2006
Displacement and Mortality in Iraq
Displaced & Refugees As of October 2006, an estimated 1.5 million Iraqis
were displaced within the country and 1.6 million were refugees abroad. The
Iraqi government estimates that 50,000 people are leaving their homes each month,
joining 365,000 who have become internally displaced since February. The scale
of the problem and the difficulty of reaching the displaced put the crisis
practically beyond the capacity of the international relief system. Mortality
A very large number of Iraqis have died under the occupation and the rate of
mortality has risen sharply. In addition to combat deaths, Coalition forces have
killed many Iraqi civilians. Iraqis have also died because of the disintegration
of the health care system, as well as violence by militias, gangs, and death
squads. A recent study estimates more than a half million “excess” deaths since
2003. Long-term injuries are likely to affect far more.
Unsatisfied Basic Needs Mapping and Living Standards in
Iraq (2006)
This report released by the United Nations Development Programme reveals
that one-third of Iraqis live in poverty and five percent of the population is
living in extreme poverty. According to the study, the damaged infrastructure is
one of the most important factors that create poor living conditions in the
country, with 85 percent of all households lacking a stable source of
electricity, 70 percent struggling to dispose of garbage and 40 percent lacking
adequate sanitation facilities. In order to diminish poverty, the report
stresses the need to improve the security situation and to balance national
priorities and the requirements of the global markets, instead of the fast
privatization of the economy.
Iraqi Red Crescent: US Is
Biggest Humanitarian Threat (December 16, 2006)
Dr. Jamal al- Karbouli vice president of the Iraqi Red Crescent has said that
harassment from the US-led military poses a greater problem to its relief
operations than attacks by Iraqi insurgents. Dr. al Karbouli further stated that
Red Crescent offices had been “repeatedly attacked” by US-led forces. The Geneva
Conventions on warfare – that protect the Red Crescent as an international
humanitarian organization – prohibit such acts and consider them illegal. (Associated
Press)
Warning Over Spiralling Iraq
Refugee Crisis (December 7, 2006)
A
report by Refugees International states
that surging violence in Iraq has created “what is becoming the biggest refugee
crisis in the world.” Furthermore, the Washington-based organization criticizes
the United States and its allies for not doing enough to ease the humanitarian
crisis, which has seen 1.8 million Iraqis flee their homeland and seek refuge in
neighboring Arab countries. Syria and Jordan have each welcomed over 700,000
Iraqi refugees, yet diminishing tolerance and a strain on resources means that
such generosity “is wearing thin,” creating the need for an international
response. (Guardian)
“The Silent Treatment”:
Fleeing Iraq, Surviving in Jordan - Human Rights Watch Report (November 2006)
According to Human Rights Watch, Jordan has not protected Iraqi refugees
properly on its soils, nor sought international assistance on their behalf.
Jordanian officials have reportedly denied Iraqi asylum seekers entry at the
border and deported them, in violation of international law. Human Rights Watch
calls on Jordan, its neighbors, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
to establish a more realistic and effective protection regime.
Sahar Ahmed, Iraq: "We Need
To Leave This Country As Soon As Possible" (November 28, 2006)
Of the 30,000 Palestinians living in Iraq prior to the 2003 US-led invasion, an
estimated 5,000 to 6,000 remain in the country, according to this Integrated
Regional Information Networks article. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees
suggests that the remainder have either perished in conflict or fled to nearby
countries. However, with neighboring countries now closing their borders, some
Palestinians must remain in Iraq. There they face “an almost certain death” at
the hands of Iraqi militias, who resent the privileges Palestinians enjoyed
under the government of Saddam Hussein.
Medics Beg For Help As Iraqis
Die Needlessly (October 20, 2006)
18,000 physicians have fled Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion, with a further
2,000 killed in sectarian violence, revealing the disintegration of Iraq’s
health care system. Furthermore, Iraqi doctors claim that, with proper medical
facilities, they could have prevented half of all civilian deaths. Global health
campaign group Medact reveals that only four of the 180 health clinics the US
hoped to build by the end of 2005 have been completed, exposing the failure of
US reconstruction projects. (Independent)
Iraq Displacement (October
13, 2006)
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states that there are 1.5
million internally displaced people in Iraq, with more than 365,000 fleeing
their homes since February 2006. Furthermore, 1.6 million Iraqis now reside
outside their country, mostly in Jordan and Syria, due to sectarian violence and
ongoing conflict. UNHCR says that the refugees present “an enormous humanitarian
challenge and extreme hardship for both the displaced and the Iraqi families
trying to help them in host communities."
Hidden Victims of A Brutal
Conflict: Iraq's Women (October 8, 2006)
Iraqi women face constant harassment, discrimination and even death at the hands
of militias, with the number of women who die violently in Iraq increasing every
month. The country’s post-war constitution undermines women’s rights and many
Iraqi women live in fear of their husbands, as well as Sunni and Shia Islamist
militants, who impose strict new prohibitions on their dress and behavior.
Sexual crimes against women have also increased. The Iraqi Women's Network
states that “rape is being used as a weapon in the sectarian war to humiliate
families from rival communities.” (Observer)
The Assyrians: Ignored Among
Fears of an Iraqi Civil War (October 5, 2006)
One of the world’s most ancient religious groups, Iraq’s Assyrian Christians are
at risk of annihilation due to rising sectarian violence and persecution. 60,000
Christians have fled Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion - their exodus induced
by terrorist bombing campaigns of Christian churches by Islamists, who accuse
them of collaborating with coalition forces. The author of this Daily Star
Lebanon piece urges the world community to recognize the rights of the
Assyrians, and demands that Iraq honor its constitutional provisions that allow
Christians to practice their religion free from interference.
The Humanitarian War Myth (October
1, 2006)
This Washington Post piece points out that “humanitarian intervention,”
one of the justifications used by the coalition for the 2003 US-led invasion of
Iraq, leads to large scale human rights abuses, civilian casualties and
sectarian violence. Author Eric Posner argues that all interventions based on
such justifications fail to “liberate citizens from tyrants.” By replacing old
dictators with foreign occupying forces, intervening countries further increase
tensions and the risk of civil war, and subject civilians to a state of constant
warfare.
Analysts Say Violence Will
Continue to Increase (September 22, 2006)
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq reports that murder, torture and honor crimes
against women in Iraq has significantly increased since the US-led occupation in
2003. The country’s mortuary states that more than 20,600 Iraqis have lost their
lives in violent attacks since January, and many of the victim’s bodies bear
signs of severe torture. Yet these official fatality numbers may actually
understate true figures as many deaths go unreported. (Integrated Regional
Information Networks)
Nowhere to Flee: The Perilous
Situation of Palestinians in Iraq (September 2006)
34,000 Palestinian refugees, who have been residing in Iraq for decades, must
now flee their homes due to escalating sectarian violence, says this Human
Rights Watch report. The predominantly Sunni Palestinians face new
persecution from Shia militias, who resent the minority group for the privileges
they and other Sunnis received under Saddam Hussein’s rule. Despite their status
as refugees, Iraqi Palestinians have nowhere to flee as countries in the region
keep their borders firmly closed.
