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	Email this page Current News in Context November 03, 2006 The Situation Is Not Serious: It Is Desperate (NCCI) The editorial from the October humanitarian update reminds us the situation is not serious, it is desperate. NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq: Monthy Report October If you are a regular observer of the Iraq disaster, you are certainly aware, through the many reports that have been sent out these last weeks, that the humanitarian situation in Iraq is serious. You may not have time to read everything that is published on Iraq. You even may think that most of these reports are published now to undermine the US election, and in some cases this may be true. Nevertheless, today we would like to raise your awareness about the situation of Iraqis. The situation is not serious: it is desperate. There is a huge humanitarian crisis and the situation may worsen. Let us give you some figures: - More than 12 million people (47% of the Iraqi population) were highly dependent of the food distribution (so-called PDS) according to a WFP study released in May 2006. If you apply this percentage to the European Union population, it would mean 230 million people. Amongst this Iraq figure, 4 millions are food insecure, meaning “they are in dire need of different types of humanitarian assistance, including food, despite the support they are receiving”. This report covers 2005, and now in 2006 the situation is worsening. How many are food insecure today? - 1.6 million of Internally Displaced People (UNHCR). IDPs are people who moved from one area to another within their country, generally with nothing. Worldwide, they are considered amongst the most vulnerable. It represents more than 5% of the Iraqi population. If you apply this percentage to the EU population, it would mean 24 million IDPs. - At least 3 million refugees abroad. In Syria and Jordan alone, there would be 1.5 million persons (UNHCR). It means another 5% of the population. The number is certainly higher as UNHCR can only count those who inform them about their presence and that request support. According to some reports, there would be also many Iraqis in Egypt, Iran and Gulf countries. Thousands are also seeking refuge in Europe, North America, etc. Including IDPs, almost 20% of the population is not living at home anymore. If you apply this percentage to the EU population, it would mean 98 million. - 655,000 deaths since 2003 (Lancet, October 2006). The death rate has dramatically increased over the last few months. It represents 1.5% of the Iraqi population. If you apply this percentage to the EU population, it would mean 7.3 million deaths. Some analysts challenge this figure, but even reducing it by one third would still be too high, isn’t it? Obviously, such figures do not give any indication of the very high psychological pressures and stress that the population faces inside Iraq, the lack of water, of medicine, and the lack of access to medical premises and doctors, the lack of human rights, etc. For instance, conclusions that reporting from the Anbar governorate by an INGO on the field must shock everyone who would read them: - During combat between insurgents and the MNF-I, civilians are the most vulnerable and under serious risk. Being displaced is the least that can happen to them, since their houses are often destroyed and hundreds of innocents are killed by mistake or just because the fighting parties appear only interested in eliminating one another. - Insurgents conduct some looting activities, including the PDS rations, setting up check points on arbitrary basis and targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and governmental offices. - Anbar roads and highways are full of MNF-I, ISF, police, looters, insurgents, gangsters and kidnappers. Local people take serious risks whenever they need to move from a place to another. - Both insurgents and MNF-I became more aggressive towards civilians: the first party is using the civilians as human-shields (in mosques, schools, hospitals and HCs) while the second is attacking any suspicious target, including many innocent civilians, without proper and systematic check (sometimes it takes the form of taking the revenge from the insurgents by harming the civilians). Civilians are also mistreated by insurgents because of religious, political and ethnic reasons and by the MNF-I during evictions, searching and frisking. Because of these reasons, the number of casualties among civilian is increasing in Anbar. - Mediation is highly needed in the current tensions between Shiia and Sunni communities, at the same time, between different branches of the same tribe or different tribes, in order to stop the escalation of the violence or at least to reduce its degree. Unfortunately politicians and political parties are not perceived by people as trustful or neutral. The gap between politicians and population became wider and needs to be filled soon; such gap can be filled 'temporarily' by religious and tribal leaders. We are calling on regular basis all groups and organisations involved in Iraq to work on a global strategy enabling to find a path to peace and to support Iraqi vulnerable on an effective manner. Today, we want also to call those that are not involved in Iraq yet (or anymore) to reconsider their position according to the terrific reality. As Human beings, how can we tolerate a humanitarian crisis on the scale, where people do even not have the right to live? ----------------------------- SALAM NCCI Team Comments: Post a Comment ^ Top of page		Search site Subscribe for email updates: Recent Posts Main page 1.6 million Iraqis have Fled their Country Since t... 655,000 Dead in Iraq Deadliest Year for Press since the Invasion 2003 NCCI Editorial - Weekly Highlight Study estimates 655,000 excess Iraqi deaths since ... Aid worker for Life for Relief and Development (LI... Declaration of Peace: DC Summary We Declare Peace - Next Steps Update and Report Back: Declaration of Peace Civilian Death toll 6,500+ (July and August) Earlier Posts Week of... 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