Hunger, disease spread in Iraq - Oxfam report
Pastor Dale Morgan
Hunger, disease spread in Iraq - Oxfam report*
30 Jul 2007 06:37:57 GMT
Source: Reuters
BAGHDAD, July 30 (Reuters) - Hunger and disease are spreading in Iraq as
violence masks a deepening humanitarian crisis, British charity Oxfam
said in a report on Monday.
The charity said 28 percent of Iraqi children are malnourished, 15
percent of Iraqis regularly cannot afford enough to eat and 70 percent
lack clean drinking water, all sharp increases since 2003.
"The terrible violence in Iraq has masked the ongoing humanitarian
crisis. Malnutrition amongst children has dramatically increased and
basic services, ruined by years of war and sanctions, cannot meet the
needs of the Iraqi people," Oxfam director Jeremy Hobbs said.
"The fighting and weak Iraqi institutions mean there are severe limits
on what humanitarian work can be carried out. Nevertheless more can and
should be done to help the Iraqi people," he said.
Two million Iraqis have been forced to flee the country since 2003, and
at least as many have been displaced within Iraq.
Oxfam, which pulled out of Iraq along with most other aid agencies
because of deteriorating security in 2003, said there are local
charities within Iraq that are working to help the poorest Iraqis. But
most are under-funded.
Some are afraid to accept aid from countries with troops in Iraq for
security reasons, and Oxfam called on countries that have not sent
troops to send more money for aid.