Voices: Life in Samarra and
Falluja (August 22, 2006)
US military assaults on Samarra and Fallujah may have ceased but their
humanitarian consequences continue to disrupt daily life in Iraq. Residents must
endure constant blackouts, poor quality drinking water, rising gas prices and a
failing healthcare system. As this BBC interview with four Iraqis living
under the US occupation reveals, many citizens believe the sustained presence of
Multinational Forces causes this disruption and places their lives in jeopardy.
Inquiry Suggests Marines
Excised Files on Killings (August 18, 2006)
US marines involved in the killing of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in November 2005
allegedly destroyed, concealed and withheld evidence. A high-level military
investigation has revealed that marines tampered with an official company
logbook of the unit involved, and failed to give investigators an incriminating
video evidence of the attack. In addition, officers in the Second Marine
Division did not thoroughly investigate the killings, and had reportedly
“created a climate that minimized the importance of Iraqi lives.” (New York
Times)
Iraqi Medic Tells How He 'Found
Family Slaughtered by US Troops' (August 7, 2006)
A military hearing has examined testimony of how three US soldiers raped an
Iraqi girl and killed three of her relatives. The hearing, expected to last
several days, will decide whether prosecutors can take the case to a court
martial, in which the accused could face the death penalty. The case, one of
several instances of abuses by US troops, has outraged Iraqis and further
tarnished the reputation of the US-led occupation forces. (Independent)
Officers Allegedly Pushed 'Kill
Counts' (August 3, 2006)
This Los Angeles Times article reveals the deeply troubling behavior of
US troops in Iraq. Evidence from military hearings points to a pervasive
“culture of racism and unrestrained violence” among Army units. Commanders
reportedly issue illegal orders to shoot all military-aged Iraqi men and
encourage competition among soldiers to rack up “enemy kills.” These allegations
indicate that culpability may come from further up the military chain of command.
Iraq Becomes a Nation of
Refugees (July 21, 2006)
Two months after the formation of a US-backed national unity government, tens of
thousands more Iraqis have fled their homes. The sectarian violence looks ever
more like civil war, with data from the Ministry of Migration and the Displaced
showing Sunnis and other minorities leaving the south, and Shiites escaping from
areas around Baghdad and the north. Iraq’s most prominent Shiite spiritual
leader, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, joined the United Nations in warning
that a rise in bloodshed and “campaigns of displacement” threaten Iraq’s future.
(Scotsman)
The Hidden War on Women in
Iraq (July 13, 2006)
Since the US-led invasion of Iraq, the reported incidence of sexual assault and
violence against women has accelerated markedly. In March 2006, a group of five
US soldiers allegedly raped and murdered a young Iraqi girl, while US prison
officers at Abu Ghraib regularly subject women prisoners to abuse. “Local gangs”
kidnap women and force them into prostitution. More generally, the occupation
has humiliated, endangered, and repressed Iraqi women in ways not widely
publicized in the mainstream media. (TomDispatch)
US Occupation Adding to
“Acute” Health Crisis (July 7, 2006)
The author of this Uruknet article depicts the current situation in Iraq
against the backdrop of its recent history. During the 1970s, Iraq had state of
the art technology, a high level of medical care and contributed to numerous
international programs. The first Gulf War and a decade of sanctions took a
heavy toll on civilians. However, the US-led invasion has further exacerbated
the humanitarian situation, all but destroying major cities, reducing residents
to refugees and leaving them with acute shortages of water, fuel and power.
US Marines Take Over Iraq
Hospital (July 6, 2006)
US Marines have raided the Ramadi General Hospital as part of their heavy
assault on the Sunni Arab city. The US-led siege has forced experienced
physicians to flee, depleted critical supplies and led to a dramatic rise in
traumatic war-related injuries. The operation against the civilian hospital
violates the First Geneva Convention which prohibits attacks on medical
establishments and vehicles. (Associated Press)
UN Mission Concerned at
Upsurge in People Displaced by Recent Violence (June 28, 2006)
The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) reports that violence and tensions
have uprooted around 150,000 people across the war-torn country since March
2006, bringing the total of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to 1.3 million.
US-led military operations in Ramadi alone have forced 3,200 families to flee to
neighboring towns. UNAMI argues that Iraq’s long-term stability depends on the
safe return of displaced Iraqis to their homes. (UN News)
If Wanton Murder Is Essential
to the US Campaign in Iraq, it's Time to Leave (June 26, 2006)
In addition to atrocities committed in Haditha, Balad, Ishaqi and Hamdania, US
forces have killed “untold thousands” of Iraqi civilians in conditions
considered “insufficiently atrocious” to be worthy of investigation. These
incidents are the “natural and inevitable consequence” of the occupation, in
which dead women, children and disabled people “are the price you pay for being
invaded.” As this Guardian article states, those responsible for such
acts remain in the White House, while the many embroiled in the conflict are
“brutalized or murdered.”
Rebuilding? Not for Fallujah
(June 25, 2006)
One and a half years after the US military launched Operation Phantom Fury
against the city of Fallujah, residents tell Inter Press Service of
ongoing suffering, lack of jobs, little reconstruction and continuing violence.
Iraqis lack medical supplies and equipment and have poor access to water,
electricity, fuel, and telephone services. One third of the city’s residents
remain displaced in the outskirts of Fallujah, “living in abandoned schools and
government buildings.” In addition, security has “eaten up as much as 25 percent
of reconstruction funding,” and corruption and overcharging by US contractors
has reportedly siphoned off even more.
Line Between War, Murder
Tough to Draw (June 22, 2006)
The US military has charged a number of Marines with the murders of Iraqi
civilians and detainees, stirring further criticism of US troops’ behavior. This
Christian Science Monitor article points out these charges are nothing
new in Iraq. Only a small proportion of cases have been investigated, but at
least 11 US servicemen and eight British soldiers have faced murder charges
since the US-led invasion of 2003. With few exceptions, past cases have yielded
relatively light punishments, and have largely escaped public notice.
Another US Cover-Up Surfaces
in Iraq (June 13, 2006)
In the wake of the Haditha massacre, US troops reportedly killed two women in
Samarra and attempted to hide evidence of their responsibility. US snipers shot
the two women who were traveling in a car, claiming they failed to stop at a
check point. Other reports claim the area was completely unmarked. The US
military offered the brother of one of the victims US$5000 in compensation, as
part of the US$19 million in total compensation paid to Iraqis – an indication
that “these kinds of killings by the Americans happen daily in Iraq.” This
Inter Press Service article calls for a “truly independent investigation” of
the killing and cover-up, “rather than one by the US military.”
