Too high a Price - Lives of Iraqi Civilians increasingly at Risk by Oxfam Community Aid Abroad 4:04pm 8th Apr, 2003   7 April 2003    As the battle for Baghdad continues and the likelihood of fighting in civilian areas rises, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad has warned against increasingly high numbers of Iraqi civilian casualties and deaths.    "The civilian deaths and protracted fighting in and around Basra, Nasiriyeh, Najaf, Hindiyah and other large towns are a stark reminder that military attacks in an urban environment can never be targeted in a way that totally ensures the safety of civilians", said Alex Renton, Oxfam International spokesperson in Amman, Jordan.    Oxfam Community Aid Abroad is calling on the coalition forces and Iraqi government to respect international humanitarian law and take all necessary precautions to avoid further loss of civilian life.    "As a participant in the war in Iraq, the Australian government has a responsibility to ensure that it confirms to the various international conventions and treaties to which it is a signatory" said Andrew Hewett, Executive Director of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad. "From the Geneva Convention to the Mine Ban Treaty, Australia has committed itself to upholding and abiding by international humanitarian law".    "Warring parties must refrain from indiscriminate attacks. In addition to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, cluster bombs and landmines can, by their very nature, only be indiscriminate" said Hewett. "We need to see greater effort in protecting the fragile infrastucture upon which the Iraqi population depends and allowing free passage of humanitarian relief".    In recent days coalition troops have stepped into the shoes of humanitarian aid workers, engaging in armed combat with some Iraqis while distributing food parcels and baby milk powder to others. Oxfam Community Aid Abroad says that as soon as security conditions allow, civilian agencies - under UN leadership - should assume this responsibility. Visit the related web page
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