Iraq : ICRC calls for Greater Respect for Basic Tenets of Humanity by International Committee of the Red Cross / AFP.. 3:36pm 20th Nov, 2004   19-11-2004.(International Committee of the Red Cross)    "We are deeply concerned by the devastating impact that the fighting in Iraq is having on the people of that country."- Statement by the Director of Operations of the ICRC    As hostilities continue in Falluja and elsewhere, every day seems to bring news of yet another act of utter contempt for the most basic tenet of humanity: the obligation to protect human life and dignity. This week it was the killing of a wounded fighter and of yet another hostage humanitarian worker Margaret Hassan that shocked the world. Like any other armed conflict, this one is subject to limits, and they must be respected at all times.    For the parties to this conflict, complying with international humanitarian law is an obligation, not an option. There is an absolute prohibition on the killing of persons who are not taking active part in the hostilities, or have ceased to do so. It is also prohibited to torture them or to subject them to any form of inhuman, humiliating or degrading treatment. Furthermore, the parties to the conflict must provide adequate medical care for the wounded, friend or foe, on the battlefield or allow them to be taken elsewhere for treatment. They must do everything possible to help civilians caught up in the fighting obtain the basics of survival such as food, water and health care. The taking of hostages, whether Iraqi or foreign, is forbidden in all circumstances. If these rules or any other applicable rules of international humanitarian law are violated, the persons responsible must be held accountable for their actions.    Regrettably, recent events have again shown just how difficult it has become for neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organizations to assist and protect the victims of the conflict in Iraq. Once again, the International Committee of the Red Cross appeals for everything possible to be done to allow such organizations to come to the aid of the thousands of Iraqis who are suffering."    November 20, 2004    "Aid organisations pack up". (Associated Press)    Aid organisations hindered by security fears from working in Iraq mourned another slain colleague and regretted the departure of the last Australian charity working there. World Vision Australia announced that it had decided to shut down its 18-month-old operation in Iraq, saying it is too dangerous to keep working there. It also said an Iraqi staff member was killed about eight weeks ago.    "Killing humanitarian workers - it really doesn't take a lot of courage killing such vulnerable people," Antonella Notari, chief spokeswoman of the International Committee of the Red Cross, told The Associated Press. Many relief organisations have pulled out completely from Iraq, while others are continuing reduced operations with limited staff.    Christiane Berthiaume of the World Food Program, which pulled out along with other UN organisations after an attack on the United Nations' Baghdad headquarters in August 2003, said, "There's going to be nobody there anymore. It's incredible." Ron Redmond, chief spokesman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said UNHCR still has national staff in Iraq, "but for obvious reasons we don't draw a lot of attention to them or to what they're doing."    "Iraq needs a lot of humanitarian assistance, but it's very, very difficult under these kinds of circumstances," Redmond said.    While there are security concerns in a number of areas in Iraq, much of the recent focus has been on the Fallujah area because of the fighting between US-led forces and insurgents. No independent aid organisations are known to have entered the combat zone during 12 days of fighting.    The neutral ICRC, whose main job is to help victims of war, has lost "even the contact we had with some people in the city. We haven't had any contact with those people for two or three days," spokeswoman Rana Sidani said.    In Washington, Lieutenant General Lance Smith, deputy commanding general of the US Central Command, said that "humanitarian assistance is occurring both through the military forces, Iraqi security forces and other humanitarian organisations." He didn't elaborate, and relief organisations based in Geneva said they had no idea which humanitarian groups he was referring to. Smith said the US military has "not let many organisations into the city yet because of the security situation, and so we will continue to search and clear until we find it stable enough to allow others in there."    Notari said the ICRC, which also pulled out much of its staff from Iraq after being attacked last year, had been unable to establish a dialogue with insurgents to make sure its employees can work safely in Fallujah. "We as a humanitarian organisation don't want to do humanitarian work with military escorts," she said. "That means that we have to be able to be absolutely sure that all those who are fighting will respect and accept our presence and make sure that we're safe and let us work safely. "As it stands today with what's happening in Fallujah we're not sure about that," she said.    The agency will keep trying to establish contacts with the insurgents, but until then can only remind the warring sides that under international humanitarian law they are required to assist the wounded, even wounded combatants on the other side, Notari said.    Tim Costello, head of World Vision Australia, said one of its Iraqi employees had been killed eight weeks ago, but that the organisation had refrained from disclosing the death and its decision to pull out for fear of jeopardising attempts to free Margaret Hassan, CARE International's head of Iraq operations kidnapped last month.He announced the decision to leave after it was widely assumed that Hassan was the blindfolded woman shot to death in a video disclosed by the Arab satellite station al-Jazeera early this week.    © 2004 AP    16 November 2004    Iraq: UN human rights chief concerned over plight of civilians in Falluja. (UN News)    The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today voiced deep concern about the situation of civilians caught up in the ongoing fighting in Falluja, Iraq and called on all concerned to protect them. Through her spokesman in Geneva, Louise Arbour cited allegations that the rules of war designed to shield civilians and combatants had been broken during the current confrontation.    "All violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law must be investigated and those responsible for breaches - including deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, the killing of injured persons and the use of human shields - must be brought to justice, be they members of the Multinational Force or insurgents," spokesman José Diaz told reporters.    He also voiced the High Commissioner's concern about poor access to humanitarian aid in Falluja and about the lack of information regarding the number of civilian casualties.Ms. Arbour called on parties in the fighting to take "every possible precaution" to protect civilians," he said..    November 10, 2004    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that it is extremely worried about the fate of people wounded in the battle for control of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. "The ICRC urges the belligerents to ensure that all those in need of such care - whether friend or foe - be given access to medical facilities and that medical personnel and vehicles can function without hindrance at all times," a statement said. The organisation says it is "deeply concerned about reports that the injured cannot receive adequate medical care".    US troops have battled their way into Fallujah after hours of street fights with rebels in the largest military onslaught since the war to topple Saddam Hussein. The ICRC, which on October 18 announced it had sent emergency medical and humanitarian aid to Fallujah, calls on both sides in the conflict to ease the passage of its convoys and help deliver the aid to those who needed it.    The organisation says thousands of Iraqi civilians have fled the city and taken refuge in outlying areas. Those people need food, water, shelter and medical aid. "They should be allowed to return home safely as soon as possible," the statement said. The ICRC reminds those taking part in the battle "that international humanitarian law prohibits the killing or harming of civilians who are not directly taking part in the hostilities".    - AFP Visit the related web page
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