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ACT NOW - SAVE LIVES Write to Jack Straw about the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. The people of Iraq - and especially Iraq's children - are in grave danger because of the damage and disruption caused by the war. In Baghdad 'all civic services have essentially ceased to exist' (UNICEF, 17 April). Waterborne diseases have increased sharply, food reserves will run out by early May and aid agencies describe the situation in southern Iraq as "desperate" (Guardian, 18 April). As occupying powers the US and Britain have obligations under international humanitarian law to: 'ensur[e] the food and medical supplies of the population'; restore public order and safety; and 'facilitate by all means at [their] disposal' humanitarian relief by impartial aid agencies. So far they have failed - and are failing - to fulfil these obligations: - Although the US/UK have so far spent at least $20 bn on their illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq (FT, 17 April) the UN World Food Programme has been unable raise $1.3 bn for an emergency operation to re-establish food distribution inside Iraq and 'avert a humanitarian catastrophe.' As at 17 April there was still a $1 bn shortfall. - While much planning and resources were devoted to securing Iraq's oilfields and the Ministry of Oil, Iraq's hospitals and water-treatment plants were left to the looters. All but three of Baghdad's hospitals 'are closed because of looting and arson' (Independent, 19 April) and security concerns in the south mean that Oxfam's water engineers 'have been unable even to reach Basra' (Guardian, 19 April). - The US military has prevented Save the Children (SCF) from landing desperately needed medical supplies even in areas declared safe by the UN. According to SCF this lack of cooperation 'is a breach of the Geneva convention' and 'is costing children their lives' (Guardian, 18 April). PLEASE WRITE to the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw MP, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, London to demand that the US/ UK fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law and use all the resources at their disposal to end the current humanitarian crisis. _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk