-Ceyhanpipeline(nearBayi);• 17August–2kmfromKirkuk-Ceyhanpipeline

(nearBayi),• 30August–Bayi;• 18September–Kirkuk-Ceyhanpipeline,

9kmnorthofBayi;• 16October–NearAl-Hadithah,

200kmnorthwestofBaghdad.

Uncontrolled Dumping of Municipal Waste

The 2003 war led to occasional uncontrolleddumping of municipal waste into the streets,due to the failure of collection systems, lootingorrestrictions.Inaddition,theconflictgeneratedlarge volumes of demolition waste from bomb-damaged buildings (potentially impacted bydepleted uranium and asbestos) and militaryhardware (vehicles, unexploded ordnance,and depleted uranium). It was reported thatemergencywastecollectioninitiatedbytheCPAintheperiodApriltoAugust2003resultedintheremovalofmorethan1millionm³ofwastefromthestreetsandneighbourhoodsofBaghdad.ThemainBaghdadlandfill,Al-Amariy,islocatedinashallowaquiferarea.Some3,000garbagepickerslivedoffof it. TheCPAundertooktrainingof thelandfillengineer inpollutioncontrol techniques,andopened threenew temporary landfills. ThenewlydevelopedAwarischlandfillinsouthwesternBaghdad contains over 10,000 damaged ordestroyed military vehicles (tanks, armouredpersonnel carriers, trucks, Scud launchers) andincludesasmallrecyclingfacility.Aphoto-essayreportbytheInternationalRescueCommittee(IRC)indicatedthatthislandfillmightnotbesecure,withchildrenrecyclingaluminiumandothervaluablemetalsfromthetanks.

Dump site near Baghdad


4 UNDG’s Assessment of Needs

4.1 Background

AfterthefalloftheregimeinApril2003,acomprehensiveassessment of needs was initiated for Iraq. TheassessmentwascompiledonthebasisofdiscussionsbetweentheUN,theWorldBankandtheIMFfroma technicalmeetingheldon24 June2003andsubsequentconsultationswiththeCoalitionProvisionalAuthority(CPA).Fourteenprioritysectorswereidentifiedfortheneedsassessments,andinaddition,humanrights,gender,environmentandinstitutionalcapacitywere identifiedascrosscutting themes.UNEPwasdesignatedastheleadagencyfortheenvironment.

UNEPundertookthefollowingactivitiesinsupportoftheneedsassessment:

• AssignmentofUNEPTechnicalExperts:TechnicalexpertswithinUNEPweredesignatedasfocalpointsforeachUnitedNationsDevelopmentGroup (UNDG) sector, in order to providetechnicalassistancetotaskmanagers.

• Issues Screening Checklists: UNEPprovidedall task managers with sector-specificenvironmental issues checklists to be usedduringtheassessmentprocess.

• Fact-finding Missions: UNEP conducted twofact-findingmissionstoIraq(8-28Julyand8-27August).Themissionsaimedtocollectfirsthandinformationonenvironmentalneeds;tomeetwithkeyIraqienvironmentalstakeholders(Ministries,University/Research Institutes,membersof theGoverningCouncil,andtheCPA);andtoworkwithavailableUNDGtaskmanagers.

• ExternalStakeholdersWorkshop:UNEPconductedanexternalstakeholdersworkshop(roundtable)inGeneva,whereenvironmentalneedsinIraqwerediscussedwithseveralUNagencies,internationalenvironmentalNGOsanddonors interested inIraqienvironmentalissues.


UNEP identified five primary sectors as priorityareas for2004, fromanenvironmentalpointofview.Thesewere:

• Health (Primarily due to environment healthinteractions,butalsobecauseEPIDadministrativelyworkedwithintheMinistryofHealth);

• Agriculture, water resources and foodsecurity;

• Watersupplyandsanitation;

• Investment cl imate and state-ownedenterprises;and

• GovernanceandRuleofLaw.

UNEPalsoidentifiedsixsecondarysectorswhererelevantinputscouldbeprovided:

• Electricity;• Livelihoodsandemploymentgeneration;• Housing;• Mineaction;• Education;and• TransportandTelecommunications.

Keyenvironmentalneedswereidentifiedforeachoftheabovelistedprimaryandsecondarysectors,and where possible, detailed cost estimatesfor specific remedial or improvement actionswere included. UNEP also reviewed all othersectoralpapersandprovidedsuggestionsfortheincorporationofenvironmentalissues.AllelementsofUNEP’sinputarecapturedinthepresentreviewpaper.

4.3 Environmental Needs Assessment – Synthesis of 2004 Priorities

Environmental Priorities for 2004

1. Strengthening environmental governanceat the national, governorate and locallevels: A new Ministry of Environment hadbeenestablishedwiththeexistingEPIDasthecoreofthenewministry.Environmentalunitsalsoexisted inat least threeotherministries(agriculture, industries, oil). During UNEP’sinteraction with the Iraqi environmentaladministrationatthenationalandgovernoratelevel, it became obvious that there existeda relatively sophisticated administrativestructureandstaffingtomonitorandmanageenvironmental issues. The challenge facingtheIraqiadministrationandtheinternational


communitywastoenhancethecapacityandskills of the environmental administration bytrainingthemonenvironmentalbestpracticesandprovidingthemwithsufficientequipment,operatingbudgetsandguidelinesto initiateenvironmental monitoring, clean-up andconductproactiveenvironmentalassessmentandmanagement.

2. Assessment of environmental threats tohumanhealth:Duetotwodecadesofconflictandinadequateenvironmentalmanagement,Iraqhadanumberofenvironmentalhotspotsthat were potentially posing grave risks tohuman and environmental health. Theseenvironmental hotspots included: areaschronically contaminated by pollution andtoxicmaterials;areastargetedduringconflicts;areaswhereduringthe lootingandburningof industrial facilities hazardous materialshad been released; areas contaminatedbyillegaldumpingofhazardouswastesandsewage; and areas impacted by depleteduraniumandotherammunition.Animmediateassessmentwasneededtoidentifythelocationofhotspotsandproviderecommendationsforriskreductionandremediation.

3. Emergency clean-up of environmentalhotspots: Several sites were identified thatposedsuchextremehealthandenvironmentalrisks as to require emergency clean-upmeasures. It was therefore recommendedthatanemergencyclean-upfundbecreatedduring 2004 to provide for immediate risk-reduction measures, including: accessrestrictions, signs, monitoring, packing ofwastes, and clean-up. The fund was alsoimportant to facilitate the privatization ofstate-owned enterprises that had seriousenvironmentalproblems.

4. Assessmentofenvironmentalthreatstohumanlivelihoods:Iraq’snaturalresourcebasewasseverelydegradedbyoverexploitationandmismanagementinthelatterpartofthe20thcentury. As a result, serious degradation ofwaters,forests,soilsandbiodiversityresourceswasfoundtobethreateninghumanlivelihoodsand ecosystem services. An immediateassessmentwasneededtoidentifytheexistinglevelsofnaturalresourcedegradationandto

providerecommendationsforrehabilitation,recoveryandsustainableuse. Inparticular,urgentattentionwasneededtodevelopanintegrated strategy for the environmental,economic and social recovery of the Iraqimarshlands.

5. Interim Environmental Impact Assessment:In order to fully integrate environmentalconsiderations into the reconstruction anddevelopmentprocess,itwasrecommendedthatastrategicenvironmentalassessmentofthe national development plan be carriedout. In addition, the findings showed thatall proposed projects should be subject tointerim environmental impact assessments,whi le al l exist ing industr ial locations,municipalfacilitiesandwastedisposalareasshould undergo an environmental impactassessment/environmental due diligencereview.Theenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocess should result in the issuing of anenvironmental permit for all activities, andfollow-up monitoring should be conductedtoensurecompliance.

6. E n v i r o n m e n t a l Aw a r e n e s s - r a i s i n g :Envi ronmental awareness-rais ing wasconsidered integral to ensuring sustainableimprovementsinenvironmentalqualityandinpreventingimmediatedangertopopulationsfromexposuretorisksfromhazardousmaterialsandtoxiccontaminationofair,soilandwaterresources. Itwasrecommendedthatduring2004, awareness-raising be conductedthroughtheuseofTVandradiocampaigns,followedbyeffortstointegrateenvironmentalissues into educational curriculum at thenationalandlocallevels.

7. PromotingNationalCivilSocietyOrganizationsandEngagingtheInternationalCommunity:During the past 20 years there had beenlimitedactivityofenvironmentalcivil societyorganizations (CSOs), as well as poorparticipation in regional environmentalcooperationandinternationalenvironmentalagreements.During2004,groundworkneededtobeundertakentostrengthentheIraqicivilsociety organizations working in the areaof environment. Regional and internationalenvironmental cooperation also needed to


be revitalised, including the ratificationandimplementationofmultilateralenvironmentalagreements.

Environmental Priorities for 2005-2008

1. E s tab l i sh ing Modern Env i ronmen ta lInfrastructure: Effective implementationof environmental regulations requires theestablishing of modern environmentalinfrastructure, such as: national/regionalhazardouswastemanagementfacilities;wasteoil recycling plants; and combined effluenttreatmentfacilitiesforindustrialcomplexes.Inaddition,therequirementisforthefacilitationof cleaner production technologies, forupgrading individual treatment unit and forpromotingrecycling.

2. Environmental LawsandProcedures:Whilethe short-term objective of environmentallaws is to support the reconstruction efforts,therebyeliminatingenvironmental threats tohumanhealthandavoidingoverexploitationof environmental resources, the long-termobjective of environmental managementwillbetopromotesustainabledevelopment.This will require modern environmental lawsthatwill integratesocial,environmentalandeconomic inputs together into thedecision-

making process; provide public access toenvironmental information; and make useofeconomicinstruments.Thecountryshouldembarkonastrategyfor introductionofISO14001, lifecycle analyses, environmentaltaxes,differentialfuelpricingetc.

3. Environmental Information System: Iraqhas lagged behind its neighbours in termsof environmental information systemsdevelopment and application of remotesensing for integrated environmentalmanagement. Establishing a nationaldatabankofenvironmental informationandcreating in-country expertise for remotesensingenvironmentalanalyseswillbeareastobeaddressedinthemediumterm.

4. AccessingInternationalEnvironmentalFundingOpportunities: A number of internationalfundingmechanismshaveevolvedinthepastdecade to support environmental projects.TheseincludetheGlobalEnvironmentalFacility(GEF),opportunitiesforemissiontrading,andthe clean development mechanism. EffortsmustbeinitiatedtoprovideassistancetoIraq’senvironmentalrecoverythroughmultilateralandotherfundingmechanisms.Thesemechanismswillalsobe important sourcesof funding fornon-governmentalorganizations.


5 Environmental Site Assessment

5.1 Background

Asdescribedinprevioussections,itwasevidentthatyearsofconflictandroutineindustrialactivitieshad resulted in a large number of chemicallycontaminated sites in Iraq. The EnvironmentalSite Assessment (ESA) project was scoped toinclude both policy and site-specific activities,butdidnotattempt to identifyoraddressallofthepotentiallycontaminatedsitesinIraq.Instead,effortswereconcentratedoncapacity-buildingat the government level for the managementof such sites. At the same time, site-specificworkwasconducted inareaswithurgentshort-termproblems, soas toensure that theprojectdeliveredimmediatepracticalbenefits.


The Environmental Site Assessment project wascompiledofthefollowingkeyactivities:

1. ProvisionofESAassessmenttraining;

2. Selectionofalistofhigh-prioritycontaminatedsites;

3. ProvisionofESAequipment;

4. Provision of information technology (IT) anddocument-basedassessmentsupporttools;

5. Fieldsurveysofthecontaminatedsites;

6. Provision of laboratory analytical services;and

7. Interpretation and reporting of results onassessmentofselectedsites.

Specificcapacity-buildingworkwasconcentratedinactivities2to4,althoughthethemeofcapacity-buildingwascentraltotheprojectandextendedtoallactivities.

5.3 National Partners

ThenewIraqMoEnwasthenationalpartnerfortheproject.TheMoEnevolvedfromtheEnvironmentalProtectionandImprovementDirectoratewithintheMinistryofHealth.TheMoEn’s700staffaremainly

basedinBaghdad,with15officeslocatedinthegovernorates.

MoEnformedadedicatedprojectteam,consistingof a project manager, five site assessmentmanagers, and technical support staff. Criticalfieldworkactivities suchas site reconnaissance,sampling and mapping were managed andcarried out by local MoEn staff, who are to becommendedfortheireffortsinthefaceofsecurityrisksandotherproblems.

The Iraqi security situation presented significantchallengestotheprojectovertheperiod2004-2005. These were overcome by tailoring theprojecttotheIraqienvironment,aswellasthroughtheeffortsofMoEnstaff.

TheUNEPPost-ConflictandDisasterManagementBranch (PCDMB) has significant experience inthe assessment and remediation of chemicallycontaminatedsitesinpost-conflictcountries,whichisusuallycarriedoutaspartofalargercountry-specificpackageofenvironmentalassessment,capacity-buildingandassistance.

TheusualUNEPmethodologyforsuchassessmentsistoworkonlocationwithateamofinternationalexperts, partnering with local and governmentscientistswhoprovidelocalknowledge,expertiseand resources. This approach not only ensuresthehighestpossibletechnicalstandards,butalsohelpstobuildlocalcapacityandownershipoftheissuesthatarisefromtheassessments.

In the case of Iraq, the prevailing securitysituationduring2003-2005madethisapproachunworkable. UNEP therefore developed analternativeapproachbasedoncapacity-buildingintheMoEn,soastoenablethemtocarryoutthefieldworkandassessmentactivitiesthemselves.

UNEPexperts initiallyprovided intensive trainingandequipmenttotheMoEnteams,andthereafterworkedcloselywiththesamestaffforthedurationof the project. For the priority site assessment,significant work (such as laboratory analysis,map and report compilation) was completedoutside Iraq by UNEP experts, consultants andcontractors, with UNEP providing oversight andqualitycontrol.


Fieldworkactivitiessuchassitereconnaissance,sampling and mapping were managed andcarriedoutbyMoEnstaff.Technicalstafffromotherministries–Oil,Agricultureandtheex-MinistryofMilitaryIndustrialisation(MIC)–wereabletoassistonthreeofthefivesites.

Thispartnershipapproachcanbeconsideredtohavebeensuccessful,asthetechnicalobjectiveswereachievedandthepracticalcapacityoftheMoEninthefieldofcontaminatedlandandsiteassessmentwassignificantlyincreased.

5.4 Training

The provision of training to the Iraqi MoEn andother government staff was one of the largestcomponentsoftheassessmentproject.Thetrainingcovered theory, planning, methods and tools,and focusedon the specialist skills required forsiteassessment togetherwithan introduction tothebroader subjectsofcontaminated landandhazardouswastemanagement.

Thetrainingwasprovidedasaseriesoftechnicalworkshops,whichbroughttogetherinternationalexpertsandIraqidelegatesunder theumbrellaofUNmanagement.

Theworkshopsweredesignedtofollowthenormalsequence of site assessment activities. This wasdonetoenabletheIraqiMoEnteamstoabsorbandapplythelearningfromeachworkshopinactualsiteassessmentworkastheprogrammeprogressed.Progressoneachsiteandproposedfutureactionswerediscussedateachsuccessiveworkshop.

TheMoEnselectedtrainingworkshopattendeesandprojectparticipants.Forsecurityreasonstheworkshops were held outside Iraq – in Amman,Jordan and Spiez, Switzerland. The trainingworkshopscomprised:

1. Environmentalsiteassessmentworkshop–Abroadintroductionwithdetailedtraininginthefirststagesofsiteassessment.Held4-7October2004inAmman,Jordan.

2. Environmentalassessmentplanningworkshop– An introduction to the planning andmanagementofsiteassessmentprojects.Held21-22November2004inAmman,Jordan.

3. Environmentalsamplingworkshop–Detailedhands-on skills training in site assessmentequipment and techniques. Held 12-14December2004inSpiez,Switzerland(atSpiezLaboratory,theSwisscivilprotectionfacility).

Workshop conducted in Geneva for Iraqi environmental experts


4. Fieldsamplingpreparationworkshop–Ameetingthatdrewonlearningfromearlierworkshopstodevelopdetailedplansforeachsite.Held16-17March2005inAmman,Jordan.

5. Interpretation,riskassessmentandremediationworkshop–Adetailedreviewofthefieldandlaboratory results obtained, combined withtraining indata interpretation, reporting, riskassessment, remediation and hazardouswastemanagement.Held22-24August2005inAmman,Jordan.

5.5 Site Assessment Activities

SiteselectionforpriorityassessmentwasledbytheMinistryoftheEnvironment,withUNEPinanadvisoryrole.Aninitiallistofover50sitescoveringalloftheabove-listedsectorswasdevelopedbyUNEPandpresentedtotheMoEnforreviewanddiscussion.The UNEP-MoEn review covered issues such asthe magnitude of the threat; internal resourceconstraints;suitabilityforcapacity-buildingwork;siteownership;andaccess,transportlogisticsandsitesecurity.

