A need has been identified by the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (UNOHCI) for both UN and NGO agencies presently in Iraq to better prioritise security.

Guidelines
In response to this need, UNOHHI is disseminating the UN Minimum Operating Security Standard (MOSS) Guidelines and the UN-NGO Security Collaboration Recommendations to the Inter-Agency Steering Committee (IASC) made by the IASC Working Group Staff Security Task Force on January 18, 2003.

UNOHCI is sharing these Guidelines and Recommendations at this time in the hope that they will (1) serve as an instructive reminder on security to all agencies operational in Iraq; (2) set an example for NGOs to develop or (re)familiarise themselves with their own guidelines; and (3) institute a level of complementarity between UN and NGO security measures.

Security Officers in relevant UN and NGO agencies should be aware of both documents. In addition, it would be helpful if ALL humanitarian workers entering or intending to enter Iraq were also familiar with this advice. Please disseminate this advise widely within your own agency.

In addition to MOSS guidance, it should be noted that all UN agencies have been advised that if they are planning to enter Iraq they are required to be MOSS (Minimum Operating Security Standard) compliant. UN agencies are also required to obtain security clearance from Area Security Coordinators/Designated Officials for Security (as applicable in view of the areas of operations/visit). All such requests should reach the aforementioned offices at least 7 days in advance from the planned time of travel.

Although NGOs are clearly not bound by these instructions, in the interests of better facilitating the protection of humanitarian workers in Iraq, UNOHCI encourages NGOs, in conformity with the UN Civil-Military Guidelines (currently under revision but available in draft at www.agoodplacetostart.org ) to inform MNFI and the host Government through existing HOC/HACC civil liaison mechanisms of their whereabouts at all times.

See the SCR procedure for further details:
Procedure for Security Clearance Request (SCR)

Further advice will be provided in consultation with UNAMI as requested.

Documents Required

For all UN staff traveling to Iraq, Kuwait or Jordan:

• Security Clearance Request

For UN staff missions traveling to Iraq:

• Security Clearance Request
• Mission Security Clearance Request
• Mission Plan
• Security Clearance Checklist

Contact Information
UNAMI +962-6-550-4700
Fax: +962-6-550-4705

Safety and Security Unit, Amman Jordan
Staff Tracking Section
Email: unami-ssu-scr@un.org , joshir@un.org