Return to Ishaqi: The
Pentagon's Shaky Self-Exoneration (June 3, 2006)
The Pentagon has released a report exonerating US soldiers for the alleged
slaying of civilians in the Iraqi town of Ishaqi, which left 11 people dead,
including children. As photographic evidence, testimony of villagers, Iraqi
officials and Western new agencies contradict US accounts, Uruknet calls
for an independent investigation.
Uprooted Iraqis Add to Woes
of War-Torn Land (June 2, 2006)
Military operations have uprooted many Iraqis since the US-led invasion of March
2003. Fear of violence, a lack of government resources and heightened political,
religious and ethnic tensions have forced more than 100,000 people to give up
their livelihoods and homes and become wards of the state or charities. The need
to accommodate newcomers has further taxed overburdened local governments, and
aid workers say new camps crop up faster than they can keep track. (Los
Angeles Times)
Countless My Lai Massacres in
Iraq (May 30, 2006)
US Marines allegedly slaughtered at least 15 civilians in Haditha in November,
2005, including seven women and three children. The mainstream media refer to
the Haditha massacre as "Iraq's My Lai", however, this article argues that
“trigger-happy American soldiers” in fact slaughter Iraqi civilians daily, under
the "shoot first ask questions later" policy. While high-ranking members of the
Bush administration blame policy failures on a "few bad apples," they are
ultimately responsible for the occupation. (truthout)
Stolen Away (April 23, 2006)
Though “virtually nonexistent under Saddam,” sex trafficking in Iraq has
intensified under the US occupation. While exact figures are unknown, the
Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq estimates that 2,000 women and girls –
some as young as 14 – have been kidnapped since 2003, and many are sold to
brothels in Yemen, Syria, Jordan and other neighboring countries. Those who
manage to escape are often shunned by their families and sometimes sent to jail.
(Time)
Iraq Unrest Forces 65,000 to
Flee (April 13, 2006)
Sectarian violence and intimidation have forced 65,000 Iraqis to flee their
homes, Iraq’s Ministry for Displacement and Migration estimates. The Iraqi Red
Crescent has been able to provide food, water, blankets and kerosene to roughly
5,000 families living in makeshift camps, less than half the total of displaced
families. Though the UN maintains a limited presence in Iraq, it is trying to
secure emergency funds in anticipation of the growing number of internally
displaced persons. (BBC)
Iraq Mess Is Literally Making
People Sick (April 10, 2006)
Despite severe health problems facing both Iraqis and US military veterans
exposed to depleted uranium (DU) during the 1991 Gulf War, the US military has
fired an even greater quantity of DU munitions – over 2,200 tons – on Iraqi
cities and people since the 2003 invasion. As a radioactive substance, DU
“wreaks havoc” on DNA and RNA, causing cancer and genetic mutations over longer
periods, along with numerous painful symptoms following immediate exposure.
Nonetheless, the Pentagon denies that DU causes severe harm, and continues to
use DU munitions in Iraq. (Uruknet)
Cut in Food Rations Hurting
Poor Iraqis (April 3, 2006)
Iraq’s poorest citizens suffer the most from economic restructuring and the
elimination of basic subsidies. Backed by the US and the International Monetary
Fund, the Iraqi government has begun eliminating food rations as part of the
transition to a free market economy. Nearly all Iraqis, approximately 96
percent, benefit from food subsidies – a result of crippling economic sanctions
upheld by the US and UK. According to the UN’s World Food Program, one fourth of
the Iraqi population depends on food rations for survival, and cannot meet their
food requirements without them. (Environmental News Service)
Iraq Civilian Death Toll
‘Highest Since End of War’ (March 9, 2006)
According to a study by Iraq Body Count (IBC), 2005 has been the deadliest year
yet of the war in Iraq. From March 20, 2005 until March 1, 2006, IBC estimates
that 12,617 Iraqis were killed, up from 11,312 the previous year. While most
Iraqi casualties were initially attributable to US forces, sectarian violence
has led to a growing number of Iraqi casualties. As IBC co-founder John Sloboda
points out, “the initial act that sparked this cycle of violence is the illegal
US-led invasion” which resulted in 7,312 civilian deaths in the first 42 days
alone. (Scotsman)
Iraq's Crisis of Scarred
Psyches (March 6, 2006)
Following Saddam Hussein’s authoritarian rule and decades of economic sanctions,
the US occupation of Iraq has compounded the psychological scarring of many
Iraqi citizens. Given the tattered state of Iraq’s health sector, the full scope
of mental health disorder remains unknown, but experts estimate that millions of
Iraqis suffer from psychiatric trauma, with a sharp increase coming after the
US-led invasion in 2003. Only 75 psychiatrists remain in Iraq, or 1 for every
300,000 Iraqis, and none specialize in child psychiatry. (Washington Post)
Willy Peter (January 2006)
This article examines the US military’s use of white phosphorus, an incendiary
weapon commonly known as “Willy Peter,” in the November 2004 attacks on Fallujah.
Though white phosphorous munitions are banned under the 1980 Geneva Convention
on Biological and Chemical Weapons, the US has not signed the agreement and
instead classifies white phosphorous as a “psychological” weapon. As ZMag
points out, there is nothing psychological about a weapon that melts skin to the
bone while damaging the nervous system and blocking the circulation of blood.
2005
Poor Iraqis Face Struggle for Survival (November 18,
2005)
The US-led occupation has not brought prosperity to Iraq, but rather increased
poverty and economic disparity. Ongoing security concerns have thwarted
investment, while high unemployment has forced many impoverished Iraqis to sift
through trash in search of food and salvageable goods. (Reuters)
US Admits Using White
Phosphorous in Fallujah (November 16, 2005)
Despite initial denials, the US has admitted to using white phosphorus, a
powerful burn-inducing chemical, as a weapon during the November 2004 assault on
Fallujah. US officials had previously claimed that white phosphorus was only
used to provide smokescreens and illumination. Though not directly listed as a
chemical weapon, some experts say the explicit use of white phosphorus against
people would classify it as a chemical weapon. The US-led invasion of Iraq was
largely justified on the grounds that former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
possessed and used chemical weapons. (Guardian)
UN Report: Coalition Forces
in Iraq Hold 11,559 (November 14, 2005)
According to a United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) report covering
the period of September 1 to October 31, both US- and Iraqi-led military forces
have had a negative impact on human rights. The report criticizes US and Iraqi
armed forces for arresting doctors and occupying medical facilities in Anbar
province, in violation of international human rights law. To view the report,
click
here. (Associated Press)
A Name that Lives in Infamy
(November 10, 2005)
In November 2004, US forces led a massive assault on the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
While the US claims that the majority of the estimated 2,000 casualties were
insurgents, Iraqi NGOs and medical workers say that the offensive killed as many
as 6,000 civilians. In addition, US-led forces cut off water, food, and power
supplies to the city, bombed the main hospital, and used incendiary weapons such
as white phosphorous. As the Guardian points out, the atrocities
committed in Fallujah are “a symbol of unconscionable brutality.”
