Red Cross warns of 'ever-worsening' crisis for Iraqi civilians

Source: AFP

Red Cross warns of 'ever-worsening' crisis for Iraqi civilians 6 minutes ago



GENEVA (AFP) - Iraqi civilians are facing an "ever-worsening crisis" as the humanitarian and security situation in the country deteriorates, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Wednesday.

"It's clear for us that the humanitarian situation is steadily worsening and affecting in one way or another, directly or indirectly, all Iraqis today," said the ICRC's director of operations, Pierre Kraehenbuehl.

"Protecting Iraq's civilian population is a major priority and should be everyone's priority," he told journalists.

The ICRC urged all those involved in the conflict, both state and non-state actors, to urgently respect international humanitarian law and not target civilians.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070411/wl_mideast_afp/iraqicrc_070411092355

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Iraq: An ever-worsening crisis
11 Apr 2007 08:47:46 GMT
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - Switzerland
Geneva (ICRC) – In a report issued today in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expresses alarm about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq and calls for urgent action to better protect civilians against the continuing violence.

The report entitled Civilians without protection – The ever-worsening crisis in Iraq deplores the daily acts of violence such as shootings, bombings, abductions, murders and military operations that directly target Iraqi civilians in clear violation of international humanitarian law and other applicable legal standards.

While it argues that the current crisis directly or indirectly affects all Iraqis, the report focuses on the problems of vulnerable groups such as the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis forced to flee their homes and the families that host them.

The report documents the alarming state of Iraqi health-care facilities suffering critical shortages of staff and supplies.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/220224/f0d6d5a5d7ca41a0b955462bb840b57f.htm

Which may explain some of the discrepancies in the death tolls - if bodies aren't put into an official 'mortuary' system, they won't get counted.

They're not like run-over squirrels. The police might want to do a little bit of evidence gathering before the body is hauled away. Plus, the police might want a bomb disposal crew to check the body for booby-traps before cops or coroners blow themselves up.

Wait'll we leave. Then we'll see the bodies stack up. At least for a while, until the civil/proxy war ends.

:kick:

Source: al Jazeera, al Jazeera says "agencies"

The situation for civilians in Iraq is "ever worsening", the International Committee of the Red Cross says.



Although it is difficult to determine the numbers of people killed in shootings, bombings and military operations, it is clear that the overall situation in the country has been steadily deteriorating, an official said on Wednesday.

Pierre Kraehenbuehl, the operations director at the International Committee of the Red Cross, (ICRC) said: "Numbers of refugees are swelling, medical staff fleeing and other problems are growing.

The central region remains greatly affected, despite US-led efforts to secure the capital."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9FFDCE2C-9E02-4DB2-87B7-ED5890B98D43.htm

this pre emptive shit has got to stop.

How much more BS will the majority of Americans take?

The 70% majority of Americans will not take it anymore.

Problem is, they have to work overtime just to barely make ends meet so they can't protest altogether in the streets permanently.

us in November 2006, we are not group to be ignored. Let's keep the pressure on these thugs.

for increased funding?
They are a separate entity
http://www.ifrc.org/where/country/cn6.asp?countryid=87
and get funding from non western countries
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20051124-103352-3163r.htm

:kick:

Source: Associated Press

Red Cross: Iraqi Situation Getting Worse
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS
Associated Press Writer
April 11, 2007, 1:54 PM EDT

GENEVA -- Millions of Iraqis are in a "disastrous" situation that is getting worse, with mothers appealing for someone to pick up the bodies on the street so their children will be spared the horror of looking at them on their way to school, the international Red Cross said Wednesday.

- snip -

The report, "Civilians without Protection: The Ever-Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq," was produced over the past two to three weeks, a spokesman said -- well after the stepped-up American-led military operations in the capital began Feb. 14.

The report went beyond the International Committee of the Red Cross' usual appeals for all sides to protect civilians as required by the Geneva Conventions. It added photographs and quotes from the civilians to describe the situation.

"Once I was called to an explosion site," it quoted a young Baghdad humanitarian worker named Saad as saying. "There I saw a 4-year-old boy sitting beside his mother's body, which had been decapitated by the explosion. He was talking to her, asking her what had happened."

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sns-ap-red-cross-iraq,0,4369519.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines

"There I saw a 4-year-old boy sitting beside his mother's body, which had been decapitated by the explosion. He was talking to her, asking her what had happened."

U.S. Marines were pressed into this duty just before the fall of the Republic of China. Not picking up bodies says a lot about the state of affairs in Iraq. Too bad McCain could not witness this in person.

Maybe he can explain to the Red Cross how the surge is working. Or, maybe he can explain it to those Iraqi mothers and their children. Explain how it's just like Indianapolis.

:shrug:

This has to stop.

--well after the stepped-up American-led military operations in the capital began Feb. 14."

The solution:

Iraq tour for 15,000 could be extended
Pentagon looking at other options

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.troops10apr10,0,1781355.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

13,000 National Guard Troops to Head to Iraq

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3020127&page=1

More troops couldn't quell the violence...so the solution: MORE TROOPS!? :mad: