[Note: this speech was delivered at the personal invitation
of the High Commissioner for Refugees to give a special Iraqi
perspective after many statements had been delivered by governments
and organisations during the Conference general debate]
I would like to express my deep appreciation and thanks to the
host country Switzerland, to UNHCR, the United Nations and its
agencies, and to all those who took part in the preparation
of this conference.
I would also like to thank all those countries who sent humanitarian
aid to Iraq and continue to do so.
The people of Iraq will never forget those who stretched their
hands out to help Iraq in its darkest hours.
We have been discussing the current situation in Iraq with our
Government partners and the UN agencies particularly UNICEF
and WHO.
I wish to state our position regarding the background document
and its conclusion. We are disappointed to see that no adequate
interaction has taken place during the preparation of the UNHCR
document and the humanitarian strategic framework for Humanitarian
action in Iraq.
While we appreciate very much the effort made in preparing these
documents and we may agree with several conclusions included
in them. We do have some reservation on some statements, figures
and conclusions made.
The issues of internally displaced and externally displaced
Iraqis are not new ones. They started when Iraq entered into
an eight year war with neighbouring Iran in 1980. The displacement
of Iraqis continued when Iraq invaded Kuwait in1990. This trend
continued during the years of UN sanctions and the Oil for Food
Program.
Ordinary Iraqis had many bitter experiences and sorrows during
all these episodes. They vividly remember their suffering during
the Oil for Food Program.
The externally displaced people had ways and means to leave
Iraq and seek safe haven elsewhere. The internally displaced
people had neither the will nor the means to the leave their
country. The internal displacement of vast numbers of its population
is an Iraqi government issue and must be solved by the government
as quickly as possible.
The issue of recently externally displaced people is also an
Iraqi Government problem which needs to be solved by it, with
the approval and cooperation of the host countries.
Iraq is neither a Darfur nor a Rwanda. The Iraqi Red Crescent
is working hand in hand with the government of Iraq and the
International Committee of the Red Cross on the problem of internally
displaced persons.
For those displaced externally the Iraqi Red Crescent is already
working with host Red Crescent Organizations and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to ensure
that all needy Iraqis receive aid.
The Iraqi Red Crescent is making arrangements for the support
for the Iraqi population in neighbouring countries, especially
Jordan, Syria and Iran. It will be working closely with the
Red Crescent Societies in those countries. The IRC has the man-power,
technical capability and financial support (ways and means)
to ensure rapid response, reliable data collection and speedy
delivery of aid.
The Iraqi Red Crescent has access to the voluntary service of
over one hundred thousand people as well as its employees, and
over three hundred offices or Representatives throughout Iraq,
including Kurdistan.
This is in the absence of all other nationally and internationally
accountable organizations. We must remember that the UN operational
presence in Iraq is almost non-existing as well as most relief
agencies. All their activities are conducted by remote management
from other countries.
Without physical presence, the impact of such intervention is
very much limited. IRC is being asked by various Iraqi government
agencies and ministries to deliver food and medical supplies
to areas of conflict inside Iraq.
The Iraqi government has also asked the IRC to help coordinate
the health and relief of the externally displaced people and
coordinate this work with the host Red Crescent Organizations
and the IFRC.
Despite limited funding and a difficult security situation the
IRC does not neglect the Palestinians in Iraq, but continues
to supply food and medicine for those inside Iraq and those
on the borders with Jordan and Syria.
The people of Iraq are highly sensitive to foreign intervention
in their social affairs. This must be taken into consideration
in making any decision on their behalf.
Given the above alert, it is proposed that a Higher Committee
be formed to encompass the Iraqi Government with its auxiliary
relief body, the IRC, under the auspices of the United Nations,
the ICRC and the International Federation.
The immediate goal is to address the plight of displaced Iraqis
within and outside their homeland. The long term goal of this
Higher Committee should be to invite and encourage those who
left Iraq in the past years or decades to return and use their
skills and insights for the building of a new and prosperous
Iraq.
Finally, Mr High Commissioner, please allow me to thank you
for this opportunity to address this august body and to pass
on to you all how much your organization and its help has given
hope and encouragement to all of us at the Iraqi Red Crescent.
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