The world tribunal on Iraq will hold its culminating session in Istanbul from June 23-27, 2005.
Since health care for an occupied population is the responsibility of the occupying power, a comprehensive report on health care in Iraq subsequent to the invasion is in order.
See the whole report at
http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/reports/HealthcareUnderOccupationDahrJamail.pdf
The pdf runs to 38 pages. Some salient quotes:
...this report concludes with the following calls to action:
1. The fact that the US government has released so little of the $1 billion in reconstruction funds allegedly allocated to the Ministry of Health should be subject to an immediate congressional investigation to scrutinize the US government's expenditures and actions, as well as the expenditures and actions of western companies that have been awarded contracts in Iraq regarding the health care system. Investigators should be given the power to seek punitive measures for contract violations and over-expenditures and to provide oversight regulation and accountability of the work of these companies in regard to their individual contracts.
2. This abuse of resources and widespread corruption seems a natural consequence of the lack of oversight of multinational corporations, owing perhaps primarily to their immunity under Iraqi law as established by Executive Order #17. An institutional regime consisting of international oversight, which would include a legitimate body of experts on essential services and representatives of the country's medical society, should be created and put to work immediately.
3. An independent investigation should be launched to probe the actions of the US military reagrding its alleged interference with Iraqi healthcare personnel and facilities, specifically with regard to the city of Fallujah. This investigation should include a more general appraisal of US military actions that have interfered with efforts to provide both healthcare and emergency services to a population under occupation. This investigation should also examine the issue of accountability to clearly identify who is accountable for this state of affairs. In order to facilitate independent inquiries into these and other human rights issues, the post of the UN Human Rights Rapporteur, vacant since 2003, should be filled immediately.
4. Every Iraqi who has suffered the loss of a loved one, injury or property damage as a result of the invasion and insuing occupation should immediately be compensated in full by western standards, not the $2500 payout the US military has set as the standard fee for a dead Iraqi.
Posted by Hannah at June 21, 2005 12:13 PM