Last Update: Saturday, November 13, 2004. 1:44pm (AEDT)
Concerns held for Fallujah civilians
The Red Crescent and Red Cross in Iraq say they are increasingly concerned about civilians trapped in the city of Fallujah.
Their workers say no drinking water or electricity is available, food is running out and medical centres have ceased to function after days of fierce street battles between US-led forces and Iraqi fighters.
The head of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, Nada Doumani, says the situation is critical.
"I had information about a girl child, six-years-old, died because of the dirty water today," she said.
"They're losing their children, especially because of the lack of the water and the medical care. No food and there are 150 families left inside Fallujah now."
She says her request to deliver supplies to civilians inside Fallujah was turned down by the Iraqi Government.
US troops say they control about 80 per cent of the city but they are still under fire in some districts.
-BBC
Red Cross upset by humanitarian violations
November 21, 2004 - 10:28AM
The International Red Cross is "deeply concerned" at the impact of the fighting in Iraq and the apparent failures by all sides to respect humanitarian laws.
The International Committee of the Red Cross operations director, Pierre Kraehenbuehl stressed that international humanitarian law prohibits killing anyone who is not actively taking part in fighting - or has ceased to do so.
"As hostilities continue in Fallujah and elsewhere, every day seems to bring news of yet another act of utter contempt for the most basic tenet of humanity: the obligation to protect human life and dignity," Kraehenbuehl said in a statement released late yesterday.
"We are deeply concerned by the devastating impact that the fighting in Iraq is having on the people of that country," he said.
The world was shocked this week by the killing of Margaret Hassan, CARE International's head of Iraq operations and the fatal shooting of a wounded and apparently unarmed man in a Fallujah mosque by a US Marine, Kraehenbuehl said.
No one should use torture or any form of inhuman, humiliating or degrading treatment, he said.
Kraehenbuehl also stressed that all parties must provide adequate medical care for the wounded - no matter which side they have fought on - and that hostage taking was forbidden in all circumstances.
"If these rules or any other applicable rules of international humanitarian law are violated, the persons responsible must be held accountable for their actions," Kraehenbuehl said.
The neutral ICRC, whose main job is to help victims of war, has lost contact with people in the city of Fallujah, where much of the recent focus has been because of the fighting between US-led forces and insurgents.
"Regrettably, recent events have again shown just how difficult it has become for neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organisations to assist and protect the victims of the conflict in Iraq," Kraehenbuehl said.
The US military has said that it, along with Iraqi security forces and humanitarian organisations, is supplying humanitarian assistance in Fallujah. Relief organisations based in Geneva say they have no idea which humanitarian groups the Pentagon was referring to, because none have a presence in the embattled city.
