Trocaire warn of 'humanitarian disaster' in Iraq

Charity Trócaire have today announced funding for a programme which is designed to safeguard vital escape routes for refugees fleeing war in Iraq.

Trocaire say that there is a "danger that war in Iraq could unleash a humanitarian disaster" and that as many as 150,000 people are expected to flee from the central and southern Iraq into the north and border regions of Iraq. However, routes of escape pass through battle-lines and areas which are known to be heavily landmined.

Trócaire has allocated £55,000 towards a programme which will ensure that internally displaced people are aware of the danger of landmines in the areas they are travelling through and the danger zones are clearly marked.

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), which will carry out the programme, has assigned 694 staff in northern Iraq to the task. MAG, which has worked in Iraq since 1992, identified over 2,000 mined areas and has already cleared over four million square metres of land and demarcated over 700 minefields.

Trócaire has also allocated £17,000 to Caritas Iraq to prepare villages and existing camps in three geographical areas in the north and border regions of Iraq for an influx of internally displaced people. This three-month programme will include meeting the medical and sanitation needs of the newly displaced.

The UN has estimated that up to 11 million Iraqis may need immediate humanitarian aid. Experts believe that at least 10,000 people could die with as many as 500,000 people left injured or sick in the current conflict.

Trócaire, which has worked in Iraq for the past 12 years, has already contributed £47,000 for disaster preparedness measures to be put in place. These steps included the training of over 260 medical staff and volunteers in first aid in 32 health centres and health posts throughout Iraq, the provision of medical supplies to care for 10,000 war injured, the rehabilitation of Caritas Iraq medical facilities and the provision of six ambulances.

Provision has been made to secure a supply of clean water through the provision of a water tanker and the digging of wells.

The UN estimates that 600,000 Iraqis are likely to become refugees during the conflict while 150,000 people will flee their homes and become internally displaced.

(GMcG)