Thefinalresultwasalistoffivesites,eachofwhichunderwentadetailedassessmentinthecourseoftheproject.Thesiteswere:

• Al-Qadissiya–Adestroyedsmallarms,metalplatingandannealing(metaltreatment)works;

• Al-Suwaira–Apesticideswarehousecomplex;

• KhanDhari–Arefinerychemicalswarehouse;

• Al-Mishraq–Asulphurminingandacidcomplex;and

• Ouireej–Ascrapyardcontainingconflict-damagedmilitaryandcivilianvehicles.

Al-Qadissiya

Thisformersmallarmsmanufacturingsitewaslocated30km south of Baghdad. It formerly containedextensive electroplating and metalworkingplants.Thesitewasunsecured,containedlargequantitiesofhighlytoxicchemicalsandhadbeendemolishedinanuncontrolledmanner,resultinginseverehumanandenvironmentalhazards.

Al-Suwaira

Al-Suwaira was a warehouse complex located50kmsoutheastofBaghdad,where theMinistryof Agriculture stored insecticides, pesticidesandfungicides.Thestoresheldalargequantityof obsolete and highly toxic methyl mercurypesticides. The stores were comprehensivelylootedin2003,resultinginthelossandspillageofvirtuallyallstoredpesticides.

KhanDhari

ThechemicalwarehousesfortheAl-DouraRefinerywerelocatedinKhanDharidistrict,nearAbuGhraib,35kmwestofBaghdad.ThissitewastheIraqcentralrefinerychemicalswarehousefacilityadministeredbytheMidlands(Al-Doura)RefineryCompany.Thesitewaslootedandburntdownin2003,resultinginamajortoxicchemicalsspillandafire.

Al-Mishraq

Al-Mishraqwasalargestate-ownedsulphurmineandacidmanufacturingcomplexlocated53kmsouthof thecityofMosul. InJune2003, lootingled to a massive sulphur stockpile fire, causingregional-scale damage to human health andcrops.Thirtyyearsofoperationhadalsoresultedinextensivelocalgroundcontamination,subsidenceanderosion.

Ouireej

Ouireejwasthelocationofalargestockyard15kmsouthofBaghdadwherebothcivilianandmilitaryvehiclesandequipmenthadbeendumpedandwerebeingscrappedinanuncontrolledmanner,resultinginlocalizedcontamination.

Main Findings

Themainfindingsforthefiveprioritysiteswere:

Al-Qadissiyametalplatingfacility:Thisdemolishedsiterepresentedasevererisktohumanhealth,duetohazardouswastecontainingcyanide.

Al-Suwaira pesticides warehouse complex: Thesite represented a low human health risk, butonlybecause securitypreventedaccess to thecontaminatedwarehouses.Thewarehouseswereunsafetouseorevenenter.


Khan Dhari petrochemicals warehouse site:Largepartsofthesiterepresentedamoderaterisktothehealthofsiteworkers.Thesitewasthereforeconsideredunfitfornormaluse.

Al-Mishraq sulphur mining complex: Surfacewater and groundwater pollution from the Al-Mishraq site was significant at the time of itsoperationbuthadlargelyceasedatthetimeoftheassessment.Preliminaryworkinrelationtothe2003sulphurfireindicatedthatpermanenteffectsontheenvironmentwerelocalizedandlimited.Thesitethusrepresentedalowrisktohumanhealthandtheenvironment,whichwasprincipallyduetoacidicsurfacewaterponds.

Ouireej mi l i tary scrap yard s i te: The siterepresented a moderate risk to human health,principallytositeworkersbutalsotositeresidents.The mixing of civilian and military scrappingactivitiesincreasedthescaleoftheproblem.

General Findings

Inadditiontothespecificfindingsforthefiveassessedsites,theprojectuncoveredarangeof more general problems in Iraq related tolandcontaminationandhazardouswastes.

Given the current security situation in Iraq andthewiderangeofdevelopmentpriorities,UNEP’srecommendations on land contamination orhazardous waste management needed to berealistic in scale.Recommendationswouldalsohave limited value in the absence of a robustmechanism to implement them. Therefore, notall findings were accompanied by specificrecommendations.

UNEP’s recommendations were presented ina concise format including a summary, anominated responsibleparty,outlined scopeofwork, estimated time and costs. More detailedexplanationsoftherecommendations,includingcross-linkages, prioritization and the underlying

rationalecouldberequesteddirectlyfromUNEP.

Thegeneralfindingswere:

• Prioritysiteidentificationandcorrectiveaction.Theseriousproblemofhighlyhazardouswastesonderelictindustrialandmilitarysitesneededto be addressed with a programme of siteidentification,rapidassessment,localcapacity-buildingandappropriatecorrectiveaction.

• Hazardouswastefacilities.Acentralhazardouswaste management facility for Iraq wasneededtoenableproposedworkandavoidfutureproblems.

• Oilindustrysites.Oilindustrysitesandongoingpipeline breaks were undoubtedly a majorsourceofcontaminationandhazardouswasteandneededaddressinginthemediumtolongtermbytheoilindustry.

• Miningindustrysites.Miningindustrysiteshadcausedlanddegradationandinsomecasesextensivewaterpollution.Mostsitescontainedlargequantitiesofminingwastethatincludedhazardous compounds. Costly interventionmeasureswouldprobablynotbejustifiedunlesstheminesrestartorarepermanentlyclosed.

• Militaryscrapyards.Themilitaryscrapindustrywasanongoingpreventablesourceofhumanhealthandenvironmentalhazardsthatcouldbenefitfromsomesimplereforms.

• Munitions disposal sites. Munitions disposalwork was believed to be creating newcontaminated sites, which needed to bedrawn into the largerprogrammeofprioritysitemanagement.

• Policy and legislation. In the longer term,national strategies, policies, legislation andenforcementwereneededforhazardouswastemanagementandcontaminatedland.


6 Institutional Capacity Assessment

6.1 Background

The United Nations Environment ProgrammeundertookafirstneedsassessmentfortheenvironmentsectorinIraqbetweenJulyandSeptember2003.AteamofexpertsvisitedtheEnvironmentProtectionand Improvement Directorate in July 2003andreportedthefollowing:

“A new Ministry of Environment has been established with the existing EPID as the core of the new Ministry. Environmental units also exist in at least three other ministries (agriculture, industries, oil). During our interaction with the Iraqi environmental administration at the national and governorate level, it became obvious that there exists a relatively sophisticated administrative structure and staffing to monitor and manage environmental issues. The challenge facing the Iraqi administration and the international community is to enhance the capacity and skills of the environmental administration by training them on environmental best practices and providing them with sufficient equipment, operating budgets and guidelines to initiate environmental monitoring, clean-up and conduct proactive environmental assessment and management”.

In July 2004, UNEP succeeded in securing USD4.7milliontohelpmeettheimmediatecapacity-

buildingneedsoftheIraqiMinistryofEnvironment.Thisprojecthadthreecomponents:

1. ToupgradetheMoEn’sphysicalinfrastructure(laboratory/informationcentreetc);

2. Tostrengthenitshumancapacity(throughclassroomtrainingandfieldassessments);and

3. Tocarryoutaninstitutionalcapacityassessment.

Ideally, the institutionalcapacityassessment (ICA)should have preceded the other two activities,asinputfromitcouldhavebeenusedasabasisfor targetedactiononbothphysicalandhumancapacity-building.However,becausethepoliticaltimetablefor transition in Iraqresulted in frequentchangesat theministerial level, theprojectwasimplementeddifferently–itwasconsideredmoreappropriate toconducta systematicassessmentoftheMinistryofEnvironmentafterithadbeeninexistenceforatleastayearandhadbeengiventheopportunitytodevelopexperienceandmaturity.Itwasalsofeltthatanyrecommendationsforfollow-upwouldbeofbettervalueoncetheMoEnhadbeeninplace fora full four-year term. The institutionalcapacityassessmentwasthereforeonlyinitiatedinAugust2005,afterthehumancapacityelementoftheprojecthadtoalargeextentbeencompleted.Given that the needs of the new ministry wereenormous–requiringseveralyearsandasubstantialbudgettobemet–thefactthattheICAwasnotundertaken before did not actually affect theministry’smostimportantcapacity-buildingneeds.

Field sampling preparation workshop held in Amman in March 2005



1. To assess the context in which the MoEnoperates, which was determined by thelegislative framework that provided itsmandateandbythecountry’sgeneralpoliticalsituation. Iraq’s commitments to regionaland international treaties and organizationsconstitutedadditionalconstraints.

2. Toinventorytheorganization’scurrentresourcesbygatheringinformationonthehuman,infrastructuralandfinancialresourcesoftheMoEn.

3. Toassessproceduresandprioritiesbyacquiringinformation on the current operationalpracticesoftheministry,itsinstitutionallinkagesandtechnicalchallenges.

4. To develop recommendations to assist theMoEntosuccessfullycarryoutitsmandate.

At the time of the assessment, the Ministry ofEnvironmentwasfacedwithseveralchallenges.As Iraq continues to move towards a moredecentralizedfederalpoliticalsystemandamoremarket-orientedeconomy,theMoEnwouldneedtokeepadjustingtothisrapidlychangingpoliticalandeconomicenvironmentforanumberofyears.Atthesametime,asIraqrejoinedtheinternationalcommunity, it would be both more involvedand more accountable in the internationalenvironmentalarena.Itwasthereforelikelythatthe

newsystemtheMoEnwouldoperateinwouldbeoneinwhichtheruleoflaw,aswellasnewstandardsof transparency and accountability, would beupheld.An increase inpublicparticipationwasalso to be expected, although achieving thiswouldrequireenvironmentalawareness-raising.

AbriefdiscussionoftheMoEn’smainchallengesfollows.

Decentralization

Morefocuswasneededonbuildingcapacityintheregions,asdepartmentalstructuresregardingequipment,staff,budgetsandinstitutionsrequiredstrengthening. The shift towardsdecentralisationcouldnotonlybeseenasanopportunitytoaddresstheimmediateneedsofthepopulationmoredirectly,butalso,accordingtothemoreholisticapproachonwhichmodernenvironmentalmanagementisbased,asanopportunityforpositiveenvironmentalactions inonegovernorate to impactonothers–justasIraq’soverallenvironmentalactionscouldaffecttheregionandeventheworldasawhole.

MarketEconomy

The move towards a market economy wouldrequire the Ministry of Environment to developstrongworkingrelationshipswiththeprivatesector,andtouseeconomicinstrumentsandincentivestoachieveenvironmentalgoals.Theministrycouldalsoemphasizeandsupportthedevelopmentofenvironmentalequipment,goodsandservicesintheprivatesector.

RuleofLaw

A large share of the international assistanceprovided to Iraq was allocated to stabilization.Facilitatingtheapplicationoftheruleoflawwasanimportantpartofthiseffort–i.e.forstrengtheningthejudiciaryandtheenforcementauthorities,andincreasing thequalityof the legal system (laws,regulations, jurisprudence, etc.). The Ministry ofEnvironment was already working to harmonizeenvironmentallawwiththenewConstitution,andto strengthen the law in terms of internationalbest practice. The next phase would involvedevelopingstandardsforenforcementandinter-ministerialcollaborationonenvironmental legaltools.Definingadvocacyfortheenvironmentasahumanright,anddevelopingpublicparticipation/claimsmechanismswouldalsobeimportant.

Interpretation, risk assessment and remediation workshop conducted in Amman in August 2005


InternationalContext

At thetimeof theassessment, Iraq’saccessiontoseveral internationalenvironmentalagreements isimminent.Accessionwouldallow Iraq tobenefitfromthefinancialandtechnicalassistanceprovidedbyavarietyofconventionsecretariats,andbytheGlobalEnvironmentFacility.ItwouldalsorequireIraqtoharmonizeitsownlawswiththeprovisionsoftheMEAstowhichithadbecomeparty.

Awareness-raising

The lackofpublicawarenessonenvironmentalissuesandonthespecificroleoftheMoEn,aswellas the lackofactivecivil societyenvironmentalorganizations,weremajorchallenges thatcouldbeaddressedinavarietyofways.Mediasuchastelevision,radio,newspapersandtheInternetcouldbeusedtoreachouttothepublicandprivatesectorsatlarge.Educationalinitiativescouldalsobecarriedoutthroughenvironmentalawarenessprogrammesandcoursesateducationalandreligiousinstitutions.CollaboratingwithcivilsocietywasdeemedapriorityfortheMinistryofEnvironment.

6.3 Recommendations

AlthoughithadbeenachallengingperiodfortheIraqiMinistryof Environment, itwas testimony tothe strengthof thecoreof theorganization thatithadwithstoodthischallenge.Notonlyhadtheministrycontinuedtofunctionamidpoliticalandsecurity uncertainties, it hadalso succeeded inimplementingnationalandinternationalprojectsduringthistransitionperiod,demonstratingthehighlevelofthetechnicalcompetenceofitsstaff.

Inordertobeeffectiveasaninstitutioninthelongerterm,aministry’smandatemustbeexplicitlystatedintheappropriatelegalframework.TheCPAOrderprovidedanunambiguousmandatefortheMinistryofEnvironmenttotakeownershipofallconservationandprotection-relatedenvironmentalissues.Also,theconstitutionalprovisionson theenvironmentprovidedastrongpoliticalandlegalbasefortheministrytooperate.Moreover,theMoEnwasintheprocessofdraftinganewframeworkenvironmentallaw,whichwasexpectedtofurtherclarifyitsroleandresponsibilities.

The Ministry of Environment faced two mainchallengesincarryingoutitsmandate.First,ithad

toprevailinIraq’schangingpoliticalcontext.TheMoEnwasarelativelynewministrywhosemandatecould be aligned or shared with the MinistriesofMunicipalities,PublicWorks,WaterResourcesand Health, which were all firmly establishedorganizationswithsignificantlyhigherstaffnumbersandoperationalbudgets.

TheMoEn’ssecondchallengewastoincreasepublicawarenessofitsroleasanormativeagency,distinctfrom implementingministries suchas theMinistryofMunicipalities.TheMoEnhadtofindwaysandmeanstouseitsmandatetoguidelargerministrieswith implementation responsibilities toundertakeactionsthatleadtoenvironmentalimprovements.

Basedon this InstitutionalCapacityAssessment,UNEPrecommendedthefollowingactions:

1. Theministry’sthreecorefunctions(law/policy-making,lawenforcementandenvironmentalmonitoring)shouldbeclearlysegregatedandstaffdeployedinthesethreeareas.

2. Thenewframeworkenvironmentallawshouldbeadoptedassoonaspossible,soastoprovideanadministrativetoolforMoEnstafftoenforceenvironmentalnorms.Additionalrules,regulationsandstandardsshouldbedevelopedoncetheframeworklawisputintoplace.

3. Environmentalconcernsshouldbeprioritisedandresourcesdeployedtoaddressthemostseriouschallenges.

4. Theconstitutionalemphasisondecentralizationshould be taken into account in the finalorganogram.

5. SomeoftheMoEn’sexpertise(e.g.inenvironmentalimpactassessment,environmentalmonitoringetc.) shouldbemadeavailableasa ‘servicefunction’,withaviewtodevelopingtheseservicesintoindependentprofitcentresatalaterdate.

6. The ministry should consider partnershipswithcivilsocietytostrengthenenvironmentalgovernance,butretainitsindependence.

7. TheMoEnshouldidentifythepotentialemergencysituations in which environmental concernsare involved (e.g.oil spills),anddevelop theexpertiseandsystemstoreactappropriately.


7 Capacity-Building for Environmental Governance

7.1 Background

Itwasevidentduringtheinitialsitevisitsundertakenthat there were large number of qualifiedprofessionalsintheEnvironmentalProtectionandImprovement Department (which became theMinistryofEnvironment).However,duetoapooreconomicsituationandUNsanctionstheyhadnotbeenabletokeepup-to-datewithdevelopmentsin the field. Capacity-building for the staff wasthereforeconsideredakeyrequirementtoenabletheMoEn toassessandmanageenvironmentalissuesinIraq.


UNEPthereforeinitiatedcapacity-buildingactivitiesfortheIraqiMinistryofEnvironmentinMarch2004.Capacity-buildingactivitiesinvolvedthefollowing:

1. Training and technical assistance to theMinistryofEnvironment;

2. Strengthening analytical capability byprovidinglabandfieldequipment;

3. Strengthening information management byprovidingcomputersandbooks;and

4. Strengthening international integration byfacilitating participation in regional andinternationalmeetings.

7.3 Training Events

A series of training events were undertakenthroughout2004-2006,primarilyfocusingonstafffromtheMoEn.However,stafffromotherministries(Water Resources, Municipalities, Agriculture,Industries, Justice etc.) were also invited toparticipate,asappropriate.

Thekeytrainingeventswere:

• environmentalemergenciesresponse,• environmentalinspectionandcontrol,• environmentalimpactassessment,• multilateralenvironmentalagreements,• environmentallaw,• oilspillrelatedenvironmentalemergencies

response,• biodiversityandnaturalresources

management,and• officemanagement.

Interpretation, risk assessment and remediation workshop conducted in Amman in August 2005


7.4 Technical Assistance on Environmental Law

In response to a request from the Iraqi MoEn,UNEPmeton15February2005withtheMinisterofEnvironment,todiscussthedevelopmentofanenvironmental framework law and environmentarticle for the Constitution. UNEP brought threelegaladvisors fromthe IUCNEnvironmentalLawCentre(BeveridgeandDiamond),aswellastheirownUNEPlegalexperttothismeeting.

