Accomplishments: Food Security
Before the 2003 conflict, many Iraqis were highly dependent on monthly food rations, a system that collapsed
with the fall of Saddam. USAID, working with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and
Coalition Forces, reestablished the Public Distribution System in fewer than 30 days, avoiding a humanitarian
food crisis and providing food security throughout the country. USAID contributed more than $425
million in food and cash to ensure the continued successful delivery of food aid in post-conflict Iraq.
USAID advisors continue to assist with improving the management and distribution of food rations
through Public Distribution System (PDS) for all Iraqi citizens. Prior to 2003, PDS rationed out food commodities
through the United Nations Oil-for-Food program. Today, USAID and WFP continue to support
the Ministry of Trade in managing the countrywide network of storage warehouses, grain silos, trucking
contractors, food distributors or agents, and a centralized database and ration card system designed to
provide rations among all 26 million Iraqis.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Planned extensively and
worked directly with the
WFP and Coalition
Forces to reestablish the
PDS in less than 30
days, avoiding a humanitarian
crisis. Contributed
more than $425 million
in food and cash to ensure
the continued successful
delivery of food
aid in post-conflict Iraq.
- Placed food specialists
in key locations in Iraq,
Kuwait, and Cyprus to
support food operations
immediately after the
conflict. In cooperation
with Iraqi food distributors,
USAID, WFP, and Coalition Forces maintained the food pipeline from June through December
2003 in all 18 governorates.
- Provided support in Baghdad and Washington for ongoing PDS operations through 2003 and 2004.
This included technical advice, monitoring, reporting, and helping coordinate efforts of the U.S. Government
to assist Iraqis with the PDS.
- Played a key role in negotiating an agreement between the WFP, Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA), and Ministry of Trade that provided the WFP with the resources and authority to continue to
support the PDS through June 2004.
- Assisted the CPA with technical expertise during the successful transfer of United Nations programs
to the Iraqi government through the June 2004 Transfer of Sovereignty.
- Drafted a food security strategy for that focuses on vulnerable groups and establishes objectives to
promote short-term food security and capacity building for sustainable community based food security,
assisting the Government of Iraq to develop a social safety net strategy, and promoting longterm
economic and agricultural reforms.
- Sponsored the Food Security Forum on Iraq in August 2005. Invitees from the Iraqi and U.S. Governments,
international organizations, and non-governmental organizations gathered to discuss food
security issues in Iraq, identify priorities and present possible future courses of action.
NEXT STEPS
USAID will continue to monitor and report on the status of food insecure populations in Iraq.
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