This was in Friday's UK 'Independent' (19th January 2007 p.1-2) with some more graphic descriptions & pictures. Small thing you may say - but reflects general repugnance at what is going on. Several prominent physicians & surgeons & epidemiologists have signed: "IRAQ'S CHILDREN MUST NOT BE LEFT TO DIE: REQUEST TO THE UK GOVERNMENT JAN 2007 We are concerned that children are dying in Iraq for want of medical treatment. Iraq, instead of being a country at the top of the league for medicine, as it once was, now has conditions and mortality of a Third World Country. Sick or injured children, who could otherwise be treated by simple means, are left to die in hundreds because they do not have access to basic medicines or other resources. Children who have lost hands, feet, and limbs are left without prostheses. Children with grave psychological distress are left untreated. We understand that the UK may withdraw its forces from Iraq in 2007. Before this happens, we call on the UK Government not to walk away from this grave problem, but to fulfil its obligations that it entered into under Security Council Resolution 1483 during the period 22 May 2003 to 28 June 2004. This Resolution recognised the UK and USA as being Occupying Powers in Iraq but also stated that they had to comply with the Geneva and Hague Conventions. These Conventions specifically require the Occupying Powers to maintain order and to look after the medical needs of the population. This they failed to do, and the knock on effect of this failure is affecting Iraqi children's hospitals with increasing ferocity. We also ask the UK, as one of the Occupying Powers designated by Resolution 1483 as Trustees of "The Development Fund For Iraq," to properly account for these assets estimated at $23 billion in May 2003. It is asserted that by June 2004 some $14 billion vanished in corruption, theft and payment to mercenaries. We ask that all the revenues from Iraq's oil now pass directly to the Iraqi people, and that illegal contracts entered into by the Coalition Provisional Authority are revoked. Only in this way can the Iraqi people rebuild their country with its infrastructure, administration, and hospitals. Submitted by :
Submission: As Citizens of the UK we allege that the Coalition Occupying Powers failed to abide by the Hague and Geneva Conventions and International Law in respect of childrens' medical needs in summary as follows :- 1. Lack of medical supplies: Contrary to Articles 50, 55 and 56 of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV where the Occupying Power has a duty of ensuring the food and the medical supplies of the population, and...... medical and hospital establishments and services, three years into the conflict, Iraqi children are dying in large numbers due to lack of medical supplies. ( Babies are being ventilated with a plastic tube in their noses and dying for want of a 95 pence oxygen mask, or lack of a phial of vitamin K, or sterile needles, or even rubber surgical gloves. Premature babies are forced three to an incubator 36 years old held together with wire and elastoplast.) 2. Lack of clean water and proper drainage: Contrary to the Geneva Convention 1949 Article 56 (preventive measures to combat the spread of contagious disease), The service infrastructure of drainage, water supply and electricity has been severely damaged as a consequence of invasion and not been properly repaired. As a consequence the 41% percent of the population which is under 15 suffers from lack of food, clean water and proper sanitation. This results in disease and chronic dehydration in a climate that can be very hot. There are not even cannulas for infants to combat the effects of dehydration, even though they cost only 95 pence each. 3. Iraq's assets stolen: Contrary to The Hague Convention IV, 1907 Article 55 (safeguarding the capital of the hostile state), the lack of reconstruction and poor provision of medical supplies is largely due to the squandering of the $23 billion assets held in trust for 'The Development Fund for Iraq' by the allied Occupying Powers under Resolution 1483. After 14 months, on June 28 2004, The Coalition Provisional Authority had handed back $9 billion to the Interim Iraq administration. The remaining $14 billion was not accounted for. 4. Iraq's oil stolen : Contrary to The Hague Convention IV, 1907 Article 55 (safeguarding the capital of the hostile state), the revenues from Iraq's oil fields have not been properly accounted for since 2003. Contracts for the disposal of Iraq oil and oil futures have been entered into against International Law by the Coalition Provisional Authority. 5. De Baathification: Contrary to The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Article 7 (h) Persecution on political grounds, the de-Baathification of the Iraq medical administration and professionals by the CPA, has led to a breakdown of health administration, since it was virtually compulsory to be a Baath party member in these positions. In the long term this has led to an exodus of medical staff from Iraq, so that today only 50% of the doctors remain. 6. Break down of public order and safety: Contrary to The 1907 Hague Convention Article 43 (requirement of the Occupying Power to ensure as far as possible public order and safety), the disbanding of the Iraq army, police and civil administration has led to a state of persisting anarchy. Guns are frequently used within hospitals. Doctors are kidnapped for ransom. This has caused doctors to flee the country. Many doctors have come to the UK. The UK has unjustly benefited from their presence when they are desperately needed in Iraq, and where they really desire to be. 7. Looting of hospitals: Contrary to the 1907 Hague Conventions, in the initial days of occupation, looting was encouraged resulting in widespread loss and damage of hospital equipment. 8. Dangerous repairs to hospitals: Contrary to the Geneva Convention 1949 Article 56 (preventive measures to combat the spread of contagious disease), CPA contractors' repairs to hospitals have been so shoddily done as to be dangerous. Sanitation and plumbing works are improperly carried out. Hospital floors can be flooded or awash with sewage. Poor construction and bad finishes allow vermin and bacteria to accumulate under loose floor and ceiling tiles and joinery. 9. Targeting of hospitals and ambulances with bombs and artillery: Contrary to the 1949 Geneva Conventions IV , Article 8 intentionally directing attacks against hospitals, hospitals have been targeted by bombs and ambulances shot up. 10. No serious attempt to involve UN or NGOs: Contrary to 1949 Geneva Convention IV Article 56, which states that the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring and maintaining the medical and hospital establishments and services, the Pentagon based CPA rashly took over the medical administration of Iraq even though it was inexperienced in this field, and without a workable knowledge of Arabic in a country twice the size of France. Steps were not taken to obtain a mandate for United Nation's post-invasion medical aid, or to properly fund The Red Crescent, or to airlift medical supplies into Iraq. 11. Aid spent on 'Security': Contrary to The Hague Convention IV, 1907 Article 55 (safeguarding the capital of the hostile state), Iraqi money designated for aid has been spent on 'security'. This has often been carried out by mercenaries at a high price. This 'security' is an extension of military occupation by proxy, and does not nullify the requirements of Resolution 1483 to comply with the Geneva Conventions in respect of ensuring medical supplies to the population. 12. Costs of war squandered on weapons rather than aid: The UK has spared nothing on the cost of munitions and the means of delivering them. In addition to millions of cluster bomblets and other munitions, 27 Storm Shadow missiles alone costing £560,000 each were dropped on Iraq in 'Operation Telic'. These weapons are now being promoted for sale by the British Government to 12 countries on the grounds of their proven "success" in Iraq. In contrast, the UK DfID budget could not possibly provide the required funds for medical equipment and drugs, treatment of psychological trauma, or provision of artificial limbs and long term physiotherapy for children and adults. The obligations of the Hague and Geneva Conventions have therefore not been met by the UK in its alliance with the USA." Hari Kumar