US 'Uses Incendiary Arms' in
Iraq (November 8, 2005)
An Italian news report provides evidence that US forces dropped massive
quantities of white phosphorous on the city of Fallujah during the November 2004
assault. The chemical, which US officials claim was used to illuminate the night
sky, produces serious burns capable of dissolving flesh. As a US soldier
stationed in Fallujah at the time noted, “anyone within a radius of 150 meters
is done for.” Though Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional
Weapons prohibits the use of white phosphorous as a weapon, the US is not a
signatory. (BBC)
UN's Humanitarian Activities
in Iraq Quietly Save Lives (October 19, 2005)
Amid ongoing chaos, UN humanitarian relief is making steady progress in Iraq.
Based on the results of a survey given to 22,000 Iraqis, relief initiatives have
targeted priority issues of water, sanitation, education and health care
provision. Cholera and polio have been eradicated, malaria is under control, and
nearly 8 million children are in school. (UN News)
UN Food Envoy Says Coalition
Breaking Law in Iraq (October 14, 2005)
In a press statement on World Food Day, UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to
Food Jean Ziegler accuses US and British forces of violating the Geneva
Conventions. Specifically, Ziegler highlights the practice of cutting supplies
of food and water to Iraqi civilians so as to encourage them to flee before
major military attacks. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the deprivation of food
and water as a weapon of war. Ziegler hopes the General Assembly will "condemn
this strategy of the coalition forces" when he presents his report in New York
on October 27, 2005. (Reuters)
Iraq Health Care So Bad That
Doctors Want Out (October 5, 2005)
Iraq’s health care system is in dire shape. Hospitals lack even the most basic
medicines and equipment, while many doctors and hospital staff are exposed to
violence. Despite investments by both the US and Iraqi governments, there are
insufficient funds to provide better training and salaries for health care
workers. Security issues have also slowed the delivery of equipment and supplies.
(Chicago Tribune)
UNHCR Issues New Guidelines
on Iraqi Asylum Seekers (September 27, 2005)
Citing continued security concerns, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees has requested that governments continue to host and receive Iraqi
asylum seekers. Despite the January 2005 elections, Iraqi citizens face
increased violence, and many basic services are unavailable. Approximately 1.2
million Iraqis are internally displaced while 1.5 million have fled the country
as emigrants or asylum seekers.
Food Operation Under Threat
(September 27, 2005)
Due to a lack of donor funding, the World Food Program’s operations in Iraq have
been stifled. With investment priorities in Iraq shifting to security and
reconstruction, the WFP has received less than half of the $66 million it needs.
The program has so far succeeded in feeding 1.7 million of the 3 million Iraqis
facing impoverishment. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Iraq: Focus on Boys Trapped
in Commercial Sex Trade (August 8, 2005)
Since the US-UK invasion in 2003, Iraq has seen a dramatic increase in the
number of youths working in the sex trade. Poverty often drives these boys to
prostitution, though sometimes street gangs press them into the trade under
threat of violence. Many of these boys fear that their families will kill them
if they discover the source of their income. Although the Iraqi Ministry of
Labor has established programs to combat the phenomenon, their efforts, as well
as those of non-governmental organizations, have met with little success. (Integrated
Regional Information Networks)
Housing Problems Increase as
Conflict Hits Hearth and Home (August 3, 2005)
450,000 Iraqi families are homeless, and thousands more live in substandard
housing, according to Iraqi officials. The quality of Iraqi housing declined
during the 1990s because of United Nations sanctions, but the problem has
worsened since 2003, as fighting between US troops and insurgents has driven
many people from their homes. Projects to build more housing units for Iraqis
have stalled due to lack of funding. (Integrated Regional Information
Networks)
Quieter than Bombs, Iraq's
Foul Water Also Kills (July 11, 2005)
Dirty water in Baghdad is killing Iraqis, especially children. Pre-war sanctions
seriously damaged Iraq’s water supply, and now, frequent insurgent attacks on
water pipes and sporadic reconstruction efforts have caused hepatitis A and
typhoid to rise in the last two years. The US military says that the pace of
reconstruction is slow because of the high cost of work in a war zone. (Reuters)
Water Main Attack Affects Two
Million in Baghdad (June 22, 2005)
Insurgents in Iraq attacked a major water main in Baghdad, depriving two million
residents of drinking water. A senior Baghdad governorate official said the
pipes could take up to a week to fix, during which time many residents have to
travel several kilometers to public water pipes in order to get water for
washing, cleaning and drinking. Iraqi doctors have also reported a spike in
diarrhea and other illnesses related to the consumption of dirty water,
particularly in children. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Unending Health Disaster For
Iraqi Kids (June 18, 2005)
Sanctions and the 2003 invasion of Iraq severely worsened the health situation
in the country, particularly for children. Since 1991, half of the health-care
centers in Iraq have shut down. According to the Iraqi health minister, 100
percent of the remaining hospitals need rehabilitation. The lack of basic health
care services means that "hundreds of thousands of children born after the war
have had none of their required vaccinations," and the problem is compounded by
the fact that international aid organizations such as Doctors Without Borders
and CARE International have left the country due to the dismal security
situation. (Japan Times)
NGO Calls For Greater
Facilitation For Aid Work (June 15, 2005)
According to an Italian NGO, "Humanitarian work in Iraq has not been respected
to any extent by the Multi-National Forces (MNF) and Iraqi security forces." The
NGO issued the statement after an incident in which MNF troops targeted one of
the its clearly marked water supply trucks. The statement added that the United
Nations Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and other NGOs should establish "mechanisms
and a common understanding with both MNF and Iraqi security forces to avoid such
non-discriminatory military actions." (Integrated Regional Information
Networks)
Ongoing Insecurity Hampers
Landmine Clearance (June 6, 2005)
Insecurity in Iraq is forcing many international organizations to halt their
landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearing efforts. Iraq is heavily mined,
especially near its border with Iran, and one organization alone has removed
more than 1,350,000 mines and UXOs from northern Iraq since July 2003. (Integrated
Regional Information Networks)
In Iraq, Living Conditions
"Tragic" (May 16, 2005)
The Iraq Living Conditions Survey, released by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning
and Development Cooperation in collaboration with the United Nations Development
Programme, is the "first comprehensive statistical description of living
standards in the country produced in years." It finds the situation in Iraq
"tragic," and provides some startling statistics: "nearly one-fourth of Iraqi
children aged between six months and five years are chronically malnourished,"
and between 2,100 and 3,500 children have been killed in the war so far. (Inter
Press Service)
Insurgents and Criminals
Target Doctors (May 10, 2005)
Insurgents and criminals systematically target doctors, seriously impacting
Iraq's health system. A study carried out by Iraq's Ministry of Health found
that hundreds of doctors and other medical personal "have been killed and
kidnapped" since the March 2003 invasion, with more than 160 such incidents in
the first part of 2005 alone. Many top specialists have left the country,
"resulting in a breakdown of [Iraq's] public health system." (Integrated
Regional Information Networks)
Divergent Views over
Relationship between NGOs and Coalition (May 4, 2005)
Aid agencies in Iraq struggle to operate in difficult security conditions.
