SENIOR EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629343
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-02334
• Publication Date: February 25, 2003

Approved for Release: 2017/11/28 C06629343
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SENIOR EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
25 February 2003
PASS SEIB 03-045CHX
Iraq: NGOs Lack Capacity for Relief Efforts
International nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have only a small presence in Iraq,
particularly in the central and southern regions, and are not yet in a position to respond to a
potential humanitarian crisis. Funding shortfalls, inadequate data on humanitarian conditions,
lack of coordination mechanism, and access problems will limit the effectiveness of NGO relief
efforts during the initial, critical phase of an emergency.
-- The UN relies on NGOs as implementing partners for its programs, and governments
typically channel a significant portion of their humanitarian funding through NGOs.
- NGOs have shown a higher tolerance for risk than UN agencies and have more flexibility
to deploy during the conflict and immediate postconflict phases of relief operations.
Although many NGOs operated in Iraq after the Gulf war, the difficult operating environment,
chronic underfunding, and US and UN sanctions prompted most agencies to withdraw or reduce
the scale of their activities since the mid-1990s. Only a few of the larger, more capable
international NGOs--such as CARE, Save the Children Fund, and Caritas�are still in Iraq and
most run relatively small-scale programs focused on health care, education, and infrastructure
rehabilitation.
Many NGOs are trying to reestablish a presence in Iraq and neighboring countries. During the
past several months, NGOs have been drawing up contingency plans, conducting assessment
missions, setting up coordination mechanisms, establishing bases of operation, and
prepositioning supplies and personnel,
- NGO officials say their capacity in Iraq and neighboring countries is significantly below
the level that existed at the start of humanitarian emergencies in Afghanistan and
Kosovo, where aid agencies could build on extensive preexisting programs in the country
or region
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Approved for Release: 2017/11/28 C06629343