April 12

BAGHDAD (12 April) ~~ UPDATE

The need for security was still the main concern, particularly for vitally important installations and services such as medical facilities, water supply systems and sewage evacuation facilities. Only if these facilities are protected against looters, armed robbers and other armed groups will their staff be able to resume work. Considerable damage has been done and a lot of materials, machines and vehicles indispensable to save lives in hospitals and maintain water supplies have been looted. Means of carrying out repairs and refurbishment must be found without delay.

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Iraq: ICRC CALLS URGENTLY FOR PROTECTION OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION AND SERVICES AND OF PERSONS NO LONGER FIGHTING ~~

Geneva (ICRC): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is profoundly alarmed by the chaos currently prevailing in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq. Lawless persons, sometimes armed, have been ransacking and looting even essential public facilities such as hospitals and water-supply installations.

Hospitals in Baghdad are closed because of combat damage, looting or fear of looting. Hardly any medical or support staff are still reporting for work. Patients have either fled the hospitals or have been left without care. The medical system in Baghdad has virtually collapsed. The dead are left unattended, and the increasing summer heat and deteriorating water and electricity supplies create a high risk of epidemic disease.

The ICRC urgently appeals to the Coalition forces and all other persons in authority to do everything possible to protect essential infrastructure such as hospitals and water-supply and evacuation systems from looting and destruction. In areas under their control, the Coalition forces have specific responsibilities as Occupying Powers under international humanitarian law. These include taking all measures in their power to restore and maintain, as far as possible, public order and safety by putting a halt to pillage and to violence against civilians and civilian facilities.

Civilian facilities which have been damaged or destroyed must be repaired as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the basic needs of the population can be met. Water and electricity supplies are vital. Medical units and personnel must be protected and their work facilitated, and access to them by all persons in need, whether military or civilian, friend or foe, must be granted. In all circumstances, the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblem must be respected.

To the fullest extent of the means available to them, the occupying forces have a duty to ensure that the population has sufficient supplies in terms of water, food and medical care. As the temporary administrators of the occupied territory, the Occupying Powers must support public services and manage resources primarily in the interests of the population, without discrimination. If the whole or part of the population under occupation is not adequately supplied, the Occupying Powers must allow impartial humanitarian organizations to undertake assistance operations. However, the provision of humanitarian aid in no way relieves the Occupying Powers of their administrator's responsibilities towards the population under occupation.

All persons deprived of their freedom and held in enemy hands must be spared and protected, in accordance with the Third or the Fourth Geneva Convention, depending on whether they are combatants or civilians. Prisoners of war must be treated humanely at all times. The ICRC has been granted access to POWs in Coalition hands. It is deeply concerned that this is not the case as regards Coalition POWs captured by Iraqi forces, and strongly urges those who are holding them today to afford them protection and treat them in full observance of the provisions of the Third Geneva Convention, including their entitlement to ICRC visits.

Wherever military operations are taking place, constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population and civilian objects. All those bearing arms must take all necessary precautions to avoid exposing civilians to the dangers resulting from military activity. The wounded and the dead must be evacuated without delay. Acts of perfidy are prohibited.

The ICRC, which has been present and active in Iraq throughout the conflict, is fully committed to pursuing the tasks incumbent upon it under the Geneva Conventions, to working for the faithful application of international humanitarian law, and to endeavour to ensure that all victims of the conflict and of its consequences receive protection and assistance.

April 12

HOSPITAL LOOTERS STEALING INCUBATORS AND DRUGS

Daily Telegraph, UK, April 12 ~~ The allies faced increasing criticism last night for their failure to stop the looting sweeping Baghdad as gangs pillaged hospitals and state buildings and two of the city's top hotels were set on fire. Baghdad's hospitals have been robbed of medicines, stethoscopes, towels, air conditioners and even incubators while ambulances have been seen being driven around by excited youths.

Although thousands of American soldiers remain on the city outskirts, they have largely stood away from the looters, with only a few thousand entering the heart of Baghdad where most offices and institutions are found.

Many streets had a carnival air as tens of thousands of people walked down the main streets laden with anything they could carry from the homes of the ousted elite. But there was an uglier side to the looting as gangs took control of some areas, raiding hospitals and private homes.

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The International Red Cross said the two main hospitals in the capital and many smaller ones had been ransacked. Looters even dragged heart monitors and incubators out of one hospital.

Britain and America were accused of failing to honour their obligations under the Geneva Convention to prevent the looting that has stopped the main hospitals in the capital from operating.

Unicef said the situation in the hospitals was critical and warned of a health crisis with cases of diarrhoea among children directly caused by lack of water reaching "staggering levels".

Many residents not involved in the looting have barricaded themselves in their homes to protect their families from the anarchy.

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One Baghdad resident said he had stayed up for seven nights without lights or electricity to protect his home from looters.

"We are sleepless all the nights," said Arkan Daoud Boutros. "We don't care about the government buildings but we are afraid for our homes and for our families."

The increasing law and order problem was exacerbated by the inability of US troops to tell the paramilitaries from ordinary civilians.

US MARINES ACCIDENTALY KILL CIVILIANS IN TWO INCIDENTS

US marines killed two children at a checkpoint in the southern town of Nasiriyah when the driver of the vehicle in which the youngsters were travelling failed to stop.

A Baghdad shopkeeper defending his property from looters with a Kalashnikov rifle was shot dead by US marines who were told by the looters that he was a member of the Fedayeen paramilitary.

The US army said it did not have enough troops on the ground to prevent the looting.

"The war isn't really over yet and so we can't drop one task to take up another," a spokesman said. "We're looking forward to letting the UN take over."
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CHILDREN BEING BURIED IN BACK YARDS; THOUSANDS OF NEW ORPHANS & HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

With no space, electricity or security in the morgue, children were being buried in the back yard. "Out of the 32 hospitals in Baghdad, only three are operating, and not in a normal manner," Pascal Jansen, a co-ordinator from the International Committee of the Red Cross, said. "Hospitals are suffering severe shortages of water, power and fuel. They do not have doctors or staff. They can only last for the next three or four days."

The al-Kindi, in the east of the city, has been ransacked and all staff bar two volunteers have fled. American marines took up guard outside some hospitals yesterday but inside Baghdad Teacher's Hospital Dr Khalid Al-Assah said: "Right now we have thousands of orphans and hundreds of new handicapped children who need immediate help."