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TechnoratiWarning on 'Dire' Iraq Conditions
GENEVA - The Red Cross is warning that despite some improvements in security in Iraq, the condition of the country's infrastructure remains dire.
![[Iraqi children fill water containers from a hose pipe laid out at a garbage dump in Baghdad, September 2008. The international Red Cross warned that millions of people in Iraq are at risk of disease because of inadequate health care, water and sanitation services. (AFP/File/Ali Yussef)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/iraqpollution1029.jpg "iraqpollution1029.jpg")
In a statement issued from their headquarters in Geneva, the Red Cross said it was particularly concerned about poor water supplies.
It estimates that over 40% of Iraq's civilian population still has no access to clean mains water.
The organisation says that the health of millions Iraqis is at risk.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) describes the condition of Iraq's health, water and sanitation services as dire - failing to meet the needs of a large part of the population.
Following this summer's outbreak of cholera, Beatrice Megevand Roggo, Red Cross Head of Operations for the Middle East, said she was especially concerned about the lack of clean water supplies.
Ms Megevand Roggo said even the most basic infrastructure in Iraq is not functioning.
The Red Cross agrees security has improved recently in some parts of Iraq and this has allowed the organisation to expand its operations.
But, the ICRC insists, it can not be expected to provide basic services indefinitely.
"There is only so much a humanitarian organisation can do," said Ms Megevand Roggo.
"Their own responsibility is also something that matters a lot - you cannot only count on humanitarians to solve the problems of a country like Iraq."
That is a clear message to the government in Baghdad, and to the coalition forces.
Now that, five-and-a-half years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the violence has finally begun to abate; the authorities should not wait too long to start providing the simple necessities of normal life.
3 Comments so far
Show AllThe violence did not begin when Saddam was overthrown if you do recall. There was about 6 months that the Iraqi's were praising the US for ridding them of their tyrant. Then their attempts to organize local elections was shut down by Bush/Cheney and Co. The infrastructure was left in it's was tattered condition. US soldiers began shooting children protesting to get their school back. Even then there was not general violence. It took a few months of obviously US intelligence agency organized bombings of children in public squares before the general population decided enough was enough and started placing IED's on roadsides.
Warfare famine and disease, looks like gods up to his dirty tricks again. And when I say god I do mean the Emperor.
rocyahsoul@yahoo.com
www.lamegame.name
Daniel Vincent Kelley
what is doubly sad about this is that there is only one comment before mine and that with prompt rehydration, fewer than 1% of cholera patients die..........of course if the infrastructure was in place cholera would not be prevelant.
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC!
"Iraq in the Times of Cholera…and Occupation",
by Sabah Ali, BRusselsTribunal.org, Oct 17 2008,
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m48237
If you prefer to use the original link:
http://www.brusselstribunal.org/ArticlesIraq4.htm#cholera
That above article provides important statistics (including in table format) and for much of Iraq; while also saying that the real numbers or statistics are likely much higher. It's not a long article, but it provides plenty of details!
"Corruption Blamed As Cholera Rips Through Iraq",
by Patrick Cockburn in Baghdad, Independent, UK, Oct 10 2008
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/10-5
I haven't read the following yet.
"IRAQ: Number of cholera cases nearly doubles",
by IRINNews.org, Sep 28 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m47595