Immediatelyfollowingupontherecommendationsof the ministerial consultation, UNEP organizeda technical workshop on environmental lawdevelopmentandenforcement,whichwasheldinAmmanfrom7-10March2005.ThisworkshopwasorganizedincooperationwithUnitedNationsInstituteforTrainingandResearch(UNITAR).Trainingwasprovided to20officials fromanumberofministries on environmental law, complianceand enforcement. The course identified acontinued need for training specifically inthe areas of: economic instruments, publicparticipation,access to information,access tojustice, non-governmental organizations andcivil society role in environmental monitoring/complianceandenforcement,humanrightsandtheenvironment.

Aftertheworkshopsandconsultativemeetings,theDeputyMinisterofEnvironmenttookanactiverole in helping to develop an environmentallaw. After the Deputy Minister was replaced,however,theMoEndecidedtocreateadraftingcommittee,andrequestedassistancefromUNEP.Subsequently, during January-February 2006,UNEP sent an environmental law expert, Mr.SamiShubber,towork jointlywithMoEnstaff toexpeditethedevelopmentofIraqienvironmentallaw. The committee for the redrafting of theenvironmental law consisted of ten members:threelawyersfromtheministry,fivetechnicians,asecretary,theUNEPconsultantasadvisor,withaseniorstaffmemberfromtheMoEnservingastheChairman.

Underthiscommittee,afirstdrafttextwaspreparedandsubmittedbytheMinisteroftheEnvironmentforreviewbyotherkeyministriesandstakeholders.A second draft was then later prepared andsubmittedtotheMinisterialCouncilforreviewand

endorsement.UNEP’sassistanceinsupportofIraqienvironmentallawdevelopmentwasfinalizedinMarch2006.

7.5 Strengthening Analytical Capabilities

In order to strengthen environmental analyticalcapabilitiesinIraq,theMoEnwasprovidedwithmodern analytical equipment. This includedportable equipment for fieldwork and highsensitivity equipment for laboratory work. Thedetailed list of equipment provided to theLaboratoryisgiveninAppendixII.

7.6 Environmental Information Centre

UNEP assisted MoEn with the establishment ofan Environmental Information Centre within theMinistry of Environment. Training was providedto four members of ministry staff at UNEP HQ inNairobiduringOctober2005.AdditionaltrainingforafurtherfourministrystaffmemberstookplaceduringMay2006.Specificcomputerequipmentconfigured with library software, furniture, and1,500 publications (both UNEP and non-UNEPpublications) were provided to the ministry.Subscriptions to international online researchdatabaseswerealsodelivered.

Laboratory training conducted in Switzerland for Iraqi environmental experts, December 2004


8 Hazardous Waste Collection and Storage

8.1 Background

UndertheguidanceofUNEP,Iraqiteamsconductedsiteassessmentsof five sites. The IraqMoEnandUNEP jointly selected the teams.Of the five sitesinvestigated,threewerefoundtocontainsignificantquantitiesofhighlyhazardouswastechemicals.Theworstsite–Al-Qadissiya–containedpuresodiumcyanide,atoxinwithalethaldosebyingestionoflessthan1gramme.Thesitehadbeensuccessivelylootedanddemolished,resultinginthedepositionofpilesofcyanideonopenground.Al-Qadissiyawasunfenced,unguardedandlocatedinasemi-builtupareasouthofBaghdad.Trespassers,includingchildren,hadbeen seenon the siteand looterswerenotedstrippingmetalfromcyanide-containingreaction vessels. A second site – Al-Suwaira–containedremainingoldpesticidesinaMinistryofAgriculturewarehouse.Theprojectthusfocusedontheremovalofthepublichealthhazardposedbyhazardoussubstancesfoundonthesetwosites.


1. Collection and containment of cyanideand other toxic wastes from the derelictAl-Qadissiyametal treatmentworks siteandAl-Suwairawarehouses.

2. On-site secure storage sites designed andcreatedforstorageofhazardouswastefromAl-QadissiyaandAl-Suwaira.

Al-Qadissiya Site

All the identifiedchemicalswerecollectedandstoredinsteelbarrels.Allwereidentified,labelled,andappropriatelystored.

Contents No. of drumsSodium Cyanide 150Hexavalent Chromium Salt 228Sodium Hydroxide 68* Asbestos 100 bags plugging the

store entrance.

Table2:MaterialCollectedatAlQadissiyaSite

Iraqi experts taking part in a hazardous waste collection and storage project at Al Qadissiya


Asbestos

Asbestoswaspackedintoplasticbagsandthenplaced inside another layer of plastic bags.Thebagsweresewntightwithaspecialsewingmachineandstacked in thepassagewaysandentrance,topreventaccesstothedrums.

Samplesweretakenofallchemicalsandallthedrumsandbagswereclearlylabelled.

Liquids

Thecontaminatedliquidsinsidetheplatingbasinswere pumped out, placed into jerrycans, andstoredinsidetheAl-Qadissiyastore.220jerrycanswerefilledwithamixtureofHexavalentChromiumSaltandCyanideSalt. It isworthnotingthatthesummerheatevaporatedalargeportionoftheliquidsbeforethecanswerefilled.

ContaminatedSoilandDebris

Ahangarwasconstructedwithconcrete floors,closedwallsanda sealed roof,coveringa totalareaof360m2Thehangarwasused tostore thefollowing:

• contaminatedsoilandconcretethatthechemicalshadbeenlayingontopof;

• Theemptiedstoragecontainersanddrums;

• Thechemicalwashtanks;

• TheCyanideSaltannealingvesselwithsolidifiedchemicals;and

• Thecontaminatedconcreteanddebrisfoundneartheplatingbasins.

Al-Suwaira Site

Pesticideresiduefromthewarehousewascollectedinplasticbagsandsealedinsidestoragedrums.

The drums were clearly labelled to indicatethat the contents were: ‘toxic, environmentallyhazardous,nottobetouched,andflammable’.Eachdrumwasnumberedseriallyandthesamplestakenfromeachdrumwerecross-referencedwiththesameserialnumber.Atotalof149barrelswasfilled.Thedrumswerethenstoredattheendofthewarehouseandenclosedbywarningtape.

Site-CleaningProcess

After thepesticideresiduehadbeencollected,the Al-Suwaira warehouse was cleaned in thefollowingmanner:

• Theceilingwasthoroughlyscrubbed,hooveredandwashedwithwaterjets;

• Damagetothewalls,windowanddoorswererepairedandholesfilled.Thewallswerealsocleaned, hoovered and washed by waterjetting;

• Pesticideswerecollectedfromthefloor,whichwas then thoroughlywashedandhooveredbeforecleaningthewallsandceiling.Oncethewallsandceilingwerecleaned,thefloor-cleaningprocesswasrepeatedforasecondtime.Afterwards,aspecialconcrete-polishingmachinewasused tostripand removeanystainsanddiscolourationfromthesurfaceofthefloorconcrete;

• Oncecleaned,thewarehousewasthenwashedwith warm soap solution and hypochloritesolution and then cleaned and washed asecondtimetoreachasatisfactorystate;

• Manholesinthefloorwerecleanedandnewcoversinstalled;and

• Theoutsideofthewarehousewasalsocleanedandwashed.

Item Serial No. Contents No. of drums1 1-90 hazardous waste such as soil, dust, bird guano mixed with

chlorophenyl mercury90

2 91-117 chlorophenyl mercury 27

3 118-148 calcium cyanide 31

4 149 seeds 1

Total 149

Table3:MaterialCollectedatAlSuwairaSite


9 Environmental Diplomacy and Mainstreaming

9.1 Background

TheyearsofconflictthatIraqwentthroughundertheformerregimemeantthatithadbecomeisolatedfrom its neighbours, regional organizations andmultilateralinstitutionsinallspheres–includingthatof theenvironment.Prior to theperiodofconflict(1980), Iraqwasasignatory tomost internationalconventionsandanactivememberof regionalorganizations.OneoftheactivitiesthatUNEPfocusedonafterthechangeoftheregimewastohelpIraq’scurrentregimere-linkwithitsneighbours,regionalorganizationsandtheinternationalcommunity.

Another activity performed by UNEP during theperiod 2003-2006 was that of mainstreamingenvironmental concerns within the UN family.Indeed, in the period immediately after theconflict,whiletheUNwasoneofthekeyplayersinundertakingprojectsinIraq,therewasnosystemfor screening the environmental impact of itsprojects.UNEPthereforeestablishedasystemtoensurethatnoenvironmentaldamagewouldbecausedbytheUN’sinterventioninIraq.

9.2 Iran-Iraq Dialogue on the Mesopotamian Marshlands

TheAl-HawizehmarshlandstraddlesbothIranandIraq,sothatthetwocountriesarehydrologicallyand ecologically interdependent. During thepreviousIraqiregime,whenengineeringprojectswere initiated in Iraq to drain the wetlands,countermeasureswere taken in Iran tobuildadyke to protect the local hydrological regime.The net effect of these measures was to bisecttheAl-Hawizehmarshland,withtheresultthatitisconsequentlyoneof theremainingundisturbedpartsoftheMesopotamianmarshlands.

In2004,UNEPbroughttogetherexpertsfrombothIran and Iraq to discuss ways in which the twocountries could collaborateon the issue of theMesopotamianmarshlands.Thiswasthefirsttimein29yearsthatthetwocountrieshadmetface-to-facetodiscusstheissue.Theresultatthemeeting’sendwasanagreementtoshare informationontheissuesandtocontinuethedialogue.

In 2005, UNEP, in association with the RegionalOrganization for Protection of the MarineEnvironment,organizedahigh-levelconferenceontheRestoration of the Mesopotamian Marshlandsin Manama (Bahrain). The meeting was wellattendedbyrepresentativesofmostgovernmentsoftheregion,byUNagencies,theWorldBankandanumberofNGOs.

9.3 Re-linking Iraq to the Regional Organization for Protection of Marine Environment

Iraqwasoneof the foundingmembersof theRegional Organization for Protection of theEnvironment(ROPME).However,themembershipof Iraq was suspended after the invasion ofKuwait. In 2005, UNEP initiated a process bywhichrepresentativesfromROPMEandofficialsof the Ministry of Environment were broughttogether in Geneva to discuss Iraq’s return toROPME.ThiswasfollowedbyIraq’sparticipationin various ROPME events as an observer. By2006,themembercountriesofROPMEagreedtoallowIraqtotakeitschairinROPMEasafullmember.

9.4 Re-linking Iraq to the Ramsar Convention

ThoughIraqwaspartytotheRamsarconventionandhosttooneofthekeywetlandsofinternationalimportance,theAl-HawizehmarshlandwasneverdeclaredaRamsar site. In2005,UNEP initiatedaction to classify as such. UNEP undertook thetechnicalpreparationfortheactandencouragedtheMinistryofEnvironmenttotakethenecessarypoliticalactionwithinIraqtodeclareAl-HawizehaRamsarsite.Atthe9thMeetingoftheConferenceof theContractingParties to theConventiononWetlands held at Kampala, Uganda on 8-15November2005, Iraqmadeastatementnotingthat it was attending COP9 as an observer butwould soon accede to the convention andparticipate at COP10 as a contracting party.The eastern part of the famous Mesopotamianmarshes would be submitted as the country’sfirstRamsarsite.IraqconsidereditspresenceatCOP9tobeanindicatorofreintegrationwithintheinternationalcommunityafterdecadesoftragiccircumstances.

�0 UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment,

9.5 Capacity-Building for Engaging other Multilateral Systems

Aspartofitsoverallcapacity-buildingactivitiesinIraq,UNEPconductedaworkshoponMultilateralEnvironmental Agreements for officials from theGovernmentofIraq,atwhichInformationonboth‘green’agreements (Conventionon Biodiversity,ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora) and ‘brown’agreements (Basel Convention, RotterdamConvention)wasprovided.Officialswerealsogiventrainingonprocedures forparticipation in theseconventionsandnegotiationstrategies.UNEPhassincefacilitatedtheattendanceofIraqinanumberofeventsassociatedwiththeseconventions.

9.6 Environmental Mainstreaming

Between 2004 and 2006, UNEP was a residentagency in Amman, Jordan, along with othermembersoftheUNcountryteamthatwasassistingIraq.TheoverallsizeoftheUNIraqTrustFund(ITF)exceededUSD600millionandalargenumberofprojectswasundertakenbyvariousUNagenciesin Iraq.Duringthescreeningprocess to identifynewprojects for ITF support, itbecameevidentthat there was no systematic manner in which

environmental concerns, if any, were beingidentifiedandaddressed.UNEPthusestablishedaProjectEnvironmentalReview(PER)methodologyand offered its services to all other residentagenciestoundertakeenvironmentalscreeningofallprojectscarriedoutbytheUNinIraq.

BasedonthefindingsofthePER,approximately23percentofreviewedprojectswereclassifiedasimpactcategoryA(potentiallysignificant);30percentwereclassifiedascategoryB(potentiallymoderate);and47percentwereclassifiedascategoryC(insignificantimpacts).Intotal53percentoftheprojectsreviewed(representing67percentofthetotalvalueofprojects

reviewed)hadpotentialimpacts.

PERalsofoundthatformorethanhalfoftheprojectsreviewed, the threemostcommonenvironmentalimpacts relatedtotheprotectionofwaterqualityandquantity,thesafedisposalofsolidwaste,andthesustainableuseofbiodiversity.Potentialimpactsintheareasofairqualityandgroundwaterqualitywerealsoidentifiedinmorethan30percentofcases.

A guidance note on undertaking projectenvironmentalreviewwasalsopreparedaspartofthemainstreamingexercise.

Figure1:DistributionofImpactCategories

�1Clean-up and Reconstruction

10 Capacity Building for Depleted Uranium

10.1 Background

The1991GulfWarwasthefirstconflict inwhichdepleted uranium (DU) munitions were usedextensively.Morerecently,theuseofDUmunitionsduring major combat was confirmed duringthe2003conflict in Iraq.NocomprehensiveDUassessmentshadbeensuccessfullyundertakeninIraq,however.Theabsenceofrigorousscientificassessmentshadledtospeculation,andtherewasahighpotentialforinaccurateDUriskperceptionsbythegeneralpublicandtheIraqiauthorities.

Within the Ministry of Environment (MoEn), theRadiationProtectionCentre (RPC)waschargedwith all aspects related to radiation protectionin Iraq. The RPC would thus become the keyorganization to take charge of DU assessmentsinthecountryandforcontinuousinteractionwithUNEP. However, the scientific ability of the RPCtoplanandexecuteathoroughDUassessmentwashamperedby the lackof latestknowledgeonDU (bothof state-of-the-art field techniques,andalackofthenecessaryfieldandlaboratory

equipment).Itwasrecognizedatanearlystagethat local experts required both training andequipmentrelevanttoenvironmentalassessmentsin general, and to DU assessments specifically.UNEPdecidedtoputtogetheracapacity-buildingprogrammefortheRPCandkeystafffromrelatedagencies(suchastheMinistryofHealth)toaddresstheseknowledgeandresourcegaps.


UNEP’s capacity-building process in Iraq forenvironmentallaboratory,fieldworkanddepleteduraniumincludedthefollowingactivities:

• TrainingworkshopsonDU,environmentalsiteassessmentsandsampleanalyses;

• Selectionandprocurementoffieldmonitoringequipment and laboratory analyt icalinstruments;

• DefinitionofthescopeoftheDUassessmentprojectandprovisionoftherelevantinformationtoolsintheformofsiteassessmentpackages,inordertofacilitategoodqualitydeliverablesbythelocalexperts;

Workshop on depleted uranium (DU) field measurement techniques, reconnaisance, sampling, and selection of site clean-up measures


• Provision of logistical support for data andsampletransfersbetweenIraqandUNEP;and

• Interactionwith the localexperts throughouttheDUassessmentproject.

Through this capacity-building process, Iraq’sMinistryofEnvironment,anditsRadiationProtectionCentrenowhavewell trainedandexperiencedfieldstaff,asetoffieldmonitoringequipment,andahostoftechnicalresourcematerials.

Theirsiteassessmentworkwasalargeprojectwithcomplexlogisticalconstraints.MuchthoughtandeffortfrombothUNEPandtheRPCwaspooledtodesignasolidandrealisticprocess inordertoensuresuccessfulcompletionofthework.TheRPCgainedexperienceincreating,managingand coordinating multidisciplinary teams oftrained staff in various parts of the country forenvironmentalandDUassessments,whichcouldbeextendedtoother,nonDU-related,issuesinthefieldofradiationassessmentandprotection.

An additional achievement of this capacity-buildingprocesswasastrengthenedpartnershipbetweenUNEP, the IraqiMoEnand itsRadiationProtection Centre. It also demonstrated goodinternational cooperation with UN partneragencies, in particular IAEA and WHO. Indeed,in each step of the programme, UNEP sharedits latest findings with both agencies through aseriesofregularmeetings.Inaddition,WHOandIAEA actively participated in the seminars andworkshopsorganizedbyUNEP.

This experience also exposed some potentialareasof improvement,especially in institutionalstrengthening. The RPC have an excellentinfrastructure, which was built under a WHOprogrammedirectlyafterthe2003war.However,the centre needs to acquire both basic andstate-of-the-artequipmentforitslaboratories,andprovideadequatetrainingandrefreshercoursestoitslaboratorytechnicians.


