A National Appeal for Support

Canadian Red Cross pleas to Canadians for help in aiding Iraq civilians after war

The U.S. forces of Operations Iraqi Freedom entered Baghdad, increasing the risk of civilian casualties. Just this week outrage breaks as a U.S tank shell shoots at a hotel building, killing three journalists and injuring others. Crowds beg, "Stop the friendly-fire!" Nutrition and sanitation problems are growing, as are civilian casualties. As terror builds each day for Iraqi-Canadians, who fear the loss of contact with their family, the Canadian Red Cross tries to calm fears of their loved ones living in Iraq.
Across the country, Red Cross branches try to help reconnect families due to war conflicts, natural disasters and many other reasons for death or illness in the family. There is a website in both English and Arabic, set up since the break of war in Iraq, dedicated to restoring these kinds of contacts. This was achieved through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Restoring Family Links site enables the exchange of family news and helps to maintain contact between separated family members.
The Red Cross announced that money is urgently needed to provide shelter, health care services, food, water and other basic necessities to vulnerable families in Iraq, as well as neighbouring countries that may be affected. An appeal to collect $219 million in funds has been made worldwide to help in war relief efforts in Iraq and the surrounding countries.
Recently, the Honourable Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation, announced Canada is contributing through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) where it has committed $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq. Immediately, there was an allocation of $20 million to humanitarian agencies like the Red Cross and CARE Canada. This is to help provide Iraqis access to clean water, proper sanitation, food and shelter.
Susan Johnson, National Director of International Programs and Development, took some time from her busy schedule to speak with Tandem about the Canadian Red Cross' role and the crisis they are experiencing.
What is the Canadian Red Cross' involvement during the Iraqi war?
"Our involvement actually began in the 80s with the Iran-Iraq conflicts. Since then, we have been busy with two particular areas. The first is to aid the prisoners of war (in Iran and Iraq), where we were entrenched during the first Gulf war. We visited the prisoners and provided an opportunity for them to write a message to loved ones and keep them in contact with their families. After the war, our involvement continued with the negotiations that went on involving the prisoners and helping them to get repatriated. To date the Red Cross has helped the repatriation of over 200,000 prisoners of war. Our second area of concentration is to offer assistance to civilians during conflicts."
What does assistance for civilians entail?
"This means we work with the medical system and help sustain its function, through supplies, and to help with civilian casualties that arise. It was difficult after the first Gulf War because economic sanctions brought the country to its knees. One in five children were malnourished. So in this situation of war we help to maintain a clean water system and deal with sewage issues, as there are over five million people in Iraq who depend on the Red Cross."
What plans were humanitarian organizations making prior to the war?
"On leading up to the war, the Red Cross pre-positioned aids in Iraq and surrounding countries. We set up emergency housing, food assistance and medical supplies inside the country in areas that would need assistance. We also anticipated a large refugee exile and set up aids in the surrounding countries, but this did not happen. However, we are ready if this situation arises. Right now the Red Cross has 14 international workers working inside Iraq with 100 local workers. Two of the international workers are Canadian [one of the two workers, Vatche Arslania, was killed in Baghdad], and along with the local workers they are providing daily updates that can be seen on our website, and are visiting hospitals both in Baghdad and Basrah providing medical supplies as the civilian casualties are growing. We are hearing that there are 10 civilians an hour needing medical assistance and up to 100 a day. However, with the instances of this past weekend, the numbers were greater. Red Cross workers are also looking after the water system, and health problems are already growing. Since the electricity has been knocked out generators maintain the filtration system, which our workers are looking after and provide replacements or fix them when necessary."
Due to the rising pressures of the war, the ICRC reminds all States of the Geneva Conventions of their obligation for international humanitarian law. The purpose of this law is to minimize the horrible effects of war on people not involved in the hostilities, whereby attacks on civilians are prohibited.
What have Canadians been doing to help the Red Cross?
"It is lower than what we expected. The need is quite dramatic and there are not a lot of organizations involved in aid at this point. We hope that Canadians will see through the media and onto the mothers and children being affected. There is a humanitarian need from the people of Canada."
What can Canadians do to help?
"A national appeal for help has been made to Canadians. They can make a financial contribution in any of the following ways. They can go to any bank and make a donation to the Iraq Human Donation Appeal, they can make an online donation, which is easy and secure, at www.redcross.ca and instantly receive a tax-deductible receipt or they can call us at 1.800.418.1111."
What will happen post War?
"In the aftermath we will continue our existing functions and help in the transition, this includes the thousands of prisoners of war. The next step would be to help establish a local Red Crescent, which all countries should have. It helps in disaster response situations and to help build up the country again."
Johnson is appealing Canadians for their help and hope that they recognize the humanitarian needs at stake. She explains that the Red Cross has a particular role to give civilians in conflict situations as outlined from the Geneva Conventions. It is uncertain which organizations will come to Iraqis aid until the war is over and security is established. The Red Cross is attuned to the security environment and closely follows the myriad of humanitarian aid.
The regime in Basrah is broken and chaos has begun where people are reported to be stealing and getting away with what they can, as British troops try to control the disorder. This is the kind of situations that the Red Cross will be involved in to ensure that Iraqi civilians continue to receive clean water and food as they help to reunite families and repatriate the prisoners of war.
To try and locate a family member in Iraq see www.familylinks.icrc.org/gulf2003.

Publication Date: 2003-04-13
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=2596