Reconstruction of Iraq through the Red Crescent Society
Panel presentation by Dr Jamal Nassir Al-Karbouli, President, Iraqi Red Crescent Society, during the Conference on Reconstruction in Iraq, in Madrid
23 October 2003



President, Your Excellencies Representatives of Donor States, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Iraqi people and humanitarian organizations and myself, I do seize this opportunities to express my people appreciation for your efforts to organize such important conference.

The Iraqi Red Crescent Society is a national humanitarian organization, founded in 1932, and it was recognized by the Kingdom of Iraq in 1934. The IRCS was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in June 1934; and later of June 1934 it became a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The IRCS set up its constitution in 1934 in accordance with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement regulations. The IRCS has recently reviewed its constitution in 2003 in order to cope with the development process within the Movement and due to the fact that the old constitution is no longer capable of meeting the needs of this demanding period.

Dear Excellencies; As we all know that Iraq passed three wars beginning from the First Gulf war 1980-1988, the Second Gulf War January- March 1991, and the Third Gulf War March - May 2003, as well as thirteen years of devastating economic sanctions. All these factors caused heavy damages to the Iraqi infrastructure, economic sector, and mainly to the Iraqi people who was the only party to pay the taxes of these wars.

Since its foundation, the IRCS was one of the main donors to provide the humanitarian assistance to the needy groups in the other world countries. But since 1980s, Iraq turned to be one of the recipient countries for humanitarian aid in particular after 1991 when Iraq faced a real humanitarian crisis. At that time the IRCS responded to the needs of Iraq people and started opening branches in all the 18 governorates of the country, and attracted volunteers to assist in implementing humanitarian activities in Iraq.

Our Society operated in Iraqi according to the seven Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. The IRCS presented its services to all vulnerable groups regardless of ethnical, religious, political, or social belongings.

In April 2003, the IRCS was working under unique circumstances when it was the only humanitarian organization all over Iraqi that worked and did not stop offering its services to the affected groups in Iraq. The volunteers and staff were available 24 hours to provide their assistance to the vulnerable groups under the heavy bombing and fierce fighting.

The situation developed when the political system collapsed and when Baghdad, the Iraqi Capital, became under the control of the Coalition Forces. All the governmental institutions disappeared from the scene; but the IRCS did not stop and continued its work as the only humanitarian organization through its 18 branches and network of volunteers. It is worth to mentioning that our Society did not receive any support from the previous Iraqi governments since 1958.

This period marked the first dramatic changes in the history of Iraq and IRCS in particular when IRCS was the first institution to elect interim leadership for a transitional period to replace the old leadership. The IRCS staff and volunteers did their best to protect their institution, its independence, unity and neutrality when it faced very difficult times and attempts of outside interventions from political and religious groups.

The National Society management approached both colleagues the ICRC and IFRC seeking their advice and consultation concerning the planning on how to take the appropriate measure under these circumstances. With the support of the IFRC, the first democratic and free election was conducted at the IRCS Headquarters to elect the interim leadership. This step was followed by similar ones in the other 18 branches where new leadership was elected in each branch composed of 5 members including the branch chairman. The new leadership initiated to review its constitution according to the IFRC guidelines for a well-functioning national society.

The IRCS focuses its efforts in the main four core areas in parallel with the Strategy 2010 of the IFRC taking into consideration the most urgent priorities of the Iraqi people namely in the following fields:

• Health Sector including first aid services, polio campaigns, health and nutrition education, child and mother care, awareness on first detection of breast cancer.

• Disaster Management in the field of disasters preparedness and disaster response. " Rehabilitation of hospitals, primary health care centres, schools, orphanages and institutions for handicapped, water and sanitation stations.

• Orthopaedic services for victims of war, as well as countrywide awareness campaign on the dangers of war remnants and unexploded ordnance.

• Social rehabilitation and training of victims of war with physical handicaps whereof some also will be trained as IRCS Volunteers.

• Services in support of Iraqi NGOs working with persons with disabilities, including training and dissemination support, and help with their own development as credible representatives within civil society.

