LONDON, 26 March 2003 — Amnesty International said yesterday it feared the spread of humanitarian crises in Iraq such as the situation in the besieged southern city of Basra, whose residents have been without water since Friday. “We are concerned that the situation in Basra may be mirrored in other cities and regions in Iraq,” Amnesty said in a press statement released in London.
“Military authorities have a responsibility to carefully assess the implications on civilians of any object that they target,” the organization said. “All parties to the conflict in Iraq have a responsibility to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the civilian population are fully met.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Monday that Basra, a city of 1.2 million people, “may be facing a humanitarian disaster,” prompting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to call for the warring parties to restore water and electricity as soon as possible.
Amnesty added: “With the escalation of military activity in Iraq it is vital that the health and safety of ordinary civilians is given increasing consideration.” Both the Iraqi and US military authorities must facilitate access to allow humanitarian organizations to operate there, it added.
China yesterday said it was “seriously concerned” about a “worsening” humanitarian situation and reiterated its calls for the United States to stop the war. “We are seriously concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Iraq,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.
He noted that international and Chinese media have shown the war has created a humanitarian disaster. “We are shocked by that...,” Kong told a regular news briefing. “We strongly appeal to the relevant parties to cease war and return to the correct path of political solution to the Iraqi question.” China had agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to Jordan to help refugees from Iraq and Kong indicated yesterday that China planned to provide additional assistance if necessary. China, as one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has repeatedly called for an immediate halt to the US-led assault against Iraq since war broke out Thursday, saying the actions violated the UN Charter and international norms.
Kong also urged Iraq and the United States to fully abide by the Geneva Convention and respect international law governing prisoners of war. “According to a 1949 Geneva Convention, POWs must be granted humanitarian treatment. They should enjoy the respect of their body and their honor...,” he said. “We appeal to the two warring parties to fully abide by the Geneva Convention and other regulations of international humanitarian law.”
