Iraq: Despair and danger as crisis worsens
The collection of the remains of those killed each night in Iraq is the single greatest wish of some women who said that getting their children to school each day was a harrowing experience.
"The most important thing that anyone could do for us would be to help collect the bodies that lie in the streets in front of our homes every morning, the ones no one dares to touch, these images that are unbearable for us to have to expose to our children every day as we try to bring them to school," was what some women told an official from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), according to the ICRC Director of Operations, Mr Pierre Krahenbuhl.
Describing the situation in Iraq as intolerable, Mr Krahenbuhl said that all military groups must act now to curb violence and cut the number of deaths among civilians. About one fifth of the population have already fled their homes, the vast majority of whom have left Iraq and are sheltering in neighbouring countries.
And he noted that the deteriorating humanitarian situation is acutely affecting the most vulnerable, such as children, women, older people and people with a disability.
Hospitals and other key health services are desperately short of medical professionals many of whom have been murdered, abducted or have fled the country.
ICRC water-treatment and drinking-water production unit.
Water and power supplies are also damaged or destroyed in many areas and neither resources nor security readily permits their repair. These factors combined add to the misery especially to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled.
Since the bombing of a sacred Shiite shrine in February "006, civilians have borne the brunt of relentless and escalating violence and dangerous security conditions that are disrupting the lives and livelihoods of millions.
Shootings, bombings, abductions, murders and other forms of violence are forcing thousands to flee their homes to seek refuge elsewhere in Iraq or in neighbouring countries.
Since 2003, the UNHCR estimates that 4 million Iraqis, (population "5 million approx) as many people as live on this island, have been displaced with 1." million Iraqis having fled to Syria and a further 750,000 to Jordan where including general medical and dentistry services as well as essential psychological support.the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is aiming to provide assistance to up to 100,000 families with health services
In addition, the Iraqi Red Crescent with whom the ICRC works in partnership in Iraq estimates that in the past year alone, 106,000 Iraqi families or approximately 600,000 people have been displaced within Iraq itself.
A new ICRC report highlights in particular the suffering of these displaced, the majority of whom are women and children, as well as the burden on those families with whom they have sought refuge.
Woman reading a Red Cross message.
Referring to the statistics in relation to the scale and impact of conflict in Iraq today as unbearable, Mr. Krahenbuhl highlighted the despair of many relatives and noted that testimonies like the one cited above, force us to see the tragedies and trauma behind the figures.
The five primary issues of concern for ICRC in Iraq today are:
- internal displacement
- water and sanitation,
- visiting detainees,
- missing persons
- medical care.
In partnership with the Iraqi Red Crescent, food and other items essential to survival are being provided to 60,000 people monthly and in the past year, medical supplies to meet the needs of 3,000 war-wounded patients have been distributed to hospitals across Iraq despite the obvious risks to humanitarian personnel.
It is essential however that International Humanitarian Law, which is binding on all parties to the conflict in Iraq, is adhered to and therefore the right to assistance of all those affected by hostilities is respected.
Read more about the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iraq.
Read more about the work of the Iraqi Red Crescent.
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