Correspondents'
Journal
January 20, 2005
The Price of Forgetting
A resounding silence has resonated over the humanitarian disaster in Fallujah.
Unconfirmed reports suggest significant fighting continues amid ongoing insurgent activities. The presence of mines and unexploded ordnance remains a major concern.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Abour, has voiced deep concern for the citizens of Fallujah and stated that all those guilty of violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws must be brought to justice. These violations include:
- targeting civilians
- indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks
- killing injured persons
- use of human shields
A column in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, co-authored by Rep. Jim McDermott, M.D. (D-WA) and 18 other doctors and healthcare professionals, stated:
Public buildings, mosques and residences were subject to assault by air and ground forces. The city now lies in ruin; largely depopulated, but still occupied by U.S. forces…The means of attack employed against Fallujah are illegal and cannot be justified by any conceivable ends. In particular, the targeting of medical facilities and denial of clean water are serious breaches of the Geneva Convention.
Read the full letter
Several months after the siege, the humanitarian disaster continues unabated. Fallujah remains an occupied war zone. Unconfirmed reports suggest significant fighting continues amid ongoing insurgent activities. The presence of mines and unexploded ordnance remains a major concern.
A harsh, limited “homecoming”
The U.S. and Iraqi military have allowed civilians to return to limited sections of the city. According to UN and nongovernmental organization (NGO) reports, this access is highly restricted, with five checkpoints manned by multinational and Iraqi forces. Anyone wishing to enter Fallujah must undergo intensive screening and be issued an ID card. All males of military age are reportedly issued biometric ID cards, consisting of iris scan and fingerprint details. There have been reports of civilians being denied access due to insufficient identification, and others being detained while seeking to enter the city.
Returning residents find a city that has been ravaged... It will take a long time to restore basic services.
Approximately 85,000 residents have passed through Fallujah’s checkpoints as of January 9. However, only 3,000 to 8,000 people remain in the city overnight, due to the harsh conditions that include a lack of adequate shelter, electricity, water, and health care, as well as curfews and restrictions on movement. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that only 40 percent of the population in the city is receiving assistance.
Returning residents find a city that has been ravaged. Massive destruction to infrastructure and housing has been reported. It is estimated that 40 percent of the buildings were completely destroyed, 20 percent had major damage, and 40 percent had significant damage. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported on December 23 that three of the city’s water purification plants had been destroyed and the fourth was badly damaged. The water distribution network was destroyed. It will take a long time to restore basic services.
Health risks escalate
Unknown numbers of bodies remain in the rubble, creating an immediate health crisis because of rabid animals and an infestation of rodents and insects. The World Health Organization has expressed concern that outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, malaria, and other diseases could result.
Those who do not return to Fallujah are unlikely to find access to better living conditions outside the city. More than 200,000 residents continue as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the surrounding countryside, villages, or cities. Nearly 36,000 families are living without homes and jobs, many in overcrowded tent camps or abandoned buildings. They are subjected to the cold winter weather coupled with shortages of fuel, blankets, cook stoves, and other necessities.
With limited access to clean water, there have been outbreaks in diarrhea diseases. UN agencies fear the possibility of malaria, typhoid, and cholera in the crowded refugee camps. Rebuilding the infrastructure, businesses, and housing that would allow people to return to Fallujah could take several months, if not years.
A heavy toll on children
UNICEF stressed that Fallujah is essentially uninhabitable and access to surrounding IDP areas is problematic. Approximately 100,000 children are at risk of losing the academic year due to schools that are damaged, overcrowded, or occupied by U.S. or Iraqi troops. None of the 95 schools inside Fallujah is currently open and only 125 of 362 schools in the surrounding areas are reported functioning.
Relief suffers from blurred lines
NGOs cannot independently assess conditions or deliver humanitarian aid due to sporadic access and lack of security. Roadblocks by multinational forces and activity by insurgent groups continue to interfere with relief.
The Iraqi Red Crescent Society suspended activities inside Fallujah for the past three weeks due to poor security and fears of being closely associated with the military.
With little assured security for humanitarian organizations, the military is distributing relief assistance. This lack of true “humanitarian space” is compromising the integrity and independence of humanitarian assistance. As a consequence, some Iraqis fail to differentiate between humanitarian workers and the military. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society suspended activities inside Fallujah for the past three weeks due to poor security and fears of being closely associated with the military.
Fallujah’s hospital remains largely inaccessible to civilians because of the military presence and general weakness in security. Although there are reports of some shortages of medicines and supplies, clinics in the city are said to be generally well-stocked and operational. However, some equipment is damaged and staff are often blocked from entering the city at the checkpoints. Health and sanitary conditions in the refugee camps vary, with shortages of medicines and supplies reported.
The focus shifts, but suffering continues
The siege of Fallujah has begun to fall from public memory, but the suffering endured by its citizens endures. The families of Fallujah continue to live in fear and their struggle for survival will continue for many months or years. As the eyes of the international community focus on the recent tsunami crisis, we must not forget the victims of the Fallujah assault.
We see the grave possibility of another Fallujah-type seige in the northern city of Mosul.
We cannot afford to forget.
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