(2004/C 88 E/0047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(2 June 2003)

Subject:   Iraq — serious danger to civilians from unexploded landmines and looting activities.

According to Human Rights Watch, following the end of the recent war in Iraq, civilian casualty figures have shot up compared with the number of casualties during the war itself, principally because of the large quantities of unexploded ordnance — landmines, grenades and other explosive devices — left behind in residential areas following the sudden collapse of the Iraqi military command and control structure and the resulting flight of military personnel who abandoned their equipment. Many of the victims are children who suffer serious injury from playing with explosive devices. At the same time looting is continuing, while snipers, conjectured to be Baath Party members seeking to destabilise the country, are injuring and killing many innocent civilians. In addition countless public service documents are being destroyed in Iraq. According to Amnesty International, British troops were involved in the mass destruction of electricity supply company documents in Basra.

At the same time American armed monitoring forces in Iraq are ignoring appeals for mine clearance and more patrols. Appeals by international human rights organisations for at least some level of policing have also been disregarded.

What measures will the Commission take in an effort to ensure that the occupying and monitoring forces in Iraq comply with international agreements and effectively protect the Iraqi civil populace from the above dangers which are threatening not only their individual lives and welfare but also the very structure of the State?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the security situation in Iraq, and about the continuation of looting and attacks by criminal elements or remnant of the Baath Party. The present situation seriously risks compromising the effort to stabilize the country and prevent the deliver by the humanitarian operators of the necessary aid to the population.

The Commission hopes that the coalition forces which represents the authority in Iraq will undertake the necessary steps to guarantee security and to protect the civil population from any sort of threat. In this respect, the conclusions of the European Council in Thessaloniki stress the need to provide security to the civilian population as a precondition for the sustainable reconstruction of the country.

The Commission is also aware of the problem of the casualties provoked on a daily basis by the unexploded ordnance left on the ground following the conflict. In this regard the Commission has recently adopted a decision to provide a financial contribution of EUR 10 million, for supporting de-mining activities carried out by international non-governmental organisations and co-ordinated by UNMAS. This funding decision will help collect and disseminate information on likely locations of high concentration of unexploded landmines and bombs, develop local capacity through formal training sessions and raise awareness through Mine Risk Education.