Humanitarian groups find it hard to ensure their own security without
coordinating with Coalition forces or security contractors, but such cooperation
leads Iraqis to question the neutrality of some NGOs. Further, the US government
funds many US-based and Iraqi aid groups. Because of this, aid consultant Greg
Hansen asks, "can you blame Iraqis for being thoroughly confused about who is
doing what?" (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Education: International
Recovery Effort Urged for Iraq (May 2, 2005)
According to the United Nations, five out of six of Iraq's colleges and
universities "have been wrecked" and "failure to rehabilitate them will set back
efforts to heal the war-brutalised country." Additionally, UNICEF, the UN
children's agency, reported that "primary and secondary education has also been
ruined" by three wars and more than a decade of sanctions. UNICEF also
characterized the school reconstruction program touted by US officials as "limited."
(Inter Press Service)
Balancing the Iraq Equation
(April 22, 2005)
The death of Marla Ruzicka, campaigner for recognition of and compensation for
civilian Iraqi victims of US military attacks, has cast a spotlight on the issue
of Iraqi civilians killed by US forces. While the Pentagon does not officially
keep track of civilian deaths, Ruzicka discovered that "standard operating
procedure" requires US troops to file a report when a noncombatant is shot. But
the US media, which avoids criticizing the Iraq war, did not mention the details
of Ruzicka's work amid the many tributes to her. (Inter Press Service)
Security Measures Preventing
School and Work Attendance (April 19, 2005)
Tight security in Baghdad surrounding national assembly meetings prevents
students, teachers, and government employees from going to school and work. One
student called the situation "a mess," saying "you cannot reach your college due
to insecurity or you have too much security." Government employees, meanwhile,
complain that "their work is piling up" and delaying essential reconstruction
work. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Focus on Increase in
Kidnappings (April 11, 2005)
Cases of kidnappings for ransom, mostly of children, have increased sharply in
post-war Iraq. According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), "more than 130 cases
have been registered since July 2004," though "many cases aren't reported to the
Iraqi police for security reasons." The chief of the MoI's kidnapping
investigation department says that kidnappings were rare under Saddam Hussein's
regime. Iraqi citizens and officials alike blame poor security in the country,
which has allowed kidnapping gangs and other criminal elements to flourish. (Integrated
Regional Information Networks)
Humanitarian Worker in Iraq Says Things Have Gotten
Worse (April 6, 2005)
A humanitarian worker who recently returned from Iraq says that he "doesn't know
anybody that would tell you conditions are better [in Iraq since the invasion].
They are worse." He notes that "in the past two years, rather than seeing an
improvement in [public services], (Iraqis are) seeing a continual decline in
those services." Asked about pulling out troops, he replied that it should be
done as soon as possible, because the occupation forces have become "a magnet
for violence," but not before Iraq has competent security and police forces
capable of maintaining order. (Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram)
Iraq's Dislocated Minorities
Struggle in Urban Enclaves (April 3, 2005)
The invasion of Iraq triggered "great dislocations" of people, resulting in "poor,
dangerous and often ethnically homogenous urban enclaves" on a previously unseen
scale. Poor areas in Baghdad and other large cities "became infested with
serious crime" only after the fall of Saddam Hussein's police state, and even
police detectives fear going into some of these slums. The migrants themselves,
mostly poor and from rural areas, suffer from discrimination in health care,
education, and other basic services. (New York Times)
Fire Bombs in Iraq: Napalm by
Any Other Name (March 2005)
Though the US ratified the 1980 UN Convention on "Weapons Which May Be Deemed to
Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects," it did not sign up
to the protocol on incendiary weapons (fire bombs) and continues to use such
weapons in Iraq. While the US has denied possessing "napalm" in its arsenal on
the technicality that the word refers only to the specific mix of gasoline,
benzene and polystyrene used in Vietnam and Korea, the Pentagon has admitted to
using the MK-77, "an incendiary with a function 'remarkably similar' to that of
napalm." (Iraq Analysis Group)
Expert: Malnutrition Affects
Iraq Kids
Malnutrition among Iraqi children under the age of 5 jumped from 4 percent
immediately after the US-led invasion to 7.7 percent in the fall of 2004,
according to the UN Human Rights Commission's Special Rapporteur on the Right to
Food Jean Ziegler. In a presentation to the Commission, Ziegler also said that
"more than a quarter of Iraqi children don't get enough to eat," and called the
situation "a result of the war led by coalition forces." (Associated Press)
Study Says Civilian
Casualties on the Rise After Elections (March 21, 2005)
According to Iraq Body Count, an independent organization monitoring the human
cost of the war, the civilian death rate in Iraq increased after the elections,
with an average "of up to 21 killed each day" in February 2005. The
organization's figures also reveal that "the number of violent incidents has
soared" since February 2004. Iraq Body Count currently places the number of
civilian casualties since the war started between 7,061 and 19,432. (Gulf
News)
Evidence of Insurgents Using
Child Soldiers (March 15, 2005)
A member of the Sunni insurgency in Iraq claimed 23 children, either orphans or
children of insurgents, "have been involved in the fight against the US." A
senior policeman in Baghdad cited a higher figure, saying police had captured 60
children who either fought or worked for the insurgents. According to the Iraqi
Red Crescent, "the most worrying aspect of the situation is the negative
psychological impact on the children," many of whom have "effectively been
brainwashed." (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Focus on Women's Rights
(March
8, 2005)
Two years after the US invasion of Iraq, women still face "honor killings,"
intimidation from religious conservatives, discrimination and casual violence.