• Dissemination of knowledge of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and to improve the knowledge amongst the general population of international humanitarian law and the values and principles that the Movement stands for.

• Children, Youth and Volunteers is a prime target group for the IRCS in order to improve the dissemination and help young people to become focused on humanitarian efforts and to attract future Volunteers for the IRCS. The possibility to start a CABAC (Child Affected By Armed Conflict) programme, which is a special psychosocial programme approach for children that has been successful in other war affected countries.

• Tracing services including distribution of Red Cross Messages and work relating to human remains.

• In the absence of a functioning government, to distribute food, non-food items and medicines.

• First Aid Training for Drivers License holders. The extremely high number of road accidents in Iraq calls for a change in training of drivers as well as the traffic police to also include advanced First Aid Training. As for the time being, the situation in Iraq is very critical with the absence of a long-term political solution; the country infrastructure have been heavily damaged especially the general services sectors like: health, water, electricity, education, communication, food, transportation, etc.

We need to remember the low income of Iraqi families, in addition to the demolished economic sector. Still, the security situation is one of the issues that have its impact on hindering the implementation of humanitarian programmes and being the daily hot topic for concerned bodies.

The first initial assessment done jointly with the ICRC and IFRC confirmed the priority needs in the following main sectors: 1. Relief 2. Rehabilitation 3. Development.

As a national Red Crescent society and being present in this universal forum, we feel the importance of responsibility that has been entrusted to us first as Iraqis and secondly as humanitarian workers. It is a great moment when we would like to request your assistance to help in re-building our country investing all the available resources of the good will attending states. We have commenced setting up and designing our plans for the future and preparing our strategy for the next year based on assessment for the country's needs supported by IFRC.

Hopefully, we wish that we are on the right track, with the support of the RCRC Movement and your support we will be able to build a truly independent National Red Crescent Society, accountable to our beneficiaries, working transparently and with integrity for the benefit of Iraq's vulnerable people.

This, Mr Chairman, is what civil society needs most in Iraq today. We need support for independence, for a place in the hearts of our own people. This is an important element in the Appeal which has been launched by our IFRC for the Iraqi Red Crescent Society.

The Appeal seeks funding outside the framework of the UN appeal, because the independence of our Movement requires our work to stand on its own merits, and within the Fundamental Principles of our Movement, in all circumstances.

It will also be mentioned by our IFRC President when he speaks at this conference, but it is important for me to add that we have worked hard to develop programs which we can really deliver, for the benefit of our most vulnerable people. We have involved them extensively in the design of the programs, and have ensured that they contain appropriate gender balance, as well as the involvement of all sectors and groups in our Iraqi population.

We have also paid close attention to IDPs, and their needs for relief and support, and in particular for a winter assistance program.

Malnourishment is a serious problem for Iraq's children, and a high priority for our Society. We are now doing a program with some international NGOs (CARITAS for example) but are looking to expand the program so it can assist more children. We are concerned about the future of funding. We are not at all clear about what will happen to the Oil For Food Program, and trust that when it is replaced there will be a full consultation with Iraqi civil society about the new mechanisms. It is vitally important that these mechanisms give proper funding to the social and economic priorities we have described.

As part of this consideration we are taking account of the cultural and religious traditions of our people. We are looking at what we will need to do to cater for their needs during the Holy Month of Ramadan and then in the Eid celebration which follows it. The Red Crescent Society is not, of course, built on a religious base, but there is a clear need to respond to local tradition when working out what assistance programs can be delivered and when, and what social activities should be supported. I mention this aspect today because of its relevance in transitional Iraq.

Mr President, I am looking forward to hearing the discussion which will follow the panel statements, and also to seeing the wishes of Iraqi civil society incorporated in the summary which will be presented to Ministers for their meeting tomorrow. This is a very important conference for the people of Iraq, and it is just as important that their voice should be heard. For that I express my deep thanks to the organisers, the United Nations and the Government of Spain.