Iraq: Millions struggle to cope with the impact of five years of war

ICRC News Release No. 08/46
19 March 2008

Geneva (ICRC)- Five years after the out break of the war in Iraq, the humanitarian situation in most of the country is among the most critical in the world, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a report issued today. Because of the conflict, millions of Iraqis have insufficient access to clean water, sanitation and health care. The current crisis is exacerbated by the lasting effects of previous armed conflicts and years of sanctions.

“Better security in some parts of Iraq must not distract attention from the continuing plight of millions of people who have essentially been left to their own devices,” said Béatrice Mégevand Roggo, the ICRC’s head of operations for the Middle East and North Africa. “Among them are displaced and refugee families, and those who have returned to their homes, children, elderly people, disabled people, households headed by women and families of detainees.”

Although security has improved in some parts of the country, Iraqis continue to be killed or injured on a daily basis in fighting and attacks. Civilians are often deliberately targeted, in complete disregard for the rules of international humanitarian law. In many families there is at least one person who is sick, injured, missing or detained, or who has been forced to flee from home and live far away.

Health care, water and sanitation services and electricity supplies remain largely inadequate. Hospitals lack qualified staff and basic drugs, and therefore struggle to provide suitable care for the injured. Many health-care facilities have not been properly maintained, and the care they provide is often too expensive for ordinary Iraqis.

The water supply has continued to deteriorate over the past year. Millions of people have been forced to rely on insufficient supplies of poor-qualitywater as water and sewage systems suffer from a lack of maintenance and a shortage of engineers.

The ICRC regularly provides medical assistance and drugs for hospitals and carries out important repairs to water and sanitation systems. However, this is far from sufficient to ensure that all Iraqis have adequate access to these basic services.

“To avert an even worse crisis, more attention must be paid to the everyday needs of Iraqis,” said Ms Mégevand Roggo. “Everyone should have regular access to health care, electricity, clean water and sanitation.” The ICRC also called on those involved in the conflict and those who can influence them to do everything possible to ensure that civilians, medical staff and medical facilities are not harmed. This is an obligation underinternational humanitarian law that applies to all parties to an armed conflict – both States and non-State actors.

For further information, please contact: Serge Marmy, ICRC Suva, tel. +330 21 56 or +992 1151 or visit our website: www.icrc.org

SI Red Cross recruited two new staff

Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC) has taken in Aloyius Erobaea and Mrs. Masia Vaieke after their interviews a week before.

Mr. Erobaea is a former active SIRC volunteer for Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Change. He was employed by a local Insurance firm before joining the SI Red Cross team last week as Business Development & Fundraising officer. He will concentrate on how to raise funds to support the operational costs of the SIRC. Mr. Erobaea is expected to work with the local Red Cross Clothing shop and soon the organization's cafeteria as part of his initiative to get money.

Mrs. Vaieke also started her work as the Red Cross Health Promotion officer on Moday 10th March 2008. With her backgorund as a community health promoter, Vaieke is expected by her employer to travel to Weathercoast (Guadalcanal) and Maluu (North Malaita) to do her health awareness to the surrounding communities about community hygiene and how to reduce the risk of catching malaria.

According to Solomon Islands Red Cross policy those two new staff will under go three (3) months probation. If satisfactory after their probation period then they will become full time staff who will sign twelve months contract with the SIRC.

Solomon Islands Red Cross welcomes Erobaea and Vaieke to join its team.

NDRT Training completed on March 14, 2008

Seventeen participants from the SI Red Cross & other Pacific sister societies attended a National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training in Honiara Red Cross office.
Training facilitator, Mr. Douglas Clark from the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (Federation) said the aim of the training was to train the Pacific Red Cross personnel to be professionals in coordinating & managing disaster responses.
He was glad with the performances & interest shown by the participants of the sister red cross societies (Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, & Solomon Islands) over the five days of training.
At the closing of the workshop Mr. Clark told the participants the level they were at could enabled them to be fore runners in disasters.
The regional Red Cross should be grateful with the efforts Mr. Martin Blackgrove (Regional Disaster Management coordinator) to bring them together for the training.

SIRC General Assembly will be held on May 8, 2008

Date for the Solomon Islands Red Cross General Assembly (the highest conference of the Local Red Cross) has been announced by an extra ordinary meeting of the SIRC Governing Board to be held on May 8, 2008.
The Governing Board has the power to confirm or change the General Assembly date as covered under Articles 11. 2, 11. 3 & 11.4 of the SI Red Cross Constitution.
According to Charles Kelly, the SIRC Secretary General of the Solomon Islands Red Cross will hold the General Assembly on the day the organization will celebrate the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Day with its annual public appeal.
“Also we are looking forward to launch our invitations to donor partners and friends to attend that highest meeting”, he said.
So our regional partners like the Australian Red Cross, ICRC, IFRC, and government agencies should look at your plan trips to Honiara in early May 2008.