11 Iraqi Marshlands Project

11.1 Background

Since 2004, UNEP has been implementing alarge-scaleintegratedprojectforthesustainablemanagement and restoration of the Iraqimarshlands. UNEP’s marshlands initiatives areexpectedtocontinueinto2008,asrequestedbythe Iraqi institutionsandsupportedwith findingsfromdonors.

TheIraqimarshlandsconstitutethelargestwetlandecosystemintheMiddleEast,withenvironmentaland socio-cultural significance. By the time theformer Iraqi regime collapsed in 2003, thesemarshlands–withtheirrichbiodiversityanduniquecultural heritage – had been almost entirelydestroyed.In2001,UNEPalertedtheinternationalcommunitytothemarshlands’destructionwhenitreleasedsatelliteimagesshowingthat90percentofthemarshlandshadalreadybeenlost.Expertsfearedthatthemarshlands’ecosystemswouldbecompletely lost within three to five years unlessurgentactionwastaken.UNEPhascontinuedtobetheleadingagencyreportingontheconditionofthemarshlands.

Extensive ecological damage to this area, withthe accompanying displacement of much ofthe indigenous population, was identified asone of the country’s major environmental andhumanitarian disasters by the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) and the UnitedNations–World BankNeeds Assessment Initiative for the Reconstruction of Iraq in 2003. Criticalproblems and associated priority needs for theIraqimarshlandsidentifiedbytheIraqiauthoritiesandtheUNassessmentsincluded,amongothers,thefollowing:

Marshland degradation: While the re-floodingofdriedareasstartedin2003,thelevelofsuchre-floodingshowedvaryingdegreesofecosystemrecovery. Marsh water was suspected to becontaminatedwithpesticidesbysaltfromthedriedsurface,andfromuntreatedindustrialdischargeandsewagefromupstream.Haphazardbreachingof embankments had also resulted in stagnantcontaminated water in some areas, impactingvegetativeandfishrecovery.Waterqualityand

marshland management was an urgent prioritytoprotecthumanhealthand livelihood,andtopreservebiodiversityandtheecosystems.

Lackofdrinkingwater:The2003UNinteragencyassessment and a public health survey by theUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID)foundthattheprovisionofsafedrinkingwaterwasthecriticalpriorityfortheresidentsoftheIraqimarshlands.33Whilesomeresidentswereabletopurchasetankerwater,many,particularlythoselivingwithinthemarshes,obtaineddrinkingwaterdirectlyfromthemarsheswithouttreatment.34

Lackofsanitation:Assessmentsfoundthatmostsettlementslackedbasicsanitationsystems,andwastewater was often drained through openchannelstotheneareststream,ortothestreet.Thepresenceofhumanwasteinthestreetswasnotedin50percentofvillagesintheregion.Outbreaksofwater-bornediseaseswerealsoprevalent.Theprovision of wastewater treatment services wasthereforeacriticalnecessityforpublichealth.Inaddition, the returnofdisplacedpersons to themarshlandareacontinuedtoplaceanincreasingburden on the provision of drinking water andsanitation.

TheIraqiauthoritiesrecognizedtheaboveissuesas priorities, and identified the managementof the marshlands, provision of water andsanitation, and capacity-building as prioritiesforIraqreconstruction.Theneedforimmediateenvironmental relief in the Iraqi marshlandswasalso raisedasapriorityby thehigh-levelIraqidelegationtoJapan.InDecember2003,thePrimeMinisterof Japanwas requested, inperson, to prioritize marshland managementand restorationby theGovernmentof Iraq. InMarch 2004, the Iraqi Minister of Environmentmet with the Japanese Foreign Minister andEnvironment Minister, and again requestedthat Japan prioritize support for marshlandmanagement and restoration. Specifically,the Iraqi Minister of Environment requestedassistanceintheimprovementofwaterquality,aswellasprovisionoftechnologies,equipment,and training. To respond to such requestsand prioritization, the Government of Japanmade contributions to the UN Iraq Trust Fund,andearmarkedfundsfor the Iraqimarshlandsmanagement and restoration. In addition,

�� UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment,

within the UN Iraq Trust Fund framework,the need for coordination of activities andstrategyformulationforlonger-termmarshlandmanagementhadbeenidentified.

AdditionalassistancehasbeenprovidedtoUNEP,onabilateralbasis,bytheGovernmentsofItalyandJapan.

Project Goals and Objectives

ThedevelopmentgoalofthisprojectistosupportthesustainablemanagementandrestorationoftheIraqimarshlands,withthefollowingimmediateobjectives:

1. Tomonitorandassessbaselinecharacteristicsof the marshland conditions, to provideobjectiveandup-to-dateinformation,andtodisseminatetoolsneededforassessmentandmanagement;

2. To build capacity of Iraqi decision-makersand community representatives on aspectsofmarshlandmanagement,including:policyand institutionalaspects, technicalsubjects,andanalyticaltools;

3. Toidentifyenvironmentallysoundtechnology(EST)options thataresuitable for immediateprovision of drinking water and sanitationas well as wetland management, and toimplementthemonapilotbasis;and

4. To identify needs for additional strategyformulat ion and coordination for thedevelopment of a longer-term marshlandmanagementplanbasedonpilotresultsandcross-sectorialdialogue.

Project Phases

This project has received support from variousdonorsandhasbeenorganizedintophases,asdescribedinthissectionandshowninthefigurebelow.

PhaseI

PhaseIofthemarshlandsprojectwasimplementedwithintheframeworkoftheUNDGIraqTrustFund.TheGovernmentof JapanprovidedUSD11million tosupportthisphase.WorkduringPhaseIfocusedon:

• Safe drinking water provision, uti l izingenvironmentallysoundtechnologies;

• Sanitat ion and wastewater t reatmentdemonstrations;

• Wetlandandwaterqualitymanagement;

• Targetedcapacity-building;

• Community level initiatives for marshlandmanagement;and

• Supportfordatacollectionandanalysis.

Figure2:IraqiMarshlandsProjectPhasesandSupportedActivities

��Clean-up and Reconstruction

PhaseII

PhaseIIhasbeenrunninginparallelwithPhaseIandbuildingon its success. Funding from theGovernments of Italy and Japan supports thissecondphase.PlanningforPhaseIIwascarriedoutwiththeMoEn,MOWR,andMMPW.

PhaseII-A:strategyformulationandcoordination;baseline data collection and assessment;capacity-building

Activit ies supported by funding from theGovernmentofItalyinclude:

• Coordinateddatacollectionandanalysisofwater, environmental and socio-economicparameters;

• ExpandeduseoftheMINtoshareandmanagedata;and

• Provisionofadditionalhardware,softwareandtraining.

Phase II-B: drinking water provision and waterqualitymanagement;pilotimplementationandcommunitylevelawareness;awarenessraising

Activit ies supported by funding from theGovernmentofJapaninclude:

• Apilotprojectfordrinkingwaterprovisioninanothercommunity;

• Anadditionaltrainingcourse;

• AninternationalworkshoponIraqimarshlandsmanagement;

• Continuedinitiativesatlocalcommunitylevel;and

• Theupdateofawareness-raisingmaterials.

Project Implementation Structure

The International Environmental TechnologyCentre(IETC),partofUNEP’sDivisionofTechnology,IndustryandEconomics(UNEPDTIE)andlocatedinJapan,iscarryingoutprojectimplementation.TheprojectmaintainedthefollowingadaptationofimplementationandmonitoringmechanismstoensureIraqiinvolvementandownership:

• Activityimplementationincommunitiesthatareendorsedby local,governorate,andnationalinstitutions:Theprimarymodeofprojectoperations

hasbeenthattheprojectimplementsactivitiesincommunitiesonlywhen(a)thereisdemonstrateddemandandsupportforinterventionsfromthecommunityleaders;(b)thereexistsaclearpledgeofsecurityprovisionby the localcommunities;and (c)all stakeholders, includingministries,governoratesand localcommunities,endorseimplementation. By including the provisionof securityand localcommitment toassist inimplementation in the selection criteria forpilotcommunities, theprojecthas successfullyminimizedthesecurityandstaffconstraints.Thesenseofownershipandresponsibilityamongthelocalcommunitiesisalsomoreassured.

• Engagement of National Coordinator: Thecontinued engagement of the nationalcoordinatorinsideIraqhasbeenacrucialfactorto facilitate the successful implementationof this project. The national coordinatorhas maintained constant dialogue withlocal community groups, contractors, andministriesinsideIraqtomonitorprogress,shareinformation on the project implementation,andtosolicitdialoguewithpartnerstofacilitateaction.Wheneverthesecuritysituationallows,thenationalcoordinatorhastravelledtothesoutherngovernoratestomeetandfollowuponactivitieswithlocalpartners.

• UseofcontractorswithexperiencedeliveringinIraq:Theprojecthasworkedwithcontractorsthat have demonstrated experience indelivering necessary services inside Iraq onsimilar projects. These contractors have theknow-howtoaddressvariousconstraints,suchasdelays,securityandlogisticalchallenges.

• Engagementof Iraqi institutions foractivities:Wheneverpossible,theprojecthasutilizedIraqiinstitutions(governmentagencies,universities,localgroups,andNGOs)tocarryoutactivities,suchaswaterqualitymonitoring, secondarytraining,andfieldassessments.Also,theIraqiinstitutionsarenotifiedwhenevertheexpressionof interest, request for proposals, and otherpublicprocurementnoticesaremadepublic.

Inrecognitionofsucheffortsforlocalcoordinationand the actual results on the ground, the IraqiMinister of Environment and other donors haveidentifiedthemarshlandsprojectasamodelcaseofcooperationandsustainabledevelopment.


Summary of Project Benefits

Thefollowingbenefitsofthemarshlandsprojecthavebeenidentified:

• ESTsarebeingintroducedandimplemented,makinguseofIraqiexpertise.

– Upto22,000peopleinsixpilotcommunities(Al-Kirmashiya,BadirAl-Rumaidh,Al-Masahab,Al-Jeweber,Al-Hadam,andAl-Sewelmat)haveaccesstosafedrinkingwatersuppliedbycommondistribution taps fromPhase Iof theproject. By themiddleof2006,23kilometresofwaterdistributionpipesand127commondistributiontapshadbeeninstalled.PhaseII-Bissupportingdrinkingwaterprovisioninanothercommunityfor3,000people.

– Partlybecausedrinkingwaterwasmadeavailable through this project, peoplearereturningtopilotsiteareas.Asstabilityreturns,possibilitiesforfindingemploymentandrebuildinglifeinthemarshecosystemareincreasing.

– A sanitation system utilizing constructedwetlands is serving approximately 170inhabitants,whofacehealthhazardsfromdischargesofuntreatedwastewatertoanearbycanal.

– Wetlandrehabilitationandreconstructioninitiatives are being implemented incooperation with the Centre for theRestoration of Iraqi Marshlands, of theMinistryofWaterResources(MOWR).

• Input is being provided for a long-termmanagement plan to benefit people andecosystemsinsouthernIraq.Thisincludes:

– Experience with suitable managementoptions;

– Recognition of local communities asstakeholders;

– Assessment of policy and institutionalneeds;

– Identification of (and engagement with)evolving and emerging Iraqi institutionsassociatedwithmarshlandsmanagement;and

– Provision of analysed data, gatheredthrough water quality testing, satelliteimageanalysisandremotesensing.

• ThecapacityandknowledgeofIraqidecision-makers, technical experts, and communitymembers are being enhanced. Policy andinstitutional elements, technical knowledge,community engagement, and analyticalmethods are among the aspects beingaddressed.

• Employment oppor tuni t ies related toassessment, pilot applications, awareness-raisingandmonitoringarebeingdevelopedatprofessionalandcommunitylevels.

• Coordinationofdonor-supportedactivitiesanddomesticallyledactivitiesinsidethemarshlandsisbeingfacilitatedtofostercoordinationandcooperationwhileminimizingwaste.

11.2 Pilot Projects on Drinking Water, Sanitation and Wetland Rehabilitation

A. Drinking Water Provision in Six Communities

Access to safe drinking water remains thenumber one priority for residents of smallcommunities in the marshlands who havereturned to the region after being displacedformorethanadecade.Manyresidentsinthesmall communities have re-established theirlivelihoodsthroughtraditionalactivitiessuchasagriculture, fishing, animal-rearing, harvestingreedsormakingreedproducts.Theseactivitiesaresmall-scaleandtheresidentstendtoliveinsmalltribalclusterslocatedalongthefringeofthemarshlands.Duetoanincreaseinthesalinitylevelsof thewater in themarshlands securingsafe drinking water has become increasinglydifficult, especially for small communities.OneofthemainchallengesaddressedbytheenvironmentalmanagementofIraqimarshlandsistoensurethecommunitiesasafedrinkingwatersupply, provided in an environmentally soundmanner.Groundworkintheformofpilotprojectson drinking water provision is implemented toaddressthischallenge.


MAP3: PilotProjectSitesforDrinkingWaterProvision


The main objectives of the pilot projects ondrinking water provision are to identify andevaluate ESTs through field implementation,whileprovidingimmediaterelieftotheresidentsinthecommunitywherepilotprojectsarebeingimplemented.

PilotSites

In February 2005, a technical meeting wasorganizedwiththeobjectiveofdiscussingprioritysitesidentifiedbyIraqiinstitutionsforinterventionstoprovidewater,sanitation,marshlandmanagementandtoreachconsensusonfivetosixcandidatesitestobeconsideredbyUNEPforpilotimplementationforPhaseI.Participantsincludedrepresentativesfrom MoEn, MMPW, MOWR, Marsh Arab Forum(MAF) and the Iraq Foundation. In addition,relevantUNagenciesparticipatedincludingFAO,UNESCO,UNHCR,UNICEF,andWHO,aswellastheItalianMinistryofEnvironment.

Theselectionprocessfor thePhaseIcandidatesites forpilot implementationwasbasedon thefollowingcriteria:

1. Solliciting proposals from the MoEn, MMPW,MOWR, and MAF, with fact sheets on eachcandidatesite;

2. ApplyingtechnicalselectioncriteriadevelopedbyUNEP;

3. Utilizingdatagatheredfromothersources,suchasexternaldatafromotherdonor-supportedactivities;

4. Consideringgeographicaldistributionoverthethreesoutherngovernorates;and

5. Reachingconsensusbasedondiscussion.

TheministriesandMarshArabForumpresented18candidate sites, followedbyclarificationon theinformationprovidedinthefactsheets.Asummaryofallcandidatesiteswaspresentedtothegroup,includingsitesuitabilitybasedontechnicalcriteriaaswellasgeographicaldistribution.Afteran in-depthdiscussion, thegroup reachedconsensuson six candidate sites: Al-Kirmashiya, Badir Al-Rumaidh,Al-Masahab,Al-Jeweber,Al-HadamandAl-Sewelmat.TheirlocationsareshowninMap3onpreviouspage.InBadirAl-Rumaidh,anexistingandbroken-downwatertreatmentsystemwasavailableforrehabilitation.

Access points and common taps installed at all six pilot sites


Therepresentativesoflocalcommunitiespledgedtofacilitateaccessandprovidesecurityprovisionsforpilotimplementation.ForPhaseII-B,UNEPhasrequestedtheIraqiinstitutionstojointlynominateacommunityforthedrinkingwaterproject.BasedontheIraqinomination,Al-GhreejvillageinThi-QarGovernorate,withapopulationofapproximately3,000,hasbeenselectedforpilotimplementationofdrinkingwaterutilizingESTs.

Implementation

Contractsforprocurementofgoodsandservicesfor the pilot project on drinking water provisionand sanitation provision were administered bythe UNOPS Office in Amman, Jordan under thesupervisionandcoordinationofUNEP-DTIE-IETC.InIraq,theMoEnisthecoordinatingministryfortheUNEP’sproject(includingpilotprojects).Activitiesforthepilotprojectswerealsoconductedthroughthe Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) andMinistryofMunicipalitiesandPublicWorks(MMPW).AsthepublicwatersupplyinIraqisentrustedtoMMPW,closecoordinationwasmaintainedwithMMPWintheimplementationofpilotproject.

UNOPS was responsible for contracting servicesforthefieldassessment,design,constructionand

commissioningoffacilities,aswellascontractingthesupply,delivery,installationandconstructionofwatersupplytreatmentanddistributionfacilities.

For Phase I, the supply of clean drinking watercommenced inearly January2006 in five sites,followingthedeliveryofESTequipment.AtBadirAl-Rumaidh,anexistingnon-operationalwatertreatmentunitwasrehabilitatedandputbackintooperation.Distributionpipelinesandcommonwatertapswereinstalledinallsixvillagestoimprovetheaccesstosafewater.

ImplementationAchievements

• Installation of water treatment units at fivevillages(toatotalnominaldailycapacityof750m3/dfornewinstallation)usingpackagedlow-pressurereverseosmosistreatmentsystem–togetherwiththerehabilitationofanexistingconventionalwatertreatmentplant,whichcanserveatotalpopulationof15,000-22,000.

• Installation of a water distribution pipelinemeasuringatotallengthof23.01km,with127commonwaterdistributionpointsinsixvillages.

Access points and common taps installed at all six pilot sites


• Trainingoflocalresidentstooperatethewatertreatmentplants.

• The project supported the operation andmaintenanceforaone-yearperiodfollowinginstallation. The total cost for implementingPhaseI(ESTequipmentandwatersupplyforsixsites)isUSD$4.68million.

