Iraq – Abandoned mines and looting – Danger to the civilian population

WRITTEN QUESTION

Submission: to the Council and the Commission

19 May 2003

Subject: Iraq – Abandoned mines and looting – Danger to the civilian population

According to data from Human Rights Watch, following the end of the recent war in Iraq, civilian casualties have risen dramatically compared to the period of active combat. This situation is primarily due to the large quantity of unexploded munitions—land mines, grenades, and other explosive devices—that remain in populated areas. This phenomenon is essentially attributed to the sudden collapse of the command and control structures of the Iraqi army, which resulted in the disorganized retreat of soldiers who left their equipment behind. Many of the victims are children who play with the explosives, leading to serious injuries. At the same time, looting continues and sniper activity persists—suspected to be carried out by supporters of the Ba’ath Party who aim to destabilize the country, resulting in the injury and killing of many innocent civilians, as well as the destruction of countless important documents from Iraq’s public services. According to Amnesty International, British soldiers have been involved in the mass destruction of documents related to the electricity supply operation in Basra.

At the same time, the American forces controlling Iraq are ignoring calls for the removal of mines and for the provision of more patrols. Similar was the fate of calls from international humanitarian organizations for the establishment of at least some methods of policing.

The Committee is asked what actions it intends to take in order for the occupying and monitoring forces in Iraq to respect international conventions and protect the Iraqi citizens from the aforementioned dangers, which threaten not only their health and lives but also the organization of their state.