Iraq reconstruction: India opens diplomatic door, aid on the way

India has established informal contacts with the US administrators implementing the massive reconstruction and humanitarian assistance progr...

India has established informal contacts with the US administrators implementing the massive reconstruction and humanitarian assistance programme in Iraq. The Indian envoy in Kuwait, Swash Pawan Singh, has talked to Barbara Bodine, a former diplomat who has been appointed head of the interim civil administration in Baghdad.

Bodine said the situation in Iraq was far worse than expected. Even a rudimentary administrative infrastructure was missing, making it increasingly difficult for Washington to proceed. US officials would have to begin from the scratch, making it an enormous task, she said.

Bodine, who was the US ambassador to Yemen when USS Cole was bombed, is to head the post-war civil administration in central Iraq while US military officials will manage the northern and southern areas. The US has already announced that former US army Gen Jay Garner will be in-charge of the Pentagon’s Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance.

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India has decided it will route its humanitarian aid through the UN and the ICRC. At a meeting of the Crisis Management Group on Saturday, the task of co-ordinating the aid was given to Ministry of External Affairs officials. Joint Secretary (Gulf) Rajiv Mitter was entrusted with dispersal of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat through UN agencies based in the region while joint secretary (NRI) R Dayakar will arrange for medical supplies through ICRC.

These MEA officials will reach Baghdad in the next fortnight to coordinate Indian efforts in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq. Apparently, a lower level Indian functionary has already reached the Iraqi capital to assess the consequences of the military action there.

In response to a UN emergency appeal for aid to the people of Iraq following the outbreak of military hostilities there, New Delhi had on April 4 announced an assistance package worth $20 million in cash and kind.