• Arrangements to hand over the facilities toMMPWhavebeencompleted. For Phase II-B, similar arrangements for operations andmaintenanceaswellashandoverareplannedfor2008.

ESTs for drinking water provision

Waterssources:

Surface water from the marshlands canals andriversshowedbrackishwater(totaldissolvedsolidsin the range of 1,000 to 5,000 mg/L), therebynecessitatingtheapplicationoftechnologiesforthe removal of dissolved salts. This salt-removalprocess,desalination,isbestachievedsmall-scalebyusingreverseosmosismembranes.

Conventional water treatment involves theseparationof solidsby sedimentation to removesuspendedsolids thatcanbe settledbygravity,alsobyfiltrationaidedbychemicalcoagulationtoremovebothsuspendedandcolloidalsolids.

Comparing thecostsof the two treatments, thewaterproductioncostsarehigherformembranefiltrationduetotheenergyrequiredtoovercomeosmoticpressurecausedbydissolvedsalts,andthecostofequipment.Further,chemicalpre-treatmentandpost-treatmentarenecessarytopreventfoulingoffiltersandtopreventdamagetomembranes.Theactualoperatingcostsoftheseprocessesarealsodependentontherawwaterquality.

Watersupplyplanning:

Planningofthewatersupplysystemwasbasedonthefollowingcriteria:

• Percapitawatersupplyof50litresperday(L/d).Uncertaintiesregardingthenumberoffamiliesexpectedtoreturntocommunities,duetotherestorationoftheprovisionofbasicservices,hasbeen incorporated in theplanning.Thefacilitieshavebeendesignedtoaddresstheneedsofalargerpopulationwithaminimumsupplyof20L/d;

• Long-termwatersupplytargetof160L/(capitaday);

• Modulardesignofintakeandwatertreatmentfacilitiesforexpansionconsideringlong-termwatersupplytarget;

• Distributionsystemwasdesignedbytakingintoaccountoflong-termtarget;

Figure3:RawWaterQualityinthePilotSites


• Water quality to meet the Iraqi drinkingwater standards and WHO drinking waterguidelines.

Apreliminaryanalysisof theapplicabilityofdualwatersupplysystemindicatedthatthetopographicandsettlementpatternwerenotfavourabletoadoptsuchasystem.Thedualwatersupplysystemtakesintoconsiderationthefactthatcertainwateruses(suchaswashing,flushingetc.)doesnotneedthehigh standardsof treatment required fordrinkingandcooking.Withineachcommunity,comparisonsweremadeamongthesinglewatertreatmentplanttosupplytheentirecommunity–versus–multiple,smaller-sizedtreatmentplantsdistributedthroughoutthecommunity.Also,alternativetreatmentprocessesavailablefordesalinationwereconsidered,suchasreverseosmosisprocessandthermaldistillation.

Watersupplysystem:

Components of the water supply system thatwere selected for implementation in five of thecommunitiesconsistedof:

1. Direct withdrawal of water from rivers andcanalsofthemarshes;

2. Watertreatmentusingpackagedlow-pressurereverse osmosis process consisting of thefollowingunitprocesses:

– Pre-chlorination(withsodiumhypochlorite,NaOCl),

– Pressurizedsandfiltration,

– Dechlorination (with sodium sulphite,Na2SO3),

– Microfiltration(cartridgefilter),

– Low-pressure reverseosmosismembranefiltration,

– Post-chlorination(withsodiumhypochlorite,NaOCl).

3. Distributionofdrinkingwaterthroughcommontapsalongtheroads.

Thedistributionnetworkcanbeextendedwhenfundsbecomeavailable.

Figure4:SchematicofPackagedLow-pressureReverseOsmosisTechnology


Completed facilitiesand their transfer to Iraqiauthorities:

An outline of the completed facilities is showninTable5above,andsomeofthefacilitiesaredepictedonthenextpage.

Technicaldossierscontainingalltherelevantdataneededfortheoperationandmaintenanceoftheplants, includingplant specifications,operationandmaintenancemanuals,andas-builtdrawingson each of the facilities were provided to theWater Directorate of MMPW. The dossiers willenable MMPW to continue the operations andmaintenanceofthefacilitiesataworkinglevel.

TwosetsofdocumentswereprovidedtoMMPWforeachofthefivedrinkingwatersupplyfacilitiesusing packaged low-pressure reverse osmosistechnology at: Al-Kirmashiya, Al-Masahab, Al-Jeweber,Al-HadamandAl-Sewelmat.DocumentsinSet1provideanoveralldescriptionofthewatersupply system including plant specifications,inventoryandtheas-builtdrawings.DocumentsinSet2provideinformationfromthemanufacturersofthewatertreatmentequipmentontheoperationandmaintenanceofthewatersupplysystem.

Relevantinformationwasalsoincludedwithinthetechnical dossiers for Badir Al-Rumaidh, where

theexistingwatertreatmentunitwasrehabilitatedand water treatment process is based on theconventional flocculation and sedimentationusingcompactunits.

Set 1: Overall water supply system data

1. Plantspecificationsandinventory:

a. Descriptionof thewater treatmentplantanddetaileddescriptionofwatertreatmentanddistributionunit,

b. Equipmentdatasheetsforwatertreatmentanddistributionunits.

2. As-built drawings of drinking water supplyfacilities:

a. Water treatment and distribution system–generalplan,

b. Water intake and water treatment plant– plan views, sections, foundations andstructuraldrawings,

c. Water treatment and distribution system–P&Idiagram,

d. Water treatment and distribution system–electricalflowchart,

Pilot Project Site Al-Kirmashiya Badir Al-

Rumaidh Al-Masahab Al-Jeweber Al-Hadam Al- Sewelmat

Estimated population

1,500 3,000 2,000 2,500 2,500 3,500

Target service population

2,000 3,100 2,200 4,500 4,600 5,700

Water source al-Kirmashiya river, euph-rates river

system

gharraf river, Tigris river

system

al-hammar lake, shatt al-arab system

garmat hassan river, euprates

system

al-hadam ri-ver, Tigris river

system

glory river, Tigris river

system

Water treatment process

packaged low-pressure re-

verse osmosis (ro) process

conventional sedimentation/

filtration(existing com-

pact unit)









Treatment Capacity

100 m3/d 1,650 m3/d(estimated) 150 m3/d 200 m3/d 100 m3/d 200 m3/d

Length of distribution pipeline

3,416 m 4,050 m 3,711 m 4,068 m 4,040 m 3,725 m

Water distrib. method (Number of water taps)

common water taps along the road at approximately 200 m to 500 m intervals.

13 26 17 18 25 28

Table4:Outlineofcompletedfacilitiesfordrinkingwaterprovision


e. Water treatment and distribution system–pipingarrangementforcontainer1,

f. Water treatment and distribution system–mechanicalarrangementforcontainer2,3&4.

Set 2: Manufacturers information for water treatment equipment

Operationandmaintenancemanuals,informationon sources of spare-parts and chemicals, andpersonnel requirements for operation andmaintenance:

SectionA: Installationinstructionsand generaldescription,

SectionB: Startupprocedure,

SectionC: Drawingsandelectrical schemes,

SectionD: Machinerymanuals,

SectionE: Additionalitemsandspare parts.

SimilararrangementsareplannedforPhaseII-B,totakeplacein2008.

The water plant facility at Al-Kirmashiya The water plant facility at Al-Masahab

The water plant facility at Al-Jeweber


Monitoring and Evaluation

The finalmonitoringandevaluation reportofpilotprojects for drinking water provision for Phase Iwas released inSeptember2006. Themonitoringandevaluationwascarriedoutbya thirdpartyorganizationthroughaseriesoffoursitevisitstoeachpilotcommunityfromFebruarytoJuly2006.Monitoringandevaluationactivities included interviewswithlocal residentsandprojectpersonnel,aswellasreviewandanalysisofrelevantdocuments.

Thefinalreportconcludedthattheproject,whichwassuccessfullyimplementedunderverydifficultcircumstances,hasmade“atremendousimpactinconfidencebuildingwithin thecommunities,”and that “the contribution and support givento the returning familiesof the Iraqimarshlandsthroughthisprojectisdeeplyappreciatedbythebeneficiariesandhastoagreatextentalleviatedsufferingandcoveredthebasichumanitarianneedforsustaininglife.”

The reportalso found “an increasedconfidenceanddesireon reviving lifewithin themarshlands’ecosystem,encouragingmanyhouseholdstoreturnto their villageandbegin their livelihoodat theoriginallocationsoftheirroots,inturnresultinginanincreasednumberof livestock,activeproductionandsupplyofdairyproducts,reedrelatedcrafts,andothercommoditiesforthemainurbanmarketenters,thus,addingtotheincomegeneration,employment,andgenerally,theprosperityofthecommunity.”

ESTs Assessment

AnassessmentofenvironmentalsoundnessoftheESTsappliedintheprovisionofdrinkingwaterinthesixpilotsitesisoneofthekeyoutcomesforwiderimplementation

of the technologieswithin themarshlands,and intheformulationofmarshlandmanagementplans.Dataontheoperationofthesixmarshlands’plantsarecurrentlybeinganalysed inorder toprovidenecessaryinformation.

B. Sanitation Pilot Project

AdemonstrationsystemforsanitationwasconstructedtoserveasmallcommunityinAl-ChibayishintheThi-QarGovernorate.ThefacilityimplementsanESTcalled“constructedwetlands”andservesapproximately170inhabitantswhofacepotentialhealthhazardsfromuntreatedwastewaterdischargedintoanearbycanal.Thefacilityisdesignedwithasurfaceareaof540m²,utilizingthesub-surfaceflowtypeconstructedwetlandsinwhichwaterflowsthroughgravelbedsthatareplantedwithreeds.Organicnutrientsandpollutantsinthewastewaterareremovedthroughbio-chemicalprocessesintherootzoneofthereedplantsaswellas through theuptakeof theplants.Reedstemsfromnearbymarsheswereusedforplanting.ConstructionofthefacilitywascompletedbytheendofDecember2006andisnowinoperation.

Thecommunity inAl-Chibayishwas selected forimplementation of the sanitation demonstrationsystem for two main reasons. First, the projectreceivedtheunderstandingofandsupportfromthecommunityresidents.SuchsupportisconsideredasoneoftheimportantcriteriaforUNEPpilotprojectimplementation.Second,theselectedESThasbeeneffectivelydemonstratedinotherpartsoftheworld,inaddressingwastewaterproblemssimilartothoseencountered inAl-Chibayish. Thedemonstrationof this EST inAl-Chibayish is thereforeexpectedto generate relevant data and managementexperience for wider implementation within themarshlandsandbeyond.

Figure5:SchematicoftheconstructedwetlandinAl-Chibayish


C. Marshland Rehabilitation and Management Project

With theconsentof the lineMinistry (MoEn), theprojecthasreachedanagreementwithMOWRto carry out field assessments, design, andconstruction supervision of phytotechnologyapplications forwetland rehabilitation. The fieldimplementationworkforthispilotcomponentwasoutlined in a Memorandum of Understandings igned between UNEP and MOWR/CRIM.Through a field assessment, together with therecommendationstobeprovidedbyameetingof experts, it was agreed to select two of thefoursitesforgroundworkwherebytechnologicalapproachessuchasre-flooding,planting,buildingand/orrestorationofcanalsetc.,maybeputintopracticetorehabilitatedegradedordestructedwetlandsinthesites.

Toinformthedesignandassessmentofartificialconstructedwetlandsandwetlandrehabilitation/reconstruction, two numerical models wereprepared.Oneisforwastewatertreatment(Sub-SurfaceFlow(SubWeT)andSurfaceFlow(SufWet),andanotheroneforWetlandRehabilitationandReconstruction (WetRestore). To complementthemodels, theHandbook on Phytotechnology for Water Quality Improvement and Wetland Management Through Modelling Applicationswasalsoproducedwithcomplementary informationfromthetechnicalworkshopaimedtocapacitateexpertsfromMOWR,MoEn,MOMPW,andtheIraqFoundationontheusethesetools(Amman,JordaninMay2005).

Throughthefieldassessment,fourpotentialsiteshavebeenselectedandsubsequentassessmentsbyMOWR-CRIMhaveidentifiedonesiteforon-the-groundrehabilitationwork.

CRIMhavebeenconductingworkforre-flooding,planting,buildingandorrestorationofcanalsplusothertechnicalapproaches.

Asmarshlandrehabilitationrequiresalonger-termhorizonforcontinuedmanagement,MOWR-CRIMisexpectedtocontinuewiththeactivitiesrelatedto wetland rehabilitation and reconstruction.Additional marshland management work isexpectedtotakeplaceduringPhaseIIIin2007and2008.

D. Lessons learned

Themainlessonslearnedfromthisprojectthusfar,includethefollowing:

1. Recognizetheurgencyandhighexpectationsforbasicservicesfromthelocalresidents:Theoverwhelmingandpriorityneedforthelocalresidents has been the restoration of basicservices. However, previous data collectionand assessmentwork, while necessary, hadnot improved the situation on the ground.SuchdelayinthereliefprovisionbyIraqiandinternationalinstitutions,bothperceivedandreal,createdanxietyandhighexpectationsamong the local residents when the UNEPprojectcommenced.Untilthedrinkingwaterfacilities were put into operation, issuesimpacting project implementation, such asborderclosingsandcurfews,amongothers,createdanxietyandwarinessamongthelocalresidents. Recognition of suchurgency andimportance of striving for timely completionofprojectswhenrespondingtourgentbasichuman needs, like the provision of drinkingwater,cannotbeoveremphasized.

2. Addresspotential for local-levelcompetitionthroughdialogueandprojectendorsementatthecommunity/governoratelevel:Astheprojectprogressed, expectations of the residentsbecamehigherandarticulated,inpart,dueto community rivalry. Implementation andcontinuedoperationofthefacilitiesconstructedunderthisprojecthaveexperiencedadelicatebalancingact,asthecommunitiesandtribestendedtocompetefor the limitedresourcesavailable.Examplesincludecompetitionamongthe tribes for the employment opportunitiesavailablefortheoperationofwatertreatmentplants, strong requests for additional layoutof water distribution pipelines, and difficultyin reaching agreement for the selection ofhouseholdsforsanitationdemonstration.Suchcompetitionhadatendencytounderminethekeybenefitofaccess tosafedrinkingwater.Theproject’spolicyandpracticeofinvolvingvariousstakeholders,suchasrepresentativesoftheMarshArabForumandthegovernorates,havehelpedtoresolvemostoftheseissuesthatoccurred during implementation. Additionalmeasures have also become necessary to


address security problems, i.e. constructionof concrete block walls around the watertreatmentunitsinsteadofwire-meshfencing.While changing expectations cannot beavoidedcompletely,“endorsementofprojectsat governorate and community level inaddition to the line ministry for supportingprojects” iseffectiveandcrucial in resolvingsuchsituations.

3. Accommodate procurement and tenderprocessinArabic:Therehadbeendelaysintheprocurementandtenderprocess,duetolimitedinterestsandpoorresponsereceivedtotheprocurementnoticepostedintheUNDGIraqiTrustfundwebsite.SomeIraqiinstitutions,particularly at the governorate and locallevels, have complained about the lackof Arabic information on the procurement,which they stated was a limiting factor forsome Iraqicontractors toeitherapply,or toprovidemorethoroughinformationtosupporttheir applications. The accommodation oftheArabiclanguageintheprocurementandtender process is strongly encouraged toincreasetheparticipationofqualifiedvendorsandserviceproviders.

4. Facilitateinteractionsamonglocalcommunitiesandnationalministries:Theprojecthascontinuedto involve local communities, governorates,and national ministries in various activities,including thedecisionofwhere tocarryoutpilot projects, how to divide responsibilitiesforplantoperations,andhow todevelopalonger-termplanformarshlandmanagement.Invariousmeetingsand trainingsessions, theparticipantsoften remarked that itwas theirfirsttimetoexchangeideasordiscussmattersamongthenational,local,and/orgovernoraterepresentatives,andthattheinitiativeofUNEPto realise such interactionshasbeengreatlyappreciated. Such dialogue is necessary,aseach institutionhasdifferentprioritiesandresponsibilities,aswellasdistinct insightandresources to offer. Also, there is a need todiminishmistrustandunrealisticexpectationsplacedonotherstakeholders,whichcanonlybeachieved throughdirect interactionsanddialogue.UNEPwillcontinuetousethismodelofpromotingdialogueandinteractions.

5. Incorporate measures to lesson projectimpactsfromgovernmentalchanges:TransferoffacilitiestoMMPWencountereddelaysdueto the lateappointmentof thenewMinisterof MMPW, following the December 2005elections. As the project included a one-yearperiodofoperationandmanagementof the facilities by the contractor followingstart-upofoperation,suchprovisionhas,toacertainextent,offsetsituationsthatcouldhaveoccurredduetodelayintransfer.

6. Improveawarenessabouttheneedtoimprovesanitation through a demonstration facility:Difficulties and delays were encounteredin implementing the sanitation system fordemonstration due to security concerns inoneof the six sites. Implementing sanitationsystems for demonstration involved workingwith individualhouseholds inaclusterwithinthe community. Consent on the selectionof thecluster could not beobtained. Whilesanitationconditionswithinthesixcommunitiesare in need of improvement, convincingthe communities on the need to improvesanitationremainsachallengethatneedstobeaddressedinthefuture.

