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The Red Cross calls urgently for protection of the civilian population
and services and of persons no longer fighting
Geneva (ICRC) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
is profoundly alarmed by the chaos currently prevailing in Baghdad
and other parts of Iraq. Lawless persons, sometimes armed, have
been ransacking and looting even essential public facilities such
as hospitals and water-supply installations.
Hospitals in Baghdad
are closed because of combat damage, looting or fear of looting.
Hardly any medical or support staff are still reporting for work.
Patients have either fled the hospitals or have been left without
care. The medical system in Baghdad has virtually collapsed. The
dead are left unattended, and the increasing summer heat and deteriorating
water and electricity supplies create a high risk of epidemic disease.
The ICRC urgently appeals to the Coalition forces and all other
persons in authority to do everything possible to protect essential
infrastructure such as hospitals and water-supply and evacuation
systems from looting and destruction. In areas under their control,
the Coalition forces have specific responsibilities as Occupying
Powers under international humanitarian law. These include taking
all measures in their power to restore and maintain, as far as possible,
public order and safety by putting a halt to pillage and to violence
against civilians and civilian facilities.
Civilian facilities which have been damaged or destroyed must be
repaired as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the basic
needs of the population can be met. Water and electricity supplies
are vital. Medical units and personnel must be protected and their
work facilitated, and access to them by all persons in need, whether
military or civilian, friend or foe, must be granted. In all circumstances,
the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem must be respected.
To the fullest extent of the means available to them, the occupying
forces have a duty to ensure that the population has sufficient
supplies in terms of water, food and medical care. As the temporary
administrators of the occupied territory, the Occupying Powers must
support public services and manage resources primarily in the interests
of the population, without discrimination. If the whole or part
of the population under occupation is not adequately supplied, the
Occupying Powers must allow impartial humanitarian organizations
to undertake assistance operations. However, the provision of humanitarian
aid in no way relieves the Occupying Powers of their administrator's
responsibilities towards the population under occupation.
All persons deprived of their freedom and held in enemy hands must
be spared and protected, in accordance with the Third or the Fourth
Geneva Convention, depending on whether they are combatants or civilians.
Prisoners of war must be treated humanely at all times. The ICRC
has been granted access to POWs in Coalition hands. It is deeply
concerned that this is not the case as regards Coalition POWs captured
by Iraqi forces, and strongly urges those who are holding them today
to afford them protection and treat them in full observance of the
provisions of the Third Geneva Convention, including their entitlement
to ICRC visits.
Wherever military operations are taking place, constant care must
be taken to spare the civilian population and civilian objects.
All those bearing arms must take all necessary precautions to avoid
exposing civilians to the dangers resulting from military activity.
The wounded and the dead must be evacuated without delay. Acts of
perfidy are prohibited.
The ICRC, which has been present and active in Iraq throughout the
conflict, is fully committed to pursuing the tasks incumbent upon
it under the Geneva Conventions, to working for the faithful application
of international humanitarian law, and to endeavour to ensure that
all victims of the conflict and of its consequences receive protection
and assistance.
Further information:
Antonella Notari, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 22 82 / ++41
79 217 32 80
Nada Doumani, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 27 56 / ++41 79 244
64 14
Florian Westphal, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++41 22 730 29 30 / ++41
79 217 32 26
Roland Huguenin, ICRC Baghdad, tel. ++873 761 845 610
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