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| Section The ICRC in Iraq
©AFP
Baghdad. Family members grieve for a loved one killed in a bombing.
While there are improvements in the security situation, armed violence, including bomb attacks and military operations continue to kill a large number of civilians in Iraq.
Despite the efforts of the Iraqi authorities to provide basic services, the humanitarian situation remains worrying and access to essential services such as clean water and adequate health care is still limited. The ICRC continues to help displaced persons and residents, to provide hospitals with medical supplies and equipment and to support vital water infrastructure, health facilities and physical rehabilitation centres. Visiting people detained by the Iraqi government, the US/Multinational Force in Iraq and the Kurdistan regional authorities remains a top priority for the ICRC, as does the restoration and maintaining of links between members of families separated by years of armed conflict.  Key document10-2-2010 ICRC activities in Iraq in 2009 – Facts and figures Iraq remains one of the ICRC's biggest operations worldwide. From its main delegation in Baghdad and other offices countrywide, the organization visits detainees, restores links between dispersed families, helps internally displaced people and residents restore livelihoods and runs health and rehabilitation projects in favour of the civilian population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF 26-1-2010 Iraq: redoubling efforts to boost medical care for civiliansThe ICRC supports the Iraqi health-care system by supplying hospitals, providing training for medical personnel and other health workers, repairing medical infrastructure and in other ways as well. This is an update on these and other ICRC activities carried out in Iraq in December 2009. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes PDF 6-1-2010 ICRC activities in Iraq  Leaflet published by the ICRC delegation in Baghdad. Overview of the ICRC's key activities in Iraq: supporting hospitals, physical rehabilitation programmes, water and habitat projects, assistance to the displaced and other people in need, visits to people deprived of their freedom, restoring family links, clarifying the fate of missing persons, promotion of international humanitarian law and support to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF 26-10-2009 Persons detained by the US in relation to armed conflict and the fight against terrorism – the role of the ICRCThis document explains the purpose of the ICRC's visits to places of detention run by the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the procedures that the organization follows. (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\United States) Operational update 13-8-2009 Iraq: civilians without protection The ICRC delegation in Iraq seize the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions to stress that the basic rules of the law of armed conflict remain as important as ever and that Iraqi civilians must be spared the effects of hostilities. Through the testimonies presented in this newsletter Iraqi men and women explain how recent events have affected them and their families. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF Feature2-3-2010 Iraq: making the best of a bad situation After decades of war in Iraq, many families are destitute or living in poverty. Many male breadwinners have been detained or killed or have disappeared. ICRC delegate Caroline Douilliez met with two Iraqi women, who told her how they ensure their family's survival. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 24-1-2010 Floods and landslides drench parched area of northern IraqAs winter set in at the end of 2009, many villages in the northern parts of Erbil governorate were hit unexpectedly by heavy rains that lasted for hours, leaving behind floods and landslides. Saleh Issa Hassan's household was one of 160 families (1,000 people) affected in the region. The ICRC stepped in to lend help to the victims of the flood. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 6-1-2010 Iraq: outdoors in a wheelchair In Iraq thousands of people are maimed every year by a huge number of mine and other incidents. An orthopaedic centre operated by the ICRC in Erbil has been providing assistance to thousands of disabled people since 1996.