7. Understand administrative requirements ofpartner institutions:Theprojectexperiencedsignificantdelayinthetransferoffundswithinoneofthelineministries(MOWRtoCRIM)astheimplementingbodytoundertaketheproject.Thiswasduetothelackofeffectivemechanismsforexpeditiousinternalfundtransfer.AlthoughthefundswerenotmadeavailabletoCRIM,CRIMneverthelessundertook the initial fieldassessment using its own scarce funds,allowingfortheidentificationofthepotentialsites.Thiswasdonedespitesecurityproblemsin the region and uncertainties about theprojectimplementation.Toensuretheefficientimplementation of the project, it is crucialtoknow theexistingministerialpoliciesandregulationstoreleasefundsforactivitiesfromexternal sources in a timely manner. Thereisaneedtostronglyinteractwithhigh-levelauthorities in the line ministries to approveand execute such fund release in line withthepoliciesandregulationsofthereceivinginstitution.


11.3 Capacity Building and Awareness Raising

Identifyingandimplementingtechnicalandpolicyresponsesforsustainablemarshlandmanagementrequires adequate human and institutionalcapacity. To help address this necessity, theproject has been providing capacity buildingopportunitiesinmultipleareasthataredeemednecessarytodevelopacrosscuttingresponsetosustainablemarshlandmanagement.

For each training programme, the project hasselected participants from key governmentagencies,governorates,and representativesofcommunities,withprofilesofsuitablecandidatestosuitthetrainingobjectivesandcontents.

Coursesweredesignedusingthe‘trainthetrainers’model. In this way, participants were able toimpartknowledgeacquiredtotheircolleagues,andorganize secondary trainingcourses.UNEPhasprovidedsupportforsuchsecondarytrainingcoursesinsideIraq,includingprovisionoftrainingmaterials and funding for course organization.Training manuals were prepared in Arabic and

English. The training manuals are published inhardcopyversionsandarealsofreelyavailabletodownloadineitherlanguageat:

http://marshlands.unep.or.jp

Training outside Iraq

CourseswithinternationallecturersandrelevantcasestudieswereorganizedoutsideIraq.Somecoursesemphasized policy-making and management,whileothersmainlyprovidedtechnicalaspects.

Courses consisted of lectures, demonstrations,andgroupexercisesconducted inbothEnglishand Arabic. Participants took an active part indiscussions and other activities. Most coursesincludedsitevisits.Forexample,duringacourseon wetland management organized in Cairo,there was a field trip to Egypt’s Lake Manzala,one of the Middle East’s largest artificiallyconstructed wetlands. In Japan, participantsvisited a water treatment plant in Maibara City(Shiga Prefecture), where they learned aboutreverse osmosis technology, and Toyono Town(OsakaPrefecture),wheretheylearnedaboutESToptionsforhouseholdsanitation.

Visit to a wastewater treatment plant


Theapproximate300trainingcourseparticipantsincludednominatedofficialsfromtheIraqiMoEn,MOWR,andMMPW,togetherwithrepresentativesfrom the southern governorates, marshlandscommunities,andacademicinstitutions.

PolicyandInstitutionalTraining

Soundenvironmentalmanagementofmarshlandsrequirespolicyand institutional frameworks thatincorporate water and wetland management,based on the integrated water resourcemanagement(IWRM)approach.TherelevantIraqiauthorities,decision-makerswithincommunities,and NGOs have limited understanding ofsuch frameworks or how to formulate practicalpolicies and strategies. Initiatives for marshlandmanagement must also be anchored in localcommunities.Toaddressthisneed,theprojectedconducted the following trainingcoursesunderPhaseIandPhaseII:

1. WaterQualityManagement:Providedparticipantswithrelevantpolicyandinstitutionalinformationonhow tomanagewaterquality, including:standard setting, monitoring, enforcementand management plan development.

Held6-17December2004inShiga,Japan,inpartnershipwithInternationalLakeEnvironmentCommittee(ILEC),WHO-Iraq,UNEPGEMS-Water,andShigaPrefecture.

2. Integrated Water Resource Management(IWRM): Policy and Integration: Improvedthe unders tanding and capaci ty ofnational experts, government officials,and local authorities to work with IWRMconcepts, principles, and applications.Held 4-9 April 2005 in Amman, Jordan, inpartnershipwithAmericanUniversityofBeirutandUNEconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia(UNESCWA).

3. CommunityLevelInitiatives:Addressedwaysto raise public awareness of marshlandsenvironmental issues and how to engageand support communities. Participantsi n c l u d e d c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s a n dofficials involved in community outreach.Held11-16June2005,inAlexandria,Egypt,inpartnershipwithUNEPRegionalOfficeforWestAsia,CentreforEnvironmentandDevelopmentfortheArabRegionandEurope(CEDARE).

Visit to a reverse osmosis plant


4. Wetland Management: Examined policyandmanagement topics for soundwetlandmanagement including ins t i tu t ional ,legal, conservat ion, socio-economicand economic elements, basin- levelmanagementandcommunityparticipation.Held 19-26 June 2005, in Cairo, Egypt, inpartnershipwithCairoUniversity,SecretariatoftheRamsarConvention,WetlandsInternational,andInternationalAgriculturalCentre.

Technicaltraining

Identification,implementationandmanagementof EST options to provide water, sanitation, andmarshland water quality management requirespecificskillsdevelopment.Thesewereaddressedinthefollowingtrainingprogrammes:

1. S u s t a i n a b l e S a n i t a t i o n : P r o v i d e dpractical technical information prior tothe pilot implementation of ESTs, includingsite visits to large-scale, community-scaleand household-level treatment facilities,as well as an industr ial reuse facil i ty.Held6-17December2004inShiga,Japan,in

partnershipwiththeGlobalEnvironmentCentreFoundation(GEC),OsakaCityandPrefecture,andJapanInternationalCooperationAgencyOsakaInternationalCentre.

2. PhytotechnologiesforWetlandManagement:Provided technical guidance on the useof plants and vegetation to managewetlands conditions and water quality, inpreparation for the pilot implementation ofthistechnologyinthemarshlandcommunitiesforwaterqualitymanagementandsanitation.Held6-16December2004inCairo,Egypt,inpartnershipwithCairoUniversity.

3. ESTs for Dr inking Water Provis ion: Anintroduction to the applications of ESTs forsafedrinkingwater, responding to theneedtoequipIraqiengineers,publicofficials,andotherstakeholderswithadequateknowledgeand tools to implement appropriate ESTs.Held 16-27 May 2005 in Osaka and Shiga,Japan, in partnership with the GlobalEnvironmentCentreFoundation(GEC),OsakaCity,andMaibaraCity.

Community-level initiatives training


4. E S T A s s e s s m e n t M e t h o d o l o g y a n dImplementation:Capacitatednationalexperts,governmentofficials,and localauthoritiesonprotocolforpilotassessmentandevaluationstoassessthesuitabilityoftheESToptionsfromvariousangles. These included technical suitability,environmentalimpacts,communityacceptance,maintenanceneeds,andeaseofoperations.Held1-3December2005inDamascus,Syria,inpartnershipwithUNEPRegionalOfficeforWestAsiaandArabCentre for the StudiesofAridZones&DryLand(ACSAD).

5. DrinkingWater Provisionwith EnvironmentallySound Technologies (ESTs)andWaterQualityManagement: Organized to increase thecapacity, skills, and knowledge of Iraqigovernmentofficialsonwaterqualitystandardsfordrinkingwater,desalinationtechnologiesusedforwatertreatment,andwaterqualitymanagement.Held6-15December2006 in Shiga, Japan,in partnership with the Global EnvironmentCentreFoundation(GEC)aspartofPhaseII-Bactivities.

The project has also conducted study tours toprovideopportunitiestoexaminefirst-handvariouscommunity levelactionsandcapacitybuildingactivities,andESTapplications.

DataManagementtraining

The project also supported the following datamanagementtraining:

1. Application of Remote Sensing and GIS forMarshlandAssessmentandMonitoring:Taughtparticipantshowtoprovidetimelyinformationonrestorationactivitiesusingremotelysensedsatelliteimagery.Highlightedthebenefitsofthisapproachtomonitoring,assessingandempiricallyquantifyingchangesonanearreal-timebasisincludecosteffectiveness,aglobalperspective,andrepeatableandsystematicsurveymethods.Held6-10February2005inAmman,Jordan,inpartnershipwithInternational InstituteforGeo-InformationScienceandEarthObservation(ITC),andUNEPPostConflictBranch.

2. Marshland Information Network (MIN):Taught information managers, IT officers,technical editors and engineers to use

the EST system developed by IETC. Eachorganizat ion represented created i tsown website, which can now be usedfor information sharing through the MIN.Held27-31March2005inAmman,Jordan.

3. Marshlands Information Network (MIN):AdditionaltechnicalinformationtoITmanagersand data analysts as part of Phase II-A.HeldApril2006inBahrain,inpartnershipwithUNEPRegionalOfficeforWestAsia.

4. AdvancedMarshlandsInformationNetwork(MIN):Trainingandtechnicalmeetingprovidedtrainingonhowtoset-upandoperatetheMINservers, to assist the ministries to effectivelyanalyze, present and share available dataon the MIN, and to develop a strategyfor initial data collection efforts on basicdemographicandsocio-economicdataandsolidwastemanagementinthemarshlands.Held27-30June2006inShiga,Japan,aspartofPhaseII-A.

Training Inside Iraq

Theprojecthasalsoorganizedsixtrainingcoursesinside Iraq, in cooperation with the Ministry ofEnvironment(MoEn),theMinistryofWaterResources(MOWR),andtheUniversitiesofBasraandThi-Qar.UNEPhasprovidedfinancialsupportaswellasthetrainingmaterialsinArabicandEnglishtoenablesuccessful replication of training courses insideIraq.PersonsthathaveparticipatedintheprojecttrainingcoursesheldoutsideIraqhavehelpedtoorganizeanddeliverlectures.

ThesecoursessupportIraqiinstitutionsinincreasingtheirinternalcapacitytoorganizeanddeliversuchtrainingprogrammeswithmultipliereffects.Somecourses also provided a first-hand opportunityforparticipantstovisittheactualsitesofthepilotproject implementation.Asof theendof2006,over 100 Iraqis have participated in trainingcoursesheldinsideIraq.

InternationalWorkshoponIraqiMarshlandManagement

This workshop was organized to take stock ofthe conditions of the Iraqi marshlands froman environmental, water resource and socio-


economic perspective. Also to analyze resultsand achievements of various managementinitiatives on the ground, to receive feedbackfrom Iraqi stakeholders on these initiatives,and to discuss options to fur ther supportsustainablemarshlandsmanagementpractices.Held8December2006inKyoto,Japan.

CommunicationBooklet

The booklet titled ‘Back to Life’ was developedto introduce the project and its results in aconcisemanner.PublishedinArabic,EnglishandJapanese, it isavailableashardcopyandanelectroniccopy.

SupportingProductionofBBC‘EdenReborn’

Utilizing extensive film footage collected duringPhaseI,theprojecthassupportedtheproductionof a documentary for international broadcastontheBBC,aspartoftheEarthReportseriesbyTVE–aswellasashortVideoNewsRelease fordistributiontointernationalnewsbroadcasts.TheBBC Earth Report on the Iraqi marshlands wasbroadcastaroundtheworld,startinginNovember2006.

Main Findings

The project took care to organize targetedtraining to correspond with activities to beimplementedandorganizedinsideIraq.Linkageswereestablishedtopilotprojectimplementation,policy analysis and development, and datamanagement, so that trained personnel couldfacilitate,takepart,and/oranalysevarioustasksundertakenwithintheprojectframework.

The Iraqi side also raised concerns that toomanymeetingsand trainingprogrammeswereorganizedwithlittlevisiblechangeinsideIraq,oropportunitiestoputthenewlygainedknowledgetowork.Assuch,theprojectsoughttooutlinetheprojecttaskstobeimplementedinsideIraq,andhowtrainingcanenhancetheIraqicapacitytoaddresssuchprojecttasks.

Analysisofparticipantevaluationshasshownthatsuitablecapacitybuildinginitiativeswerefoundto have the following components: (1) containa large proportion of case studies and hands-onexercisesand lessdirect lectures; (2) should

provideadditionaltraininginresponsetointerestinlearningmoreaboutthesubject;and(3)belongerinduration,preferablyatleast2weeks.

Lessons Learned

• EffortsshouldbemadetouseArabictrainingmaterialsandlecturestoimprovelearning.Itisespeciallyrequiredfortrainingtargetinglocallevelofficialsandcommunities.

• Using trainedpersonnel toorganize traininginsideIraqisparticularlyeffectiveinallowingUNEPtoreachalargernumberofparticipantsin need of practical knowledge aboutmarshlandmanagement.

• Unless specifically requested as a prioritywithclearexplanations,stand-alonetrainingprogrammes(i.e.trainingwhentherearenopotentialopportunitiesavailabletoapplythenewlygainedknowledge in thenear future)shouldbeavoided.

11.4 Community Level Initiatives in Three Governorates

Background

Meaningfulimprovementofthemarshlandsmustinclude community support and initiatives, ascommunities and residents must be an integralpartofmarshlandmanagementframework.UNEPthereforeintroducedsmall-scalecommunitylevelinitiatives in the three southern governorates ofBasra,Thi-Qar,andMissanduringPhaseI.Basedon proposals submitted by each governorate;the following initiatives have been carried outwith UNEP support. Additional community levelinitiatives are being implemented in 2007, assupportedbyPhasesIIandIII.

Key Activities and Outcomes

Basragovernorate

The environmental awareness campaign forMarsh Arabs that launched in Basra, consistedof ten public meetings focussing on buildingawarenessofkeyenvironmentalproblemsfacingthe marshlands. These meetings took place


over a one-month period and were organizedbytheMinistryofEnvironment (Basradivision) incollaborationwiththeUniversityofBasra,religiousleaders, tribal chiefs, and local organizations.Basra’sGoverningCouncilprovidedoversightandsupportwherenecessary.

ThisinitiativemadeuseoftheMinistryofEnvironment’spublic outreach expertise and its ability tocoordinate with the local community. FundingstimulatedtheestablishmentofpartnershipswithawiderangeofentitiesinBasra,inordertofullyengagethecommunityfromdifferentangles(e.g.religious,scientific,political).Thecommongoal,toconveyacoherentmessagethatthemarshlandsare an invaluable environmental resource, waspresent throughout thecampaign. Theseriesofpublicmeetings,followedbyfurtherdiscussions,providedtheindirectbenefitofmakingcommunitymembersawareofthewiderangeoforganizationswithwhichtheycouldworkinthefuture.

Thi-Qargovernorate

TheMarshArabCouncilofThi-Qarundertookaninitiativetoraiseawarenessofthedangersoffishingusingpoisonwithinthemarshlandsenvironment.Work was carried out in cooperation with theMinistryofEnvironment(Thi-Qardivision).Theuseof poison as a means of fishing is widespreadwithinthemarshlands,asalargenumbersoffishcan be killed cheaply and quickly utilizing thismethod. However, since poison is a pollutant itposesathreattohumanhealthandbiodiversity.To address this important issue, the Marsh ArabCouncillaunchedapublicawarenesscampaign.Shorttrainingcoursesweregiventotribalchiefsandreligiousleaders.TheMarshArabCouncilandMoEnsoughttheassistanceofthenewlytrainedtribalchiefsandreligiousleaderstohelpexplainthe adverse affects associated with fishing bypoisontolocalfishermenandtheirfamilies.Theoverall rationale behind the campaign was tobegin to create an atmosphere in which usingpoisonforfishingwillbecomeunacceptablewithinmarshlands society and eventually lead to theeliminationofthispractice.

Missangovernorate

TheinitiativetodevelopanunderstandingamongmarshlandresidentsinMissanontheimportanceofthemarshlandecosystemhadtwocomponents:

• The first was a project for religious leaders,consisting of an intensive five-day coursein which participants were exposed to theenvironmentalproblemsfacingthemarshlands.Issuesaddressedincludedtheadverseaffectsonhumanhealththatfishingwithpoisoninflictsandthedamagecausedbydumpingwastedirectlyintothemarshes.Thegoalofthecoursewas tomake religious leadersawareof theenvironmentalproblemsthatcanbeimprovedthroughbehaviouralchanges.Religiousleaderswere targetedas theirdaily interactionwiththe larger community could help spreadenvironmentalissuestoawideraudience.

• Thesecondwasatrainingcourseforyoungpeople,ontheimportanceofthemarshlandsenvironment.Thepurposeofthiscoursewastostimulateinterestinenvironmentalissuesandtobegintheprocessofviewingthemarshlandsasacommongoodrequiringtrans-generationalmanagement.

TheMinistryofEnvironment(MissanDivision)tookthe lead on this project, working closely withMissan’s Marsh Arab Council. As needed, theMissan Governing Council provided oversightandsupport.

InPhaseII,UNEPisconductingcommunity levelinitiatives related to women, health, and themarshland environment, in partnership with anNGO and Basra University. Practical sessionsand hand-on demonstrations of marshlandmanagementandsanitationpracticeshavebeenorganizedin15communitiesinthemarshlands,withfollow-upvisitsbyIraqiadvisors.

