The following is an archived copy of a message sent to the CASI Analysis List run by Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of Cambridge Solidarity with Iraq (CASI).
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [CASI Homepage]
[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] This is an automated compilation of submissions to newsclippings@casi.org.uk Articles for inclusion in this daily news mailing should be sent to newsclippings@casi.org.uk. Please include a full reference to the source of the article. Today's Topics: 1. Baghdad vulnerability survey (Nicholas Gilby) 2. Stumbling blocks for new UN resolution on Iraq (k hanly) 3. Iraq adopts a new flag (k hanly) --__--__-- Message: 1 Subject: Baghdad vulnerability survey Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 16:13:47 +0100 From: "Nicholas Gilby" <Nicholas.Gilby@DELETETHISmori.com> To: <newsclippings@casi.org.uk> Life 'worse' for many of Iraq's poor, survey reveals Christian Aid ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Christian Aid - UK Website: http://www.christianaid.org.uk/news The quality of life for Iraq's poor has deteriorated since the defeat of the Saddam regime, according to a new survey commissioned by Christian Aid. The Baghdad Vulnerability Survey concludes: 'Poor Iraqis suffered enormously under Saddam Hussein's regime, yet the present stage of reconstruction is in some ways even more difficult. During the Saddam years, the war was at the front line; now it has moved into their own streets.' Christian Aid partner, the Iraqi Kurdish NGO Network, interviewed around 1,000 families in eight of Baghdad's poorest, predominantly Shia neighbourhoods. It is one of the first ever large-scale surveys of the living conditions of poor Iraqis. 'Before the fall of Saddam Hussein, the whole of Iraqi society suffered years of war and sanctions, but its poorest people were hit particularly severely,' said Christian Aid Middle East expert, Sue Turrel. 'In Baghdad, the Shia south was systematically deprived of services and investment as a way of suppressing local resistance to Saddam Hussein's regime.' The survey looks at all aspects of the lives of families who depend on outside help - such as food handouts or cash donations from friends or relatives. It particularly looks at the situation of women and children. The results present a stark picture of miserable living conditions - now greatly exacerbated by insecurity, crime, economic uncertainty, unemployment, inadequate public services and poor housing. Mass redundancy and rising living costs mean more than half the families surveyed need financial help to survive. Families prioritised clothing, transport, health and education needs as most urgent. Children's education is being severely disrupted. Almost two-thirds of school-age children in the families surveyed were not attending school full time. The reasons given included poor standards of education, dilapidated school buildings and children forced to work to boost family income. Poor water supply affects most of the families interviewed, many of which now have no functioning sewerage system. Years of neglect left many water supplies contaminated with sewage. Most families surveyed live in just one or two rooms and many homes lacked basic facilities such as water, sanitation and ventilation. 'This increasing deprivation is likely to feed discontent and insecurity and increase the appeal of radical ideologies', said Ms Turrel. 'Decent provision for Iraq's poor is crucial to the country's security and to reconstruction.' ============================ Disclaimer This e-mail is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MORI Limited. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please either notify the MORI Systems Helpdesk by telephone on 44 (0) 20 7347 3000 or respond to this e-mail with WRONG RECIPIENT in the title line. ============================ _____________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for viruses for MORI by MessageLabs. For further information visit http://www.mci.com --__--__-- Message: 2 From: "k hanly" <khanly@DELETETHISmb.sympatico.ca> To: "newsclippings" <newsclippings@casi.org.uk> Subject: Stumbling blocks for new UN resolution on Iraq Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 10:48:10 -0500 http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/26/1082831497184.html Move to endorse Iraq plan could fail over troops By Robin Wright and Colum Lynch in Washington April 27, 2004 The Bush Administration is preparing a resolution for the United Nations to endorse its plan to transfer power in Iraq, but a proposal that guarantees legal protection for foreign troops may face a tough time. Letting the US make the final judgements on Saddam Hussein's weapons programs also faces opposition. The range of powers to be handed to an Iraqi provisional government on June 30 could also trigger debate, UN and US officials said. Security Council envoys are concerned that the resolution will give only partial sovereignty to Iraq, leaving ultimate power in the hands of the US and its allies. Russia, China, Pakistan and other council members insist that the transfer of power mark a real end to US control and that the UN be given wider powers - more than the UN appears prepared to assume. "The main thing is to give back the central role to the United Nations," said China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya. "The occupation ends on June 30, but . . . there will still be a continuation of foreign occupation." One goal of the resolution is to rally international support behind the new provisional government, which is still being negotiated by US and UN officials, as well as ease international friction over the US-led invasion. "We are working on such a resolution, and I'm confident we'll be able to obtain such a resolution," the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said. Once the shape of the interim government is settled, negotiations will begin on a resolution. US officials say they have identified the main provisions - and three stumbling blocks. The first involves the legal authority of US-led foreign forces to continue operations in Iraq. The US and Britain say foreign forces were given legal cover by a previous UN resolution, but their allies are pressing for further UN approval to assuage domestic public opinion. So the US intends to seek UN approval for a multinational force in Iraq. The second issue is embracing a new Iraqi provisional government and the 18-month transition that will include writing a new constitution and at least two elections. The UN envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, has been holding talks about a caretaker government until elections in January 2005. US officials have said the transitional government would have limited powers, with no authority to write laws and no control over US military forces still in Iraq. The third issue is deciding whether UN or US teams will write the final report on Iraq's weaponry. The US wants a resolution that lets its Iraq survey group draw final conclusions about Saddam's military capabilities. But Russia's acting UN ambassador, Gennady Gatilov, said this should be left to the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission. The US State Department is pushing for a resolution to pass within about three weeks, a second US official said. Meanwhile, US forces entered Najaf to protect Spanish troops as they prepare to withdraw. The operation was not an offensive, a US military spokesman said, with most US troops awaiting orders to enter the city where radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia remain. Also, Britain is talking with coalition partners about its response to the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq. Media reports suggested that up to 2000 more British troops could be sent. Two US soldiers killed in Baghdad blast An explosion levelled part of a building as US troops were searching it for suspicious chemicals today, killing two US soldiers and wounding five others, the military said. A mob of Iraqis looted Humvees wrecked in the blast, making off with weapons and equipment. The troops raided the building based on information it might have "suspicious chemicals," Brig. General Mark Kimmitt told reporters. AP, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Reuters --__--__-- Message: 3 From: "k hanly" <khanly@DELETETHISmb.sympatico.ca> To: "newsclippings" <newsclippings@casi.org.uk> Subject: Iraq adopts a new flag Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:30:58 -0500 BAGHDAD: Iraq's Governing Council has adopted a new national flag to replace the one flown by Saddam Hussein, with emblems to represent peace, Islam and Iraq's Kurdish population, spokesman Hamid al-Kefaae said today. The new flag consists of a pale blue crescent on a white background and has a yellow strip between two lines of blue at the bottom. It will be raised over government buildings within days, he said. http://www.hipakistan.com/en/detail.php?newsId=en62743&F_catID=&f_type=source End of casi-news Digest _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk