Reconstruction of Iraq
Statement delivered by Juan M. Suarez del Toro, President, International Federation, to the Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq, in Madrid
24 October 2003



The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is honoured to have the opportunity to take part in this important Conference. We are most grateful to the Government of Spain for its initiative in organising the Conference, and for helping ensure that through us it is possible for civil society to bring some of its concerns to the attention of governments and donors.

In this context, we are pleased that the Conference organisers and others concerned with the issues of vulnerability, including the authorities in Iraq, have also recognised the value that the Iraqi Red Crescent Society can bring to your deliberations. I am delighted that Dr Jamal Nassir Al-Karbouli, the President, is able to be with us in Madrid at this Conference.

Mr Chairman,

The International Federation saw its first task, after the changes in Iraq, as providing all necessary assistance to the Iraqi Red Crescent Society to help it rebuild itself as an effective assessor of vulnerability, nationwide and in each governorate.

I am now pleased to report that the Red Crescent Society is functioning at full strength in all 18 of Iraq's Governorates. It has successfully made the transition to the new situation in the country, and is now in the process of energetic expansion to enable it more effectively to meet the needs of the very many vulnerable people in the country.

This means that by the time of the December 2003 International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent the Iraqi Red Crescent Society will have completed its institutional reforms and will take its place proudly alongside the other participants in that conference, which includes the governments of the world.

Mr Chairman,

We have sought to build our capacity and that of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society to act as a trusted interlocutor with other authorities in Iraq and those in a position to address other vulnerabilities. This was an important element in the valuable contribution made yesterday to the Panel discussions by my colleague the President of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.

With that contribution in mind, I will outline four priority areas which we believe must achieve attention from donors if their work is to be more than a patchwork job:

1. Civil society reconstruction must be addressed on a nation-wide basis, in all 18 governorates and without discrimination. It must bring the grass-roots of the community into the management of their own lives and livelihoods.

2. There must be a clear policy for cooperation between government and civil society. The present situation is not an adequate basis for building trust and confidence in civil society, and does not engage its support for the reconstruction programs.

3. International coordination must be revitalised, with clear roles for organisations vital to the reconstruction effort, especially the large humanitarian organisations.

4. The safety of humanitarian workers is a terrible challenge, worldwide. We do not have answers to this, and indeed remain shocked by the losses suffered by our colleagues in the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and by the United Nations, especially the death of Sergio Vieira de Mello. But withdrawal is not an option, and we encourage everyone to find new ways, perhaps utilising the resources of civil society, to find solutions.

The International Federation stands with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society in aiming to address these needs. The International Federation has recently launched a fresh appeal of its own for Iraq, copies of which are available from my delegation, showing how we intend to allocate the 20 million Euros we are seeking.

This is not a large sum, especially when seen against the expenditure plans which are put forward by some others. Our costs are related to building the capacity of the people of Iraq. We are determined to put our strongest effort into building this local capacity, and through this contributing to the rebuilding and revitalisation of Iraqi civil society.

We see this as important to meet immediate needs, but are deeply conscious that it will take many years for Iraq to recover from the scars of recent years and this conflict. We appeal to all donors to consider the long-term needs of the Iraqi people as they set their programming, for the last thing that is needed is a large payment to a country that cannot absorb the generosity followed by insufficient support later. Unfortunately, experience shows us that is a common pattern, and we must make sure we do not repeat it now.

In conclusion, I have two other short comments to offer.

The first is that it is vital to remember at all times that the situation in Iraq is still one of occupation, entailing the applicability of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 for the protection of war victims.

The second flows from this, namely that in such a situation the lead agency for our Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is the International Committee of the Red Cross, working for the application by all parties of the Geneva Conventions. The International Federation fully respects this situation, and works in harmony with its colleagues in the ICRC to achieve our common objectives.

Thank you