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2 May 2003 by Salah Dabbakeh in Amman "No one had been harmed. It was a very touching and warm feeling to see our colleagues again". With these words from Sten Swedlund, Head of Delegation in Baghdad, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies re-launched its operations in Iraq amidst broken glass and looted offices. "All staff members have reported back to work," Swedlund added. A Federation mission to assess needs and visit 10 Iraq Red Crescent branches crossed into southern Iraq from Kuwait about 10 days ago in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Members of the team are expected to be in Baghdad next Sunday. "Our focus is to get a clear picture of the humanitarian needs and also about the situation in the branches," says Swedlund, who is already in Baghdad along with other international staff. It is a sad new beginning for him and for his colleagues. The Federation has been working in the country for over 10 years. Now delegates, who left Baghdad during the war, and local staff have come back to partly looted offices and broken windows. Computers and other important equipment have disappeared. But the team is determined to get down to work, as much needs to be done. A team headed by Christer Aqvist, head of the Regional Delegation for the Middle East and North Africa, will be travelling to Iraq early next week. Vehicles, computers and other essential equipment are being procured in Abu Dhabi and Amman so that operations can be resumed. And one of the crucial, yet daunting, challenges of the Baghdad team is supporting the Iraq Red Crescent Society, whose offices were looted during the war. "One of our major tasks will be to support the IRCS in this difficult time", says Sten Swedlund. Plans are also underway to address the urgent health needs of the population in major cities such as Baghdad and Basra, by rehabilitating health centres and water treatment plants, and through the social rehabilitation of war victims. A major increase in the size of the country delegation is envisaged to meet the challenges of the post-war phase. By the end of 2002, the Federation had rehabilitated 105 primary health care centres. It is unclear what condition these facilities are now in. Work to restore another 35 clinics had to be suspended as a result of the conflict. Related links: Iraq: appeals, updates and reports Iraq humanitarian crisis Make a donation |
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