Security, Health Care Essential for Progress in Iraq

CARE
Tuesday, 6 May 2003

CARE Says Hospitals Need Priority Status from U.S. Forces

Improving security and re-establishing health care and other essential social services stand out as the most serious, immediate needs to stabilize Iraq, the humanitarian organization CARE stated today. For the past 12 years, CARE worked with hospitals in the south and central parts of Iraq and currently is responding to the vast need. Many hospitals, particularly in Baghdad, have been looted of supplies and stripped of machinery and beds. Because there is no system for paying workers, hospitals are trying to cope with a skeleton crew of medical personnel.

"Lawlessness, criminal activity, lack of public order, and fear are huge problems in Baghdad. The insecurity affects hospital operations, and the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that doctors and other hospital staff are still not being paid," said Anne Morris, CARE's emergency team leader in Iraq. CARE is encouraging the U.S.government to fulfill its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention regarding the provision of basic health services. "This dire situation is endangering the lives of wounded and sick Iraqis," Morris said.

In addition to conducting assessments of Baghdad's hospitals and health clinics, CARE staff already have been instrumental in restoring some facilities to operation. Most Iraqis do not have money to buy fuel, which is in short supply. CARE has donated fuel for key Ministry of Health staff to return to work. Staff have installed sinks and water pipes, fixed generators, tested water quality, and provided sufficient gas and oil to keep generators going. Still, the level of need is great, and patients are receiving inadequate care.

To address this situation, CARE statedthe U.S. government should immediately take the following steps:

(1) Accelerate improvement in law and order by deploying forces with police training to fill the vacuum created by the collapse of the Iraqi government.

(2) Increase security protection at hospitals and other critical social infrastructure.

(3) Institute a system for payment of salaries for hospital staff and other essential government social service workers.

(4) Prioritize the safe and immediate delivery of essential equipment, medicines and other supplies to health facilities.

(5) Work with the rest of the international community to put in place credible structures for the coordination of relief and reconstruction efforts, carving out an important role for the United Nations.

"The present situation is not acceptable," said Margaret Hassan, CARE Iraq's director. "Urgent action is needed now to decrease suffering and avert greater loss of life in the weeks and months to come. We need security. We need supplies. And we need to restore civil society so that people can be paid and return to some semblance of normalcy."

About CARE: CARE is one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations fighting global poverty. CARE helps communities improve their quality of life through projects in agriculture and natural resources, economic development, education, food, health, water and sanitation and emergency response.

For more information, or to contact CARE, see their website at: www.care.org