Some women detained by US or Iraqi forces have alleged that soldiers sexually
abused and raped them, though a senior US coalition official denied having
received any reports of such cases. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
"We Are Living in a State of
Constant Fear" (March 2, 2005)
While the war and occupation in Iraq have unquestionably increased the instances
of depression and other mental health problems among Iraqis, "information about
the scale of the problem is elusive." Both the International Red Cross and
Médecins Sans Frontières say they have no data on the subject. Lacking medicines
to treat psychological disorders, some doctors increasingly rely on
electroconvulsive therapy, a crude and severe measure, to treat their patients.
(Guardian)
US Cites Array of Rights
Abuses by the Iraqi Government in 2004 (March 1, 2005)
In its annual report on human rights, the US State Department detailed an array
of abuses by the Iraqi government. These included "torture, rape, and illegal
detentions," as well as "arbitrary deprivation of life." The report cited
specific instances of transgressions, including the killing of 10 Baath Party
members in Basra by local authorities and the execution of 12 kidnappers by
Baghdad police. The report did not cover US abuses in Iraq and elsewhere. (International
Herald Tribune)
Mixed Picture for IDPs in the
North (February 24, 2005)
Officially, Saddam Hussein's Arabization campaigns forced some 800,000 Kurds,
out of a population of four million, to leave their homes. But contrary to the
image conjured up by the term "internally displaced person", only a "tiny
minority" of Iraqi Kurdish IDPs still live in squalor. According to the article,
"Kurdish authorities have worked efficiently to counteract the destruction
wrought by the former regime" using UN Oil-for-Food funds. However, thousands of
previously "imported" Arabs who fled from Kurdish militias during the war face
very difficult conditions. As one international aid worker put it, "their
situation is very, very bad." (Integrated Regional Information Networks)
Decades of Suffering, Now
Women Deserve Better (February 22, 2005)
The status of women in Iraq has not improved measurably following the fall of
Saddam Hussein's government. An increase in killings, abductions and rapes has "restricted
women's freedom of movement and their ability to go to school or work." Indeed,
this Amnesty International report suggests their situation may worsen as
conservative social and political forces gain clout in the new government.
Gender discrimination is also essentially codified in Iraqi law, making changes
difficult.
Focus on Needs in Kirkuk (February
16, 2005)
The thousands of Kurds expelled from Kirkuk under Saddam Hussein's rule are now
returning, displacing Arab residents who had settled in the city under Hussein's
Arabization project. A UN survey of Kurds expelled from Kirkuk found that 82%
wished to return, and Kurdish parties encourage this by offering cash incentives
for Kurdish families to move back to the oil-rich city. Iraqi Red Crescent
Society (IRCS) officials appeal for urgently-needed supplies for displaced Arabs,
and stress the need for a quick solution to the conflict over Kirkuk. (Integrated
Regional Information Networks)
2004
Iraq's Children Suffer Most
Under US Occupation (November 22, 2004)
A Norwegian survey finds that malnutrition among Iraqi children has become
widespread since the US-led invasion, resulting in conditions equal to those in
some African countries. The study, conducted in cooperation with the UN
Development Program and the Iraqi Health Ministry, blames the increase in the
rate of malnutrition partly on violence that has forced international aid
agencies to pull out of the country. (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Falluja Facing Humanitarian
Crisis (November 11, 2004)
The attack on Fallujah has created a humanitarian disaster because medical help
cannot reach wounded civilians. At least 2,200 families have already fled the
city and others are trapped with no water, food or medicine. (Aljazeera)
The War on Iraq Has Made
Moral Cowards of Us All (November 1, 2004)
Former Iraq weapons inspector Scott Ritter assesses the civilian toll of bloody
battles that took place in the early stages of the war. Thousands of civilians
died in the “shock and awe” bombings of Baghdad and during US efforts to rid
Nassirya and Falluja of insurgents. Ritter emphasizes that “the US and Britain
have a history of turning a blind eye to Iraqi suffering when it suits their
political purposes.” He also debunks the myth that the coalition’s modern
warfare practices have ensured this has been “the most humanitarian in history.”
(YaleGlobal)
US Has Killed 100,000 in
Iraq: The Lancet (October 29, 2004)
A British medical journal reports over 100, 000 Iraqi civilian casualties since
Saddam Hussein’s fall on April 9, 2003. The amount of casualties is
significantly higher than previous estimates and suggests that the US has
already killed a third as many Iraqi civilians in 18 months as Saddam did in 24
years. (Informed Comment)
Iraq Faces Soaring Toll of
Deadly Disease (October 13, 2004)
The Iraqi Ministry of Health in Baghdad has issued a report describing a new
crisis for Iraqis. Years of neglect and war have shattered the health system,
which cannot deal with the rapid growth in infectious as well as chronic
diseases. Poverty, malnourishment and disease are likely to claim more victims
than the 2003 war. (Independent)
Running the US Military’s
Compensation Gauntlet (July 14, 2004)
The CPA established a fund in 2003 to compensate innocent Iraqi victims for
wrongful deaths and destruction of property resulting from US military actions.
However, the adoption of CPA Order 17 shields coalition forces, the CPA, Foreign
Liaison Missions, their Personnel, property, funds and assets, and all
International Consultants from Iraqi legal process. The New Standard
argues that this created a "catch-22" whereby Iraqi claims are disregarded as
all actions by US forces are deemed "military."
Tons of Depleted Uranium
Polluting Iraq (December 1, 2003)
US Central Command has admitted that its troops fired 300,000 munition rounds
coated with depleted uranium (DU) during the hostilities. A quantity of DU the
size of a pencil eraser emits radiation 1,000 times above the safe exposure
level. (Yellow Times)
Continuing Collateral Damage:
the Health and Environmental Costs of War in Iraq (November 11, 2003)
This report from global health charity Medact shows that the war on Iraq
has enacted a heavy and lasting toll on the health of Iraqi citizens.
Iraq's Real WMD Crime
(October 30, 2003)
US forces used tons of depleted uranium (DU) weapons during the 1991 and 2003
wars in Iraq. According to an Iraqi medical expert, the horrifying effects of DU
are already visible in the increase of cancer and fetal deformities. (Aljazeera)
The Wages of War: Iraqi
Combatant and Noncombatant Fatalities in the 2003 Conflict (October 28, 2003)
A study from Project on Defense Alternatives analyzes US combat data,
battlefield press reports and Iraqi hospital surveys to conclude a toll of
11,000-15,000 Iraqi casualties. The study finds that civilian casualties
comprise 30% of the total. Click
here for the full report.
