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 Press release - ICRC ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ (ICRC)

 Press release date: 18.02.2004


ICRC ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ

The October 27th attack on the delegation of the ICRC in Baghdad as well as other attacks against humanitarian organizations and their staff over recent months present a major challenge to the humanitarian action of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in Iraq. While the ICRC is determined to stay operational on behalf of the victims of the conflict in Iraq, the prevailing circumstances have forced the organization to thoroughly reassess working conditions and procedures in the country.

The ICRC has decided to significantly reduce its presence in Iraq. At least until April there will be no permanent expatriate ICRC staff in central and southern Iraq, and travel of expatriate staff within Iraq will be reduced to an absolute minimum. The expatriate presence in Northern Iraq is currently under review.

ICRC activities will focus on visits to persons deprived of their freedom, the repatriation of foreign detainees, efforts to re-establish family links, as well as the response to medical and water supply emergencies. Cooperation projects with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) will continue as far as possible.

Despite the constraints caused by the security situation, the ICRC has been carrying out a number of visits to places of detention and internment during recent months, distributing and collecting Red Cross messages in the process. Between March and December 2003, the ICRC visited more than 10,000 persons deprived of their freedom, and with the support of the IRCS, exchanged more than 15,500 Red Cross messages between them and their families. The ICRC has also repatriated several hundred foreign prisoners, internees and detainees released by the US-led coalition in Iraq.

In terms of medical assistance, the ICRC has been able to provide assistance to hospitals dealing with emergencies on a number of occasions, most recently following the bombings in Erbil, Iskanderiya and Baghdad.

With regards to relief goods donated to the ICRC by Participating National Societies (PNS), the ICRC is currently working on a distribution system from its warehouses in Amman. The aim is to deliver the goods as far as possible directly to the final destination using commercial trucking, in order to reduce the movement of ICRC staff in the country.

Since the ICRC as well as the International Federation has suspended the permanent presence of staff in the center and south of Iraq, the ICRC advises National Societies currently active in Iraq to reconsider the presence of their expatriate staff in-country. In such a delicate and complex situation, the ICRC is not in a position to ensure the security of Movement's staff and it cannot assume responsibility for any uncoordinated action from other components of the Movement. The ICRC remains convinced that a well-coordinated, independent Movement action could provide the best response to the people affected by the crisis in Iraq.



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