Lesson Learned

Small projects at the local level make bigimpacts. While these community level activitieswerecarriedoutwithmodestbudgetsandareboth labour and time-intensive to administer,theygeneratedasignificantandvisiblepositiveimpacts within the communities, as well asfosteringabetterunderstandingandsupportforlargerprojectcomponents(particularlythewaterand sanitation provision). In addition, as thesecommunityinitiativesweretargetedtobuildbetterawarenessaboutmarshenvironmentamongthe


localpopulation,theyarealsocontributingtothelonger-term goal of this project (i.e. marshlandmanagementand local sustainability).With thislessonlearned,UNEPplanstocontinueincludingsimilarlocalinitiativesforfutureprojects.

11.5 Data and Information Management

Background

TheprojectsupportedvariousdataandinformationmanagementactivitiesunderPhaseIandPhaseII,toaddresstheneedforobjectiveandreliabledataaswellasmanagementsystems.Specifically,PhaseIhasestablishedtheMarshlandInformationNetwork (MIN) platform for data collection andanalysis, along with necessary hardware andtraining for the key Iraqi institutions to use andmanage the system. Phase II-A supported theexpansion of this network by increasing thenumberofinstitutionswithaccess,andsupportingadditional data collection and analysis, asdeemed necessary for further interventions byUNEPandotherinstitutions.

The Marshlands Information Network (MIN)

TheMINissolvingtheproblemoflimitedavailabilityofenvironmentalandsocialinformationaboutthemarshlands. It provides a forum for informationand data sharing. Network users may include:officials from the MoEn, MOWR, MMPW; expertsincludingthoseinvolvedwithacademicinstitutions;representativesofthesoutherngovernorates;andindividualcommunities.Allinstitutionstakingpartinthemarshlands’restorationandmanagementhaveaccesstothiscost-effective,Internet-basedtoolthroughaversionoftheEnvironmentallySoundTechnology InformationSystem (ESTIS) inArabic.ESTIS is an innovative, multi-language e-servicedevelopedbyIETCin2003.

To facil itate active engagement of localstakeholders and data sharing/management,PhaseIhasprovidedMINserverequipmentinfivelocations–fourintheMoEnofficesinBaghdad,Basra,MissanandThi-Qar,andoneintheCentreforRestorationof IraqiMarshlands(CRIM)of theMinistryofWaterResources.

Under Phase II-A, the project has establishedadditional MIN nodes at key Iraqi institutions,suchasMMPWand Thi-QarUniversity. Formoreinformation,see:

http://www.estis.net/communities/min_eng/

The Iraqi Marshlands Observation System (IMOS)

The IraqiMarshlandsObservationSystem(IMOS)monitorstheextentanddistributionofre-floodingdevelopments and associated changes invegetation cover. Systematic assessment ofongoingchanges isessential toobtainabetterunderstandingofthedynamicsand,ultimately,thelevelofsuccessofthewetlandrecoveryprocess.TheIMOSisapragmaticdecision-makingsupporttool that assists stakeholders in modifying andadapting restoration plans in a timely manner,basedonvalidscientificinformation.

Inthespringof2006,UNEPorganizedatwo-weektraining and handover workshop in Geneva,to transfer scientific knowledge obtained usingthe IMOS topartnerorganizations in Iraq.Theseincluded the Centre for the Restoration of theIraq Marshlands within the Ministry of WaterResources, and Nature Iraq/Iraq Foundation.The purpose of the handover activities was toenable Iraqi experts to operate the monitoringsystem and produce up-to-date maps, as wellas systematic statistical analysis of evolvingenvironmentalconditionsandtrends.Monitoringresults are intended to assist in measuringrestorationtargetsandtohelpguiderehabilitationplanning.FormoreinformationontheIMOS,seehttp://imos.grid.unep.ch.

Water Quality and Biodiversity Monitoring

TheWaterQualityMonitoringProgrammehasbeenimplemented to collect and analyze baselinedataforenvironmentalconditionswithintheIraqimarshlands,especially incommunitiesselectedfor pilot water and sanitation implementationof water and sanitation provision. The workwas implemented through a Memorandumof Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry ofEnvironment,Iraq.MoEncollaboratedwithMinistry


ofWaterResources,MarshArabForumandNatureIraq/IraqFoundationintheexecutionofthework.Sampling surveys were conducted five timesduringApril2005toDecember2005.

Inallsamplescollected,thepresenceofhighlevelsoftotaldissolvedsolids(TDS)andfecalcoliformwasreported. Theconcentrationsof thesepollutantswere above the drinking water quality limits,indicating the necessity to treat the marshlandwater for human consumption. As such, effortstoprovide treatment facilities fordrinkingwaterprovisioninthemarshlandsarerecommendedinordertoprotecthumanhealth.

Trace pollutants including PAHs, pesticides andheavymetalsinthewatersampleswerefoundtobewithintheWHOandUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencywaterquality limitsforuseasrawwatersource.Noradiationwasdetectedinthesamplescollected.

Thediversityandrichnessofphytoplankton,fish,macrophytes and macrobenthos populationsshowedanincreasingtrendbetweenMay2005and September 2005 in all sites, indicating an

increaseofbiologicalcommunities.Whilelonger-term monitoring and analysis is necessary todeterminethelevelofrecoveryofthemarshlands,theseresultsgiveanencouragingsnapshotoftheenvironmentalconditionsof thearea,andmaybeindicativeoftherecoveryandimprovementofbiologicalcommunitiesoftheIraqimarshlands.Heavymetalscontentsofthesedimentsamplescollected were found to be within acceptablelimits of the European Union soil standards forheavy metals (EC Directive 86/278/EC). Theconcentrations of pesticides and PAHs weredetectedatlowlevels.Noradiationwasdetectedinthesamplescollected.

Thisextensiveanalysiswascarriedoutduringarelativelyshortperiod,andmayformabasisforimprovementofsubsequentmonitoringandforthemonitoringofecosystemrecoveryofmarshlands.Asthemarshlandsre-floodingandre-vegetationconditions continue to change, periodicalmonitoring of water quality and biodiversity isrecommendedtoassesstheconditionsandthetrendsofmarshlandecosystemrecovery,andtoprotect the health of marshland residents whohavereturnedtothesevillages.

Water quality field survey


Cooperation with the Government of Iraq in data sharing and management

Phase II-A of this project has supported datacollectionandassessmentsandeffortstoconvertexisting data and results that are relevant formarshland management by the Iraqi partnerinstitutionsasfollows:

• MoEn:waterqualityandbiodiversitydata,

• MOWR:hydraulicandhydrologicaldata,

• MMPW:landuse,demographic,otherrelateddata.

In June 2006, as a Phase II-A activity, IETCorganizedameetingwithtechnicalexpertsfromtheIraqiMoEn,MOWRandMMPW.Themeeting’soverallpurposewas:

• ToassistIraqiministriesineffectivelyanalysing,presenting,andsharingavailabledatausingtheMarshlandsInformationNetwork(MIN);

• Todevelopastrategyforinitialdatacollectionefforts concerning basic demographicand socio-economic data and solid wastemanagementinthemarshlands.

Atthemeeting,Iraqiofficials,incollaborationwithIETCstaff,accomplishedthefollowing:

• Developedplansforeachministrytocoordinatedata collection inside the marshlands, tocontinuetheupkeepandupdatingoftheMIN,tofurtherdevelopeffectivereportsusingexistingandforthcomingdata,andtoexpanduseoftheMINasatooltoshareandmanagedata;

• Usedexistingdataprovidedbyministriesasexamplesofhowtoanalyse,share,manage,anduploadeffectivereports;

• Completed reorganization and streamliningoftheMINsitestructurefortheministries’MINwebsites.

UNEP and each ministry subsequently signed aMemorandumofUnderstanding tocarryout thedataanalysisworkand tomanage theMIN siteswithadditionaldata.Theministrieshaveuploadednumerousreportsandanalyses,whichwerepreviously

unavailableforreview.Forexample,MOWRhasmadeavailablevariousreportsonprojectfieldsurveys,suchashistoricalchangesusingremotesensing,reportofAl-Huwaizehmarshrestoration,andupdatesonthere-floodingofthemarshes.

UnderPhaseII-A,theprojectalsocommissionedtwosurveysat thecommunity level:Asurvey tocollectdataondemographicandsocioeconomicconditions,andasolidwastemanagementsurvey.ThesurveyswerecarriedoutbytheUniversityofThi-QarusingUNEP’sguidanceandadvise fromMMPW.Theyweredesignedtofillthegapsindataavailability forcommunity-level livingconditionsandwastemanagementpractices.

In addition, the project has conducted anevaluationofdatasharingtoolsandmethodologiesthathavebeenutilizedbyvariousmultilateralandbilateral initiatives for marshland management.Theaimofthisevaluationhasbeentounderstandthesystemsthatareinuse,andtoevaluatetheircompatibility and comparability. The analysesformulatedrecommendationsonhowtosharedatabasedonathree-tierdatasystem.TheprojecthasalsoexploredthefeasibilityofintegratingtheMINplatformwiththeweb-basedGISsystem,whichisbeingestablishedattheIraqiministrieswithbilateralsupportfromtheGovernmentofItaly.

UNEPorganizedanevaluationmeetingon20April2007toassessgapsfilledbyPhaseII-Aandotherongoinginitiativesandtoidentifyadditionalgapstobeprioritized.Themeetingwasattendedbyahigh-levelIraqidelegation,chairedbyHerExcellencyMrs.NarminOthman,MinisterofEnvironment,andrepresentativesfromtheGovernmentofItaly.Theprojectactivitiescarriedoutthusfarwerepresented,and positively evaluated by the participants.The meeting recommendations included thecontinuation of capacity building to utilize theinformation and data management systems,supportofinitiativeswithtangiblepositiveimpactson the socialconditions,andcoordinationandcooperationamongdonorsandIraqiinstitutions.

Lessons Learned

Basicdataandscientificanalysisarestilllackingandareimportantforsoundpolicyandstrategyformulation.Itisnecessarytocollectandanalyse


basic scientificand technicaldata toevaluatemarshlandconditions,andformulatepoliciesandstrategies tomitigatenegativeconditions.UNEPhas carried out water quality and biodiversityanalysis,assessmentofre-floodingandvegetativerecovery, and has supported an informationsystemtosharesuchdataandanalytical tools.Whilesuchactivitiesaretime-consumingandaresometimes perceived as outside the agency’slocalimplementationtrackrecord,theprojecthastakenthestrategytoallocateadequateresourcesandtimetoundertakethem,andpubliclysharetheinformation.

Basedonsuchdataandanalysis,UNEPandotherinitiatives are able to more accurately identify:(a) ecologically sensitive areas that may meritfurtherprotection, (b)areaswhere the recoveryis robust enough to be considered further forresettlement,(c)degreesoffluctuationsinwaterqualityandotherindicatorsthatmayinformwhat

typesoftechnologicalinterventionsarenecessarytoprovidecleanwaterandsanitation,(d)begintoanalyzescenariosofenvironmentalandsocio-economicresponsetopolicyinterventions(i.e.howrealisticitistoexpectvegetativeandbiodiversityrecoveryincertainareaswhereanagencymaybeconsideringtore-establishbasicservices;whatmeasuresmaybeconsideredfurthertoachieveacertainlevelofwaterqualityinalocation;andwhatlevelofpopulationcanbeservedbysuchinterventions,etc.).

The importance of such analysis cannot beoveremphasizedforthesustainabilityandmediumto longer-term fulfilment of development goalsof Iraq and its people. Failure to support suchactivities,ornotrequiringmorethoroughanalysisforindividualprojects,mayultimatelyunderminethesoundnessofmanyfast-trackandshort-terminterventionsthataretakingplaceorplannedforthefuture.


12 Project Achievements

TheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgrammehasbeen active on projects relating to Iraq sinceMarch2003.Evenduringaperiodofgreatsecurityconstraints and political changes, UNEP hasmanagedtocompletemajorprojectactivitiesinIraq,whichisanachievementinitself.

In terms of tangible outputs delivered by UNEPprojectsandtheirimpactontheenvironmentinIraq,thefollowingareworthmentioning:

1. TheIraqiMinistryofEnvironment,whichin2003was a young organization whose staff hadmostlynotbeenexposedtointernationalbestpracticesonenvironmentalgovernance,isnowfullylinkedtoexternalpeergroupsbyindividualandinstitutionalcontacts.Theministryhasalsoestablishedcooperationandcoordinationonarangeoftopicswithotherrelevantnationalministries,governorates,andlocalinstitutions.Suchdevelopmentwasmadepossiblebytheseriesoftargetedtrainingprogrammeswhichreached approximately 800 representativesfrom the Ministry of Environment, Ministry ofWaterResources,MinistryofMunicipalitiesandPublicWorks,aswellasgovernoratesandlocalcommunitiesonarangeofenvironmentaltopicssuch as environmental impact assessment,biodiversity management and emergencyresponse,waterqualitymanagement,wetlandmanagement,sustainablesanitation,integratedwaterresourcemanagement,andcommunitylevelinitiatives.

2. TheGovernmentofIraqisalsonowinstitutionallylinked to counterpart institutions in Iran,ROPME, UNEP and number of internationalorganizationsandconventions.

3. Immediate relief has been provided tovulnerablepopulationslivinginenvironmentallysensitiveareas–upto22,000peopleintheIraqi marshlands now have access to safedrinking water, using environmentally soundtechnologies, and suitable approaches forsanitation and marshland managementoptionshavebeendemonstrated.

4. Community groups have been empoweredand recognized as legitimate stakeholders

inenvironmentalmanagement.Community-level initiatives for marshland managementhavebeenconceptualized,developed,andimplementedwithUNEPsupport.

5. A modern environmental information centrehasbeensetupandstafftrainedongathering,classifying and distributing environmentalinformation. Consequently the ministry staffand other interested parties in Iraq haveaccess to up-to-date information on theenvironment through textbooks as well asinternationaldatabases.

6. The Marshland Information Network hasbeenestablishedamongtheIraqiministries,governorates, local groups, academia,and international organizations – enablingthe exchange of data and analysis, andfacilitatingcommunicationtomovetowardsthedevelopmentofamarshlandmanagementplan.

7. Objective data on various aspects ofmarshlandsconditions(suchaswaterqualityandbiodiversity,vegetativeandwatercover,socio-economic and demographic surveys)have been collected and analysed withinthe framework of the marshland conditions.Such work, largely carried out by Iraqipartner institutions is useful to inform soundmanagement decision-making based onscientificanalysis.

8. A donor coordination mechanism wasestablished and endorsed by Iraqi andinternationalinstitutionsinvolvedinmarshlandmanagement.UNEPwasselectedasaliaisontofacilitatecoordination.

9. Work is in final stages for setting up amodernenvironmentalanalytical laboratoryinIraqandtrainingstaffonmodernanalyticaltechniques.

10.AssistancewasprovidedfordevelopmentofanewFrameworkEnvironmentalLaw.Adraftisnowavailableandwhenthis isprocessedthroughthelegislativesystem,Iraqwillhaveamodernenvironmentallegislation,amongthebestintheregion.


11.With equipment, protocols and trainingprovided by UNEP, officials of the Ministryof Environment and other institutions in Iraqwere able to undertake field assessmentsatanumberofcontaminatedsites.ThishasprovidedspecificinformationoncontaminationofthosesitesaswellasexperiencetothestaffincontinuingwithsuchinvestigationatmanymoresuchsitesinIraq.

12.Basedontheresultsobtainedonsiteassessment,twositeclean-upprojectswereinitiated.Theclean-up project minimized the immediatedangertopublichealthfromthetwolocationsandprovidedtrainingtolocalemployeesonundertakingenvironmentalclean-up.

13.Theentireprojectwasundertakenwithcarefulplanning on health, safety and security.This, on one hand, ensured that there werenohealth, safetyor security incidentduringthe implementation of the training, and on

the other, introduced Iraqi officials to bestinternationalpracticesonhealthandsafety.

14.UNEP initiatives, particularly on the Iraqimarshlands, generated significant presscoverage and good news about Iraqireconstruction. Through extensive coverageby the BBC – Earth Report and other majormedia coverage, UNEP raised internationalawarenessontheIraqienvironmentandeffortstopromotesustainabledevelopmentinitiativesevenunderdifficultconditions.

15.The UNEP approach was recognized andsupportedbyIraqiinstitutionsandcommunities.LocalcommunitieshaveofficiallycommendedUNEP as one of the only internationalorganizations that have made a differenceonthegroundandimprovedthelivesof thepeople. TheMinistryof EnvironmenthasalsorecognizedtheIraqimarshlandsprojectasamodelcaseoftechnicalcooperation.


1) http://www.unicef.org/media/publications/iraqsitan2002nationalcon.txt

2) http://geography.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/iqtoc.html

3) http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/images/iraq_usmc-book_topo-map.jpg

4) http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/aquastat/countries/iraq/index.stm

5) UNEP.1991.A Rapid Assessment of the Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict on Terrestrial Ecosystems

6) http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPS/Pgrfa/pdf/iraq.pdf

7) http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html#Intro

8) http://www.arab.de/arabinfo/iraq.htm

9) http://www.fao.org/ag/agl/aglw/aquastat/countries/iraq/index.stm

10)http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html#Intro

11)(Partow,2001)

12)(AMAR,2001;UNCHR,1996)

13) http://www.unep-wcmc.org/cgi-bin/padb.p

14)http://www.birdlife.net/news/iraq_iba_chapter.pdf

15)UNEP.1991.A Rapid Assessment of the Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict on Terrestrial Ecosystems.

