PHA-Exchange> Press release: US-led TROOPS IN IRAQ ARE TARGETING HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES AND CIVILIANS

[Wim De Ceukelaire]

(Please distribute widely, sorry for cross posting)

PRESS RELEASE



US-led TROOPS IN IRAQ ARE  TARGETING  HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES AND CIVILIANS



“STOP the war crimes. Respect the Geneva conventions and end the occupation
immediately,” says an international campaign alliance.



April 21th: Released simultaneously from Baghdad, Manila, Bangalore,
Managua, Brussels, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne.



According to an international campaign group, there is strong evidence that
the US-led occupation forces are guilty of war crimes in Iraq.



In a press statement issued today, ‘Health NOW! No war, No WTO- Fight for
people’s health’- an international campaign alliance – said that the US led
occupation forces have “shown disrespect for civilians, health systems,
health workers and medical infrastructure, resulting in the death of
hundreds of civilians and extreme misery for thousands of people in Fallujah
and many more in the rest of Iraq.”



The alliance spearheading the campaign includes leading medical
professionals, development and peace groups and networks, people-based mass
movements and activists from over 100 countries.



Based on first hand field testimonies from health workers and peace
activists in Iraq and eye-witness accounts from Fallujah, the campaigners
leveled their charges:



1)      US- led troops have targeted unarmed civilians and used cluster
bombs in populated areas of the city.

2)      US-led troops have severely hampered relief work to the wounded.

3)      US-led troops have blocked access to Fallujah’s hospital thus
forcing doctors and health personnel to set up field hospitals in private
homes.

4)      US-led forces deliberately targeted ambulances that went about the
city to collect the injured.



“These constitute war crimes as the US troops are required by the Geneva
Conventions to discriminate combatants from non-combatants,” said Dr. Geert
Van Moorter, a Belgian emergency doctor of intal/Medical Aid for the Third
World who was in Iraq until early April. “These acts are repulsive and
immoral as they cause unnecessary civilian casualties,” he added.



The campaigners also pointed out that no less than the Iraqi health
minister, during a less-reported press conference held on April 17th,
confirmed that the US-led forces have intentionally shot at ambulances.



The campaigners have posted the details, facts and proof for these charges
along with corroborated eyewitness accounts at the campaign website
http://www.health-now.org.



“Indiscriminate killing of civilians and the refusal to provide people with
security, basic services and decent medical infrastructure have
characterized the ‘freedom’ that the occupying forces have brought to the
country” said Eman Ahmed Khammas, Director of International Occupation Watch
Center, one of the participating groups in the campaign, from Occupied
Baghdad.



Nicaraguan health activist María Hamlin Zúniga said: “The latest atrocities
in Iraq confirm our stand that the immediate withdrawal of the occupying
forces is a prerequisite for any improvement in the country’s health
situation.”



“We urge the peoples of the world to show their unwavering solidarity with
the Iraqi people and to demand an immediate end to the US-led occupation,”
Philippine Dr. Delen de la Paz added.



The alliance spearheading the campaign includes leading groups, networks,
people-based movements and activist groups like the People's Health
Movement, the International People's Health Council, International League of
People's Struggle-Study Commission on Health, Women’s Global Network for
Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), Pesticide Action Network (PAN-AP), intal
/Medical Aid for the Third World (Belgium), the Council for Health and
Development (the Philippines), the Hesperian Foundation (USA), the Union of
Health Work Committees (Palestine), Union of Palestinian Medical Relief
Committees (Palestine), International Action Center (USA) and International
Occupation Watch Center (Iraq).



Stop the occupation of Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan!



WTO out of health!



Health care, not warfare!



http://www.health-now.org

For media enquiries, please contact: media at health-now.org or call:



Philippines: +63-917-811 3298                                  : India:
+91-80-5128 0009

Belgium: +32-495-85 57 01                                       : USA:
+1-510 684 1099

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