Everyone Now Needs Food Aid (June
30, 2003)
The war on Iraq created a humanitarian crisis, with the population of 27 million
Iraqis more dependent than ever on food rations. Before the US-UK invasion, 60%
of the Iraq population lived off food rations compared with 100% in the post-war
period. (Inter Press Service)
'They Must Be Brought to
Court' (June 20, 2003)
The occupying powers must move quickly to establish the rule of law in Iraq, or
risk a surge of vigilante justice. (Guardian)
Greenpeace Blames US and UK
for Pollution From Looted Nuclear Site (June 25, 2003)
Greenpeace accuses the US and UK of "callous disregard" for the health of Iraqis
and the fate of radioactive substances near a looted nuclear site south of
Baghdad. Greenpeace says UN nuclear experts from the International Atomic Energy
Agency should carry out a full survey of the area. (Guardian)
Iraq: The Challenge of
Humanitarian Response (June 5, 2003)
Kevin Murray, executive director of Grassroots International, argues that some
NGO’s compromised their neutrality when they assisted Iraq under the Pentagon's
supervision. Murray writes that the first humanitarian response must not be to
support the occupying power but to unconditionally oppose an unjust war. (Foreign
Policy in Focus)
Not Another Afghanistan
(May
28, 2003)
Afghanis fear Iraqis will suffer the same years of unrest, countless dead and
desperate poverty as Afghanistan does. They also worry that because of the war
and reconstruction of Iraq, US and Europe will forget about the people of
Afghanistan.(Alternet)
UN Chiefs Warns of
Anti-American Backlash in Iraq (May 27, 2003)
Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the UN’s most senior humanitarian official in Iraq,
criticizes some of the US post-war reconstruction plans. He said that US
attempts to rebuild the country are overly dominated by "ideology" and risk
triggering a violent backlash.(Guardian)
Iraqis Taste Freedom and
Chaos (May 23, 2003)
Iraqis are growing impatient with the slow pace of changes. Local leaders demand
more liberation and less occupation in a country where security and lack of
electricity are still great problems. (Christian Science Monitor)
Rummy Invades Iraq Aid (May
6, 2003)
The Bush administration has put the Department of Defense in charge of
humanitarian efforts in Iraq, ignoring NGO concerns that collaboration with the
military will compromise their neutrality and place aid workers’ lives in danger.
(The Nation)
WHO Warns of Iraq Cholera
Outbreak (May 8, 2003)
The clean water shortage in southern Iraq creates risk of cholera outbreak
according to the World Health Organization. (Guardian)
First UN System Meeting in
Basra (May 6, 2003)
UN agencies and NGOs met in Basra to share information on emergency relief
operations in Iraq's second largest city. A coordinated humanitarian response to
the crisis in Iraq is essential to minimize the suffering of the Iraqi people. (OneWorld)
US Fails to Fulfill
Obligation to Support Health Care System in Iraq (May 2, 2003)
According to the international medical humanitarian organization, Doctors
Without Borders, the US has given priority to building an administration,
leaving the Iraqi health system in disarray.
Iraq Situation Critical, Warn
Aid Agencies (May 2, 2003)
A statement signed by the leaders of eight aid agencies warns that the Iraqi
people will face more death, disease and fear if the US-led coalition occupying
Iraq does not step up security to help humanitarian aid get through. (Guardian)
Agencies Say Iraq Needs
Security, Water, Salaries (April 29, 2003)
Aid agencies are keen to supply water, food and medical supplies to the Iraqi
people but cite poor security as a major barrier to their work. They emphasized
that while Iraq needs assistance, food relief was far more urgent in many
African nations. (Alertnet)
NGOs Form Coordination
Committee in Baghdad (April 22, 2003)
Eighteen NGOs have joined together to coordinate their aid work in Iraq. The
group agreed upon a set of principles which include employing as many Iraqis as
possible, maintaining neutrality and independence, and avoiding duplication in
the services that they provide. (Integrated Regional Information Network)
Tentative Start As Aid
Agencies Move into Iraq (April 17, 2003)
Aid agencies are frustrated by military restrictions on access to areas of Iraq
where people are in dire need of help. Many problems hamper NGO progress
including lack of security, limited experience working in Iraq and the need to
develop the trust of the Iraqi people while collaborating with the US military.
(Alertnet)
Relief Groups Seek to Keep
Pentagon at Arm’s Length (April 16, 2003)
Some humanitarian aid groups will not work in Iraq under the Pentagon but are
willing to cooperate with the US State Department. Others will only work with a
UN authority in Iraq, underscoring the importance of aid workers’ neutrality and
independence from belligerent parties. (New York Times)
World Bank Offers Iraq Help
(April 11, 2003)
The World Bank is willing to offer Iraq financial assistance to rebuild the
country when the war is over, but new loans will require authorization from the
United Nations. (Australian Associated Press)
Wrong People for the Job
(April 11, 2003)
Dominic Nutt, an emergencies officer for Christian Aid, argues that the military
must give up the task of delivering aid to the population of Iraq and hand the
task over to the UN. (Guardian)
UN Issues New Guidelines for
Humanitarian Aid (April 7, 2003)
The United Nations has instructed its aid workers going to Iraq to keep their
distance from US soldiers to preserve the civilian character of UN humanitarian
operations. (Associated Press)
Iraq's Reconstruction and the
Role of the United Nations (April 4, 2003)
This report, by Oxfam International, proposes principles for how the
international community "should assist the people of Iraq in establishing their
own administration after the war." The authors argue that the UN must play an
important leadership role in this effort.
US Using Cluster Munitions in
Iraq (April 1, 2003)
Human Rights Watch reports that US ground forces in Iraq are using cluster
munitions with a very high failure rate, creating immediate and long-term
dangers for civilians. According to Steve Goose, executive director of the Arms
Division of Human Rights Watch. "Iraqi civilians will be paying the price with
their lives and limbs for many years."
Aid Workers Fear Dangers of
Delay (March 25, 2003)
Despite the promise of aid within 36 hours, the situation is so insecure in some
parts of Iraq that relief workers say it will take at least days and probably
weeks before they can start delivery of aid. (New York Times)
Crisis in Basra as Troops
Fail to Create Corridor for Aid (March 25, 2003)
The city of Basra is facing a worsening humanitarian situation, as water and
electricity supplies have been disrupted. Unicef warns that 100,000 children
under the age of five are at risk. (Guardian)
General Guidance for
Interaction Between UN Personnel and Military Actors
in the Context of the Crisis in Iraq (March 21, 2003)
In conflicts the coordination between humanitarian and military actors is
essential for the timely and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and
to help ensure the protection of civilians. This document contains guidelines
for UN personnel to interact with military staff in Iraq.