16)http://www.redlist.org/

17)http://www.birdlife.org/species/index.cfm?GeoRecID=102

18)http://www.wetlands.org/inventory&/MiddleEastDir/IRAQ1.htm

19)UNEP.1991.A Rapid Assessment of the Impacts of the Iraq-Kuwait Conflict on Terrestrial Ecosystems.

20)http://www.wetlands.org/inventory&/MiddleEastDir/IRAQ1.htm

21)http://pdf.wri.org/watersheds_europe_p2_62.pdf

22)ThisdidnotincludetheKurdishregion,autonomoussince1991.InthethreenorthernprovincesoftheKurdistanRegionalGovernment,environmentalmattersweredealtwithbytheMinistryofHealthandSocialAffairs.

23)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15118-2003Apr2.html

24)http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/t03312003_t0331asd.html

25)ForbackgroundinformationonUNEP’sworkondepleteduranium,see:http://postconflict.unep.ch/activities.htm-du

33)(UnitedNations,2003)

34)(USAID,2004)

Appendix I: List of References and Internet Sources


Appendix II: List of equipment provided

A.1 Portable Equipment Procured for Iraq Ministry of Environment

Equipment Details Ref. No. Qty. Purchasedinterface meter 004/04 3standard dipmeter 5bailer box(24) 9auger set 008/04 2single edelman auger 10packing 1Troll 9000 005/04 3p/h orp sensor 3conductivity sensor 3dissolved oxygen sensor 3Quick cal kit 3Troll Quick connect cable 3rugged reader 3win situ software 3hard carry case 3field test kits contents are filed. pid analyser 009/04 2pid analyser 2pid analyser 2landfill gas analyser 010/04 2ga 2000 intrinsically safe infra redgas analyser 2

ga 4.1 inlet port filter 2ga 4.2 inline water trap 2hard disk 1pc 1computer accessories(six each) 1iraq map 003/04 1plan(map) printouts 001/04 30sony dsc-p73 6laptops 6software 6camcorders 5gps 5data show type 011/04 1hard hat 11safety goggles 11safety shoes 11safety gloves 11coveralls 11


A.2 Major Laboratory Equipment

Major Equipment Items for Iraq LaboratoryItem No. Analysis/ Detection Limits

Parameters Soil

1 icp oes with ultra 1 Metals - Al, As, Be, Cd, Between 0.5 - 5 mg/kgsonic nebuliser cr, cu, ca, mg, mn, fe,

ni, pb, se, si, Zn, hg, sn, na, K, co

2 msd plus liquid injector 1 PAHs 10 ug/kgPCBs 10 ug/kgPesticides 10 ug/kgChlorophenols 10 ug/kg

3 msd plus headspace 1 BTEX 1 ug/kgunit Volatile chlorinated

Volatile aromaticsgroSVOCs Between 10 and 1000 ug/kg

4 gc system plus liquid injector 1 TPH (speciated) 1 mg/kgand fid

5 hplc system, plus 1 Amides, nitriles 10 mg/kgdetectors (different for explosives Variousdifferent analyses) Phenols 100 ug/kg


A.3 Minor Equipment Items for Iraq Laboratory

Item No. Purpose

1 infra red spectrophotometer 1 Tph screen2 hotplate 2 acid digestion for metals analysis3 4 place balance 1 analytical balance for preparing standards4 ultra sonic bath 1 solvent extraction of soils5 small lower temp hotplate and 1 Reducing solvent volume

evaporating lines plus pump (mini vap)6 filter papers 1000 removing suspended solids7 potentiometer plus electrodes: 1 Anion analysis

cyanide, fluoride, nitrite, sulphide, 10 Two of eachammonia

8 fume hood plus: 2 Safety of stafffilters for solvents 2filters for acids 2

9 water purification system 1 Removing ions from tap water(basic)

10 water purification system 1 Removing ions from tap water(high purity)

10 flame photometer 1 analysis of na and K11 cod apparatus 1 analysis of cod on waters12 cool boxes and ice packs 50 cooling and storing samples13 certified reference materials for:14 Soil - metals Validating methods

soil - pcbs Validating methodssoil - eph Validating methodssoil - pesticides Validating methodssoil - pahs Validating methodssoil - cyanide Validating methodsliquid standards for -

15 - metals 2 Calibrating instruments - Vocs calibrating instruments - pcbs calibrating instruments - eph calibrating instruments - pesticides calibrating instruments - pahs calibrating instruments - cyanide calibrating instrumentscentrifuge - up to 3600 rpm separating solids

16 plus accessories rotor, buckets etcgastight syringes for gc and gcms 10 measuring small volumes for injection

17 refrigerators 6 storing samples and standards18 40 ml vials for volatile sampling 1000 sampling waters for Vocs19 misc sampling bottles (1 year) sampling 20 Vials for gc and gcms system crimp capped vials21 solvents for extraction dcm 50 2.5 l winchesters22 solvents for extraction hexane 50 2.5 l winchesters23 misc glassware sample prep24 misc chemicals/consumables analysis25 inverted microcopes 2 bacteriological work26 hydrogen gas generator 1 Instrument carrier gas


A.4 Equipment Items under Iraqi Marshlands Project

List of portable water quality measuring equipment transferred to the Ministry of Environment

Item No. Purpose1 Troll 9000 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlands

ph sensor 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsorp sensor 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsconductivity sensor 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsdissolved oxygen sensor 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsQuick cal kit 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsTroll Quick connect cable 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandsrugged reader 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlandshard carry case 3 Water quality monitoring of marshlands

List of facilities to be transferred to the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works

a) Al-Kirmashiya(ةيشامركلأ)–Thi-QarGovernorate

b) BadirAl-Rumaidh(ردبضيمرلأ)–Thi-QarGovernorate

c) Al-Masahab(بحسملأ)–BasrahGovernorate

d) Al-Jeweber(لآربيوج)–Thi-QarGovernorate

e) Al-Hadam(مادهلأ)–MissanGovernorate

f) Al-Sewelmat(امليوسلأت)–MissanGovernorate

Name of Community

Al- Kirmashiya

Badir Al-Rumaidh*1

Al- Masahab

Al- Jeweber

Al- Hadam

Al- Sewelmat

Capacity of water treatment plant 100 m3/d 1,650 m3/d

(estimate) 150 m3/d 200 m3/d 100 m3/d 200 m3/d

Water treatment equipment

packaged low-pressure reverse osmosis (ro) process equipment

conventional sedimentation/filtration

(existing compact unit)





Water source Al-Kirmashiya River, Euphrates River system

GharrafRiver,Tigris River system

Al-Hammar Lake, Shatt Al-Arab system

GarmatHassan River, Euphrates System

Al-Hadam River, Tigris River system

GloryRiver,Tigris River system

Length of distribution pipeline 3.7 km 3.9 km 3.9 km 3.9 km 3.9 km 3.7 km

Common taps for water distribution Total of 86 common water collection points.

Note *1 : Existing compact unit was rehabilitated under this project.


List of Marshland Information Network related equipment transferred to the Ministry of Environment

ItemsLocation Total

QuantityBaghdad Basrah Missan Thi-Qarrack 15u (60x80x140) (wxdxh) 1 1 1 1 4server hp dl 360 or equivalent, with hp ilo advanced pack

1 1 1 1 4

desktop computer hp compaq 2200 2 2 2 2 8UPS 600 VA 2 2 2 2 8laser printer hp 1320n 2 2 2 2 8Monitor TFT 17’’ 2 2 2 2 8MSOfficePro 2 2 2 2 81M UTP, RJ45 cable 3 3 3 3 123M UTP, RJ45 cable 3 3 3 3 12switch hub 3 com 8 ports 1 1 1 1 4Windows Server 2000 St Ed 5 User 1 1 1 1 4UPS 1000VA 1 1 1 1 4ms sQl server 2000 1 1 1 1 4Firewall CISCO 515E, 50 user 1 1 1 1 4generator 10 KVa 1 1 1 1 4Air con 2 ton 1 1 1 1 4Internethardware–satellitedish 1 1 1 1 4

List of Marshland Information Network related equipment transferred to the Ministry of Water Resources

Items Total Quantity

rack 15u (60x80x140) (wxdxh) 1server hp dl 360 or equivalent, with hp ilo advanced pack 1desktop computer hp compaq 2200 2UPS 600 VA 2laser printer hp 1320n 2Monitor TFT 17’’ 2MSOfficePro 21M UTP, RJ45 cable 33M UTP, RJ45 cable 3switch hub 3 com 8 ports 1Windows Server 2000 St Ed 5 User 1UPS 1000VA 1ms sQl server 2000 1Firewall CISCO 515E, 50 user 1generator 10 KVa 1Air con 2 ton 1Internethardware–satellitedish 1


Appendix III: Training received by MoEn since 2003

SL # Topic When Where Provided by1 environmental emergencies march 2004 Amman UNEP2 environmental inspection may 2004 Geneva UNEP/PCDMB3 environmental laboratory June 2004 Spiez UNEP/PCDMB4 environmental impact assessment September

2004Tunis UNEP/PCDMB

5 environmental site assessment October 2004 Amman UNEP/PCDMB6 field planning and health & safety November 2004 Amman UNEP/PCDMB7 sampling and analyses december 2004 Geneva UNEP/PCDMB8 environmental impact assessment January 2005 Amman UNEP/PCDMB9 environmental law March 2005 Amman UNEP/PCDMB

10 depleted uranium June 2005 Amman UNEP/PCDMB11 multilateral environmental agreements

(meas)July 2005 Amman UNEP/PCDMB

12 oil spill management June 2005 Aqaba UNEP/PCDMB13 management of biodiversity september

2005Jordan UNEP/PCDMB

14 depleted uranium fieldwork August 2005 Geneva UNEP/PCDMB15 environmental information management december 2005 Nairobi UNEP/PCDMB16 site risk assessment September

2005Amman UNEP/PCDMB

17 office management June 2005 Amman UNEP/PCDMB18 environmental information management March 2006 Nairobi UNEP/DCPI


Training under Iraqi Marshlands Project

Training outside Iraq

SL # Topic When Where Provided by

1 sustainable sanitation dec 2004 OsakaUNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with GlobalEnvironmentCentreFoundation(GEC)

2 water quality management dec 2004 ShigaUNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC)

3phytotechnologies for wetland management

dec 2004 Cairo UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with Cairo University

4

application of remote sensing and gis for marshland assessment and monitoring

feb 2005 Amman

UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with UNEP PcoB, International Institute for GeoinformaitonScienceandEarthObservation

5 marshlands information network (min) feb 2005 Amman UNEP DTIE IETC

6

integrated water resources management (iwrm): policy and integration

apr 2005 Amman UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with American University in Beirut

7 esTs for drinking water provision may 2005

Osaka / Shiga

UNEP DTIE IETC in partnership with GEC

8 community-level initiatives Jun 2005 Alexandria UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with

UNEP-ROWA, CEDARE

9 wetland management Jun 2005 Cairo

UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with Cairo University, Secretariat of RAMSAR Convention, Wetlands International, and International Agricultural Centre of the Netherlands

10 esT assessment methodology dec 2005 Damascus UNEP DTIE IETC, in partnership with

UNEP-ROWA / ACSAD

11 marshlands information network (min) april 2006 Manama UNEP DTIE IETC in partnership with

UNEP- ROWA

12

drinking water provision with environmentally sound technologies and water quality management

dec 2006 Shiga UNEP DTIE IETC in partnership with GEC

Secondary training inside Iraq

SL # Topic When Where Provided by1 phytotechnology dec 2005 Basrah University of Basrah

2 water quality management dec 2005 Baghdad Ministry of Water Resources

3 marshland information network (min) dec 2005

Baghdad Ministry of Environment

4 marshland information network (min) sept 2006

ThiQar Thi-QarUniversity


UNEP/PCDMB Staff

Mr.PekkaHaavisto,ChairmanIraqTaskForce

Mr.HenrikSlotte,Chief

Mr.PasiRinne,SeniorPolicyAdvisor

Dr.MuraleeThummarukudy,IraqProjectCoordinator

Mr.KoenToonen,IraqProgrammeManager,Ammanoffice

Mr.HassanPartow,ProgrammeOfficer

Ms.MijkeHertoghs,ProgrammeOfficer

Mr.RichardWood,ProgrammeOfficer

Mr.JonGodson,EnvironmentalSiteAssessmentExpert

Ms.ElenaOrlyk,AdministrativeAssistant

Ms.MajedaIsmail,AdministrativeAssistant,Jordan

Mr.NedalAlOuran,EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentExpert,Jordan

Mr.FirasAbuTaeh,OperationsAssistant,Jordan

UNEP/DTIE/IETC Staff

Mrs.MoniqueBarbut,Director,DTIE

Mrs.SylvieLemmet,Director,DTIE

Mr.PerBakken,Director,IETC

Dr.ChizuruAoki,IraqProjectCoordinator

Ms.JunkoOchi,SeniorLiaisonOfficer

Mr.HiroshiSumimoto,SeniorLiaisonOfficer

Dr.VicenteSantiago,ProgrammeOfficer

Ms.KumikoYatagai,AdministrativeandFundManagementOfficer

Ms.MikaKitagami,AdministrativeandFundManagementOfficer

Mr.RobertRodriguez,ITOfficer

Dr.SivapragasamKugaprasatham,ProjectOfficer

Mr.KyleBarrow,ITTechnician

Ms.DimaReda,AssociateTrainingOfficer

Mr.RobertBisset,InformationOfficer

Dr.AliAl-Lami,NationalCoordinator

Ms.AyaMimura,ProjectClerk

Ms.MayumiMorita,SecretarytoIETCDirector

Ms.MidoriHatta,Secretary

Ms.MaoKawada,AdministrativeClerk

Ms.MichikoOta,AdministrativeClerk

Ms.YumikoFukushima,Secretary

Ms.SatomiKatsumi,SecretarialAssistant

Ms.SamiradeGobert,InformationAssistant

Mr.JulienLefort,ITAssistant

Mr.DaveMateo,Consultant

UNEP/ROWA Staff

Mr.HabibEl-Habr,RegionalDirector

Mr. Basel Al-Yousfi, Acting Deputy RegionalDirector

Mr.AbdulelahAlWadaee,ODSRegionalNetworkCoordinator

Mr.Abdul-MajeidHaddad,TaskManagerNCSA

Other UNEP offices

Mr.JonathanBarzdo,Chief,ConventionSupportUnit,CITESSecretariat

Mr.JohnCarstensen,SeniorLegalOfficer,RegionalOfficeforEurope

Ms.LauraMeszaros,ProgrammeOfficer,SecretariatoftheRotterdamConvention

Mr. Guangchun Lei, Senior Advisor for Asia andPacific,RamsarConventionSecretariat

UNOPS

Mr. Jogchum Finnema, Associate PortfolioManager

Mr.WaltonDavid,OperationsManager

Mr.ChakibBelhassan,SeniorPortfolioManager

Mr.YvonneFrancis,ProgrammeAssociate

Consultants

Mr.AndrewMorton,AyrEnvironmentLtd

Mr.RobertHolmes,HolmesEnvironmentalLtd

Mr.JoeAttwood,EnvirosConsulting

Ms.HazelDavidson,AlControlLaboratoriesLtd

Dr.GamalAllozy,POPsFocalPoint,Yemen

Appendix IV: List of Contributors

7� UNEP in Iraq: Post-Conflict Assessment, Clean-up and Reconstruction

Mr. Mohammed Khashashneh, Director ofChemicalsandWasteManagement, JordanianMinistryofEnvironment

Ms.SofieH.Flensborg,Consultant

Mr. Clive George, EIA Centre, University ofManchester

Mr.RachidNafti,RegionalEIACentre,CITET

Mr. Ahmed Qaternah, Jordanian Ministry ofEnvironment

Dr.HassenZaki,AmmanMunicipality

Mr.YvesBarthélemy,RemoteSensingExpert

Mr.ManuelMonnin,WebDesignExpert

Subcontracted Organizations

CITET

UNITAR

IUCNEnvironmentalLawCentre

BeveridgeandDiamondLawConsulting

GlobalEnvironmentCentreFoundation(GEC)

InternationalLakeEnvironmentCommittee(ILEC)

CairoUniversity

AmericanUniversityofBeirut

UniversityofBasra

UniversityofThi-Qar

SecretariatforRamsarConvention

WetlandInternational

CentreforEnvironmentandDevelopmentfortheArabRegionandEurope(CEDARE)

InternationalAgriculturalCentre

ArabCentre for theStudiesofAridZones&DryLand(ACSAD)

IraqFoundation

NatureIraq

WomenandEnvironmentOrganization,Iraq

MarshArabForum

Further information

Further technical information may be obtained from the UNEP Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch website at: http://postconflict.unep.ch or by Email: [email protected]

UNEP in IraqPost-Conflict Assessment, Clean-up and Reconstruction

www.unep.orgUnited Nations Environment Programme

P.O. Box 30552 Nairobi, KenyaTel: +254 (0)20 762 1234Fax: +254 (0)20 762 3927Email: [email protected]

ISBN: 978-92-807-2906-1Job No.: DEP/1035/GE