(The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 13-8-2009 Iraq: mine victim takes a small step to a big new future A new ICRC assistance programme in Iraq is helping war victims to become financially independent. Beneficiaries include people like Mohammad, who lost a limb in a mine blast in northern Iraq back in 1991. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 28-7-2009 Iraq: prostheses and a motorcycle revive hope for Hassan Father of six, Hassan Majid Rasoul, was once a farmer in Erbil – where he was born in 1951 – until he lost his legs in an attack. He recovered and managed to get on with his life. He shares his story with the ICRC’s Avin Yassin Mohammad. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 28-10-2008 Iraq: defying danger to offer civilians help and hope With the outbreak of war in Iraq in 2003, life became an uphill struggle for many people. Four Iraqi ICRC staff tell us about their work in this very challenging environment, their motivation, daily life and ordeals. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 16-10-2008 Twenty years after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, tens of thousands of combatants still unaccounted for On 16 October the governments of Iran and Iraq, together with the ICRC, signed a memorandum of understanding that represents an important step towards easing the heavy burden of tens of thousands of bereaved Iraqi and Iranian families. The document establishes a clear framework for collecting information and sharing it between the two countries, and for handing over mortal remains. These tasks will be performed jointly by experts from both countries with ICRC support. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa) Feature Includes Photo Field newsletter6-1-2010 Strengthening emergency services in Iraq: 2009-2011 Leaflet published by the ICRC delegation in Baghdad, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Iraq, which describes the training program on emergency services and trauma management cases for doctors and nurses, implemented to improve the standard of emergency care in the country. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF 6-1-2010 Iraq: socio-economic reintegration of orthopaedic patients Leaflet published by the ICRC on the programme for socio-economic reintegration of orthopaedic patients implemented in northern Iraq. The objective of this programme is to assist the most vulnerable heads of households who have been directly affected by the consequences of armed conflict in Iraq. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF 5-3-2009 Iraq: women in war The ICRC's Iraq delegation has produced a newsletter containing testimonies from Iraqi women facing the effects of conflict and explaining how the ICRC is helping them to cope. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Field newsletter Includes PDF International Review of the Red Cross17-6-2008 Special issue : Conflict in Iraq The war in Iraq presents challenges to all those involved in it, including humanitarian actors. In this issue of the Review, various authors look at the socio-political and humanitarian environment in Iraq today and assess the impact of the conflict on humanitarian law and humanitarian action. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) International Review of the Red Cross 31-3-2008 International humanitarian law and its implementation in IraqDespite the fact that four years have elapsed since the end of the major combat operations, completion of the requirements for national sovereignty in accordance with the various resolutions of the Security Council has not been achieved. The author explains the different rules which were and are applicable to the situation in Iraq and presents the current humanitarian problems from the perspective of international humanitarian law. (Info resources\International Review\2008 - No. 869) International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF 31-3-2008 A neutral, impartial and independent approach: key to ICRC's acceptance in IraqThe article describes the context of the ICRC’s operations in Iraq. The many serious attacks and continuing threats to the ICRC delegates, led to a low-visibility presence and required a new modus operandi in which a real presence on the ground was backed up by remote control mechanisms for assistance activities in the most insecure areas. The authors argue that despite inherent security risks, there is room for independent, neutral and impartial humanitarian action in Iraq. (Info resources\International Review\2008 - No. 869) International Review of the Red Cross Includes PDF Interview22-10-2009 Iraq: the ICRC's response to recent events in AshrafSince late July, a series of events have taken place in Ashraf, about 80 km north of Baghdad, where several thousand Iranian nationals are living. Confrontations have resulted in people being killed, injured or detained. Juan-Pedro Schaerer, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Iraq, gives us an update on the role of the ICRC. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Interview 29-10-2008 The bare necessities: how the ICRC is making a difference in IraqJuan-Pedro Schaerer, the ICRC's head of delegation for Iraq, talks about the growing need for essential services in the country. He explains the challenges that the ICRC faces, especially the difficulty of reaching those most in need, and how the organization has been providing uninterrupted emergency assistance by constantly adapting its way of working to the changing security constraints. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Interview Includes Photo 29-10-2008 Iraq: urgent need to safeguard life-saving medical actionDr Chris Giannou is a senior ICRC surgeon and has just arrived back from Iraq, where he has been running a seminar on war surgery. He spoke to us about the challenges facing both victims and medical staff and explains why training medical staff will remain a priority, along with support to emergency services and the renovation of health infrastructure. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Interview Legal article31-12-2004 International Humanitarian Law in the Iraq ConflictThe armed hostilities in Iraq throughout the last almost two years have raised numerous questions from the perspective of international humanitarian law. This article aims at addressing some of them. The focus will be on identifying the applicable law throughout the various stages of the hostilities and various problems that entail its practical application. (Humanitarian law\Conduct of hostilities) Legal article Official Statement17-4-2007 Iraq: civilians bear the brunt of violence Address by Angelo Gnaedinger, ICRC Director-General at the "International Conference on Addressing the Humanitarian Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq and in Neighbouring Countries", Geneva, 17-18 April, 2007 (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Official Statement Operational update23-12-2009 Iraq: earning a living, a daily challenge for civilians In a variety of different ways, the ICRC has been helping Iraqi individuals and communities to be self-sufficient economically. This is an update on ICRC activities carried out in Iraq in November 2009. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update 16-11-2009 Iraq: ICRC helping most vulnerable people to earn an income The ICRC has been supporting hospitals following a spate of bombings that claimed the lives of hundreds of Iraqis. The organization has also been carrying out a wide range of other humanitarian activities. This is an update on the ICRC’s work in Iraq during October. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update 19-10-2009 Iraq: final long journeys to camp Bucca for families of detaineesWith the closure of the American detention facility at Camp Bucca, the ICRC ended its family-visit allowance programme that had helped families' journey to Bucca to visit relatives detained there. This is an update on ICRC activities in Iraq in September 2009. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes Map 15-9-2009 Iraq: indiscriminate attacks take heavy toll on civiliansIn response to massive blasts that shook the country in August, resulting in hundreds of casualties in Baghdad and elsewhere, the ICRC rushed emergency supplies to medical facilities. This is an update on these and other ICRC activities carried out in Iraq in August 2009. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes PDF 13-8-2009 Iraq: helping the victims of bombings - ICRC activities in July 2009The ICRC responded to urgent needs arising from indiscriminate attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians in July, and carried out other humanitarian activities for detainees and the civilian population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes PDF 15-7-2009 Iraq: ICRC activities in June 2009The ICRC delivered emergency medical aid to hospitals in the wake of several bomb blasts that struck the country in June. It continued to carry out visits to detainees and maintained a range of other activities benefiting the civilian population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes Photo 19-6-2009 Iraq: ICRC activities in May 2009Dozens of civilians are still losing their lives on a daily basis in parts of Iraq. During the month of May, the ICRC continued to respond to the emergency needs of the population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update 12-5-2009 Iraq: ICRC activities in April 2009The ICRC remained concerned about indiscriminate attacks as civilian lives continued to be claimed in incidents in Baghdad, Ninewa, Mosul, North Diyala, Anbar and Kirkuk. It provided support for emergency medical care and maintained a range of activities benefiting the civilian population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes Photo 29-4-2009 Iraq: ICRC activities in February and March 2009After a few months of relative calm, a new wave of bloody violence claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians in Iraq over the past two months, especially in March. The ICRC has been responding to some of the country's most urgent needs. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update 11-3-2009 Iraq: ICRC activities in January 2009January 2009 brought relative calm in Iraq despite fears that provincial elections might cause the security situation to deteriorate. Violent incidents did occur, however, mainly in Mosul and Kirkuk and in the Qandil area. Even with improvements in the security situation, basic services such as water, electricity and medical care still cannot meet the needs of the population. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Operational update Includes Photo Photo Collection17-9-2009 Iraq: families make their final visits to relatives detained in Bucca For families who used to visit their relatives detained in Bucca, southern Iraq, the journey was always long, perilous and costly, but well worth it. Since October 2005, the ICRC had helped make the journey possible, not least by covering part of the costs. In September 2009, with the American facility at Camp Bucca set to close down, the ICRC ended its family-visit allowance programme. During the four years that the programme ran, almost 30,000 detained people received 146,000 visits from their relatives with ICRC support. (Info resources\Photos\Middle East and North Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo Press article23-12-2008 Desperate times for Iraqis More than five years after the outbreak of the war in Iraq, the humanitarian situation in much of the country remains critical. Despite the improving security situation, living conditions continue to decline, leaving millions on the brink of despair. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 3, 2008 (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Press article Press briefing8-5-2004 Iraq: ICRC explains position over detention report and treatment of prisonersIntroductory statement and summary of main points made by the ICRC's director of operations, Pierre Krähenbühl, at a press conference at the organization's headquarters, 7 May 2004, following the publication by the Wall Street Journal of excerpts of an ICRC report. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Press briefing Includes Photo Report15-3-2008 Iraq: no let-up in the humanitarian crisisFive years after the outbreak of the war in Iraq, the humanitarian situation in most of the country remains among the most critical in the world. 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 economic sanctions. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Report Includes PDF, Photo 11-4-2007 Iraq: civilians without protectionThe ever-worsening humanitarian crisis in Iraq (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Report Includes PDF Video Collection16-9-2009 Missing persons: focus on Iraq During the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), the ICRC registered almost 40,000 Iranian and more than 67,000 Iraqi prisoners of war. Many of them were voluntarily repatriated, but tens of thousands of soldiers remain unaccounted for today. (Info resources\Video) Video Collection Includes Video More in this section30-7-2003 Nadisha: "Not a victim of war – a victim of murder"Nadisha Yasassri Ranmuthu (37), an ICRC IT technician was murdered on 22 July in an attack on his vehicle just north of the town of Hilla in Iraq. His Iraqi driver, Mazen Hamed Rashid, was seriously wounded. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Includes Photo 16-4-2003 Caught in the cross-fire: Baghdad, 8 April 2003 Vatche Arslanian (47), the ICRC’s logistics coordinator in Iraq, was killed on 8 April when his vehicle was caught in cross-fire in Baghdad. Tributes were paid to him by relatives, colleagues and friends at a memorial ceremony in Geneva on 15 April. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Other site23-2-2005 Monitoring IHL in IraqLink to the site of the International Humanitarian Law Research Initiative (Info resources\Other sites\Institutes and universities) Other site |
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