Grave violations of International Humanitarian Law in Iraq must be at the centre of the European Commission's discussions this September on developing worldwide respect for this law, said the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Mercy Corps and seven other aid and rights groups active in Iraq today.

The coalition highlighted the issue in a September 12 letter to panellists, including Bernard Kouchner, Antonio Guterres and Louis Michel, due to speak at the Commission's conference "Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law: A Major Challenge, A Global Responsibility" at the European Parliament in Brussels on September 16, 2008.

"This conference should be an opportunity to discuss what the international community and the European Union (EU) should do to urgently respond to these violations and respect humanitarian principles in Iraq," said Mervyn Lee, Executive Director of Mercy Corps.

The letter points out the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by armed groups in Iraq in clear breach of humanitarian law, adding that since 2003 the country has been facing one of the worst protection crises in the world. Direct targeting and indiscriminate attacks have led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths, thousands of kidnappings, illegal detentions, torture, the displacement of over four million people and an overall intensified humanitarian crisis, it said.

"The sad reality in Iraq remains that civilians continue to account for the majority of casualties and fatalities and that the population still lives in fear of violence. In many areas of the country civilians have little access to such basic necessities as food, water and medical supplies. It is crucial that humanitarian agencies like the International Rescue Committee have regular access and are able to deliver lifesaving relief and development assistance," said George Rupp, President of the IRC.

The ongoing violence in Iraq and poor security environment have restricted the flow of humanitarian assistance while the coalition forces' role in reconstruction and development assistance has led to the blurring of lines between military and humanitarian aid actors, reducing access to affected populations. "The EU should become a strong advocate for humanitarian law and principles, by upholding the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid, which clearly states that military assets should be used for humanitarian missions only as 'last resort'," said Valerie Ceccherini, European Policy and Advocacy Advisor of Mercy Corps.

CONTACT

International Rescue Committee Shannon Meehan (Brussels) +32 (0) 2 511 4300 +32 495 103 437 (mobile) shannon.meehan@theirc.org

Lydia Gomersall (London) +44 (0) 20 7692 2741 +44 (0) 7779 855021 (mobile) lydia.gomersall@ircuk.org

Mercy Corps Anna Jackson (Edinburgh) +44 (0) 131 550 7533 +44 (0) 7917 532954 ajackson@uk.mercycorps.org

Notes

- European Commissioner Louis Michel and European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, will host a conference entitled "Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law: A Major Challenge, A Global Responsibility" at the European Parliament in Brussels on 16 September. The programme features a high level panel of speakers, including Bernard Kouchner, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid; Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Christopher Stokes, Secretary General of Medecins Sans Frontieres International, James Ross, Legal and Policy Director of Human Rights Watch.

- The IRC restarted programmes in Iraq in November 2007 to assist thousands of internally displaced civilians in northern, central and southern districts. The IRC had extensive operations in these regions from 2003 through 2005, but deteriorating security forced IRC staff to leave and turn over programmes to local aid groups. Since returning to Iraq, the IRC has launched education and water supply programmes in areas hosting displaced populations and distributed relief supplies. The IRC has also been providing guidance and support to local Iraqi aid organizations, which are essential to the humanitarian relief effort and the rebuilding of the country. Visit www.theIRC.org for more.

- Mercy Corp has been working in Iraq since 2003. Its programmes there meet urgent humanitarian needs, strengthen local communities and promote the rights of vulnerable populations like women, youth, and persons with disabilities. To date, Mercy Corps programmes have reached over 4.5 million beneficiaries, providing life-saving emergency relief aid, working with communities to rebuild damaged infrastructure, and building local capacity to guarantee the full inclusion of all Iraqis in the decision-making processes that are vital to their futures.