Brendan Howlin
Question:116 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has assessed in a verifiable manner the impact of an armed conflict on Iraqi children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/03]
Written Answers - Foreign Conflicts.
The Government has formed an assessment, in consultation with appropriate UN and other humanitarian organisations, of the likely impact of the use of military force against Iraq. We share the widely held view that the immediate consequences of such action for the civilian population of Iraq, including children, will be serious. Since there can be no certainty about exactly what will occur in the event of military action, all assessments are necessarily estimates based, for the most part, on extrapolation from earlier conflicts. However, we are satisfied that these assessments represent the most reliable information available.
It is estimated that there are more than 3.5 million children under the age of five in Iraq. UNICEF has reported that the current under-five mortality rate has increased significantly since 1990 in some areas of Iraq. The main causes of high mortality rates in children under five are malnutrition and the high prevalence of diarrhoeal disease as well as acute respiratory infections. The maternal mortality ratio has also more than doubled since 1990 and in some areas accounts for one third of all deaths among women between 15 and 49 years of age.
Following the onset of an emergency, the most immediate concern would be for the 240,000 children currently undergoing nutritional rehabilitation in the country as well as the 140,000 malnourished pregnant women in need of supplemental feeding. Any breakdown in primary health services and interruption in the supply of nutritional supplements could result in the further deterioration of the health of malnourished children.
Ireland Aid has contributed more than €700,000 in humanitarian funding for the people of Iraq since 2000. Funding has been targeted at relief programmes in nutrition, water and sanitation and rehabilitation of health services. These programmes have been implemented by UNICEF, the International committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and Trócaire's local partner CARITAS.
The Government continues to believe that the potential still exists to