Iraqi Humanitarian Crisis
Seen (March 20, 2003)
As the war starts, humanitarian groups and relief organizations are increasingly
concerned about the needs of civilians affected by the conflict. (Disaster
News)
US, Britain plan for Iraqi
Oil Money to Be Spent on Humanitarian Relief (March 19, 2003)
The US and UK are drafting a plan to use Iraqi oil proceeds to pay for
humanitarian relief supplies during the war. To avoid any further split in the
Security Council, Washington and London want to turn over the responsibility for
the Oil-for-Food Programme to Kofi Annan. (Associated Press)
In Baghdad, Residents Fear
for City, And Its Soul (March 19, 2003)
People of Baghdad are still traumatized by the 1991 Gulf War and they are seized
by fear as the US 48 hour deadline approaches. (Washington Post)
Left Behind to Starve (March
18, 2003)
As the United States prepares to spend $12 billion a month to bomb Iraqis, it
has only earmarked $65 million total to manage the ensuing humanitarian
disaster. Meanwhile, people all over Africa face starvation as funds for famine
relief run dry, revealing “the disproportion between the money available for
sustaining life and the money available for terminating it.” (Guardian)
Aid Agencies Insist UN Runs Post-War Iraq (March 18,
2003)
NGO aid agencies call for the UN to administer Iraq immediately after the war.
They insist cooperation with a US transitional authority could make them seem
complicit with a belligerent party rather than completely neutral. The peace and
safety of aid workers would also be better assured under UN governance. (Alertnet)
Allied Bombs Threaten a New
Generation of Children With Trauma, Disease and Death (March 10, 2003)
The massive bombardment of Iraq, promised by the US, will cause widespread death,
displacement, disease and psychological trauma among the 13 million children in
the country. (Independent)
Relief Will be Poor Relation in War Cash Handouts (March
7, 2003)
Aid funding will be subordinate to the tens of billions needed for the military
operation against Iraq and its subsequent "democratic" reconstruction. Most
governments are afraid that by donating funds before the conflict they would be
conceding that war is inevitable. (Alertnet)
A Disaster in the Making (March
7, 2003)
Charlie Clements, a public health physician, reports on a recent emergency
public health mission to Iraq. "With half the population of Iraq under age 18,"
he asks, "can we make war on Saddam Hussein and not make war on children?" (Baltimore
Sun)
Oxfam to Shun Iraq Funds from Belligerent States (March
4, 2003)
Oxfam International will not accept funds for humanitarian aid from any
government that sends troops to Iraq. This policy underscores Oxfam’s
impartiality and prevents belligerent governments from using the humanitarian
effort as an instrument of foreign policy, designed to justify or prolong the
war. (Alertnet)
Iraq: Open Letter for UN
Security Council Debate (February 24, 2003)
Human Rights Watch issues a call to all UN member states to ensure that
the protection of Iraq's civilians is at the forefront of all its deliberations
regarding military actions against Iraq.
Potential Humanitarian Impact
of War with Iraq (February 22, 2003)
According to Richard Garfield, professor at Columbia University, a military
attack on Iraq is going to have devastating consequences on areas ranging from
nutrition to damaged infrastructure.
"Grim Picture" Seen for
Iraqis (February 14, 2003)
Secretary General Kofi Annan held a private meeting with the Security Council’s
15 ambassadors regarding possible consequences of a war with Iraq. According to
leaked UN documents an invasion could cause the deaths of nearly 1 million
children from malnutrition. (Los Angeles Times)
Internal UN Documents on the
Humanitarian Impact of War on Iraq (February 13, 2003)
The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) anticipates
that 30 % of Iraqi children under 5, or 1.26 million, "would be at risk of death
from malnutrition" in the event of war. The confidential draft questions the
ability of the UN agencies and other aid organizations to face such a
humanitarian emergency. (CASI/CESR)
"Unauthorised" War Could
Worsen the Refugee and Food Crisis, Says Short (February 13, 2003)
In the event of war without UN authorization, according to the Secretary of
State for International Development, the consequences in terms of security and
food are going to be devastating for the people of Iraq. (Independent)
Iraqi Water and Sanitation
Systems Could Be Military Target, Says Ministry of Defense (February 2, 2003)
The British Ministry of Defense has admitted that the electricity system that
powers water and sanitation for the Iraqi people could be considered a "military
target," despite warnings that its destruction would cause a humanitarian
tragedy. (Independent)
Counting the Dead (January
29, 2003)
A leaked report from a special UN taskforce estimates the staggering
humanitarian effects of a war on Iraq, calculating that half a million people in
Iraq could require medical treatment as a direct or indirect result of such a
war. (Guardian)
Health Experts Warn of Iraq
War Consequences (January 24, 2003)
In an unprecedented move, more than 550 international health experts signed an
open letter urging British Prime Minister Tony Blair to consider the horrific
humanitarian effects of war on Iraq. The group is considering sending a similar
letter to President Bush. (Reuters)
Agencies Should Resist Being Taken for Granted in
Iraq (January 17, 2003)
This article encourages NGOs to stipulate conditions under which they will
assist the aid effort in the event of war. It is argued that this radical
approach would underscore the importance of NGO independence and would not
provide belligerent governments with an easy justification for conflict. (Alertnet)
Iraq War Could Put 10 Million
in Need of Aid, UN Reports (January 7, 2003)
A US-led war against Iraq could place 10 million Iraqi civilians at risk of
hunger and disease, according to a leaked
UN contingency plan to coordinate the
UN's humanitarian response to a war. The report calls attention to fears that
delivering aid in the first weeks of an attack may be impossible. (Washington
Post)
War Would Threaten Iraq's
Kurds and Shias (November 29, 2002)
The vice president of a Turkish humanitarian relief group describes NGOs’
preparations for a war against Iraq. He advises aid organizations to foster
partnerships with local groups, carry medications in case of biological and
chemical attacks, establish mobile hospitals, and warehouse supplies in advance.
(AlertNet)
Collateral Damage: the Health
and Environmental Costs of War on Iraq (November 12, 2002)
This report analyses the probable effects of a new war on Iraq from a public
health perspective. Based on projections from the 1990-91 Gulf War, the report
concludes that a war today would result in an even more immense humanitarian
crisis with long-term health and environmental damages. (MedAct)
Iraq: Consequences of War (October,
2002)
Oxford Research Group argues that a war on Iraq would probably result in
high civilian casualties, regional instability, and bring about an increased
risk of the use of weapons of mass destruction. The report, based on information
on US war plans and how Iraq might respond, calls for the development of
alternatives to force.
Toward A Human Disaster (October
14, 2002)
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Kenneth H. Bacon stresses the need for
meeting the humanitarian challenges in Iraq. He argues that a war in Iraq would
create a humanitarian disaster and that “preparation to save the people of Iraq
is at least as important as planning to remove the president of Iraq.” (Boston
Globe)
The Humanitarian Implications
of Military Action against Iraq (September 4, 2002)
Save the Children UK expresses concern about a possible military
intervention against Baghdad, which would gravely exacerbate the humanitarian
crisis created by the long-lasting sanctions in Iraq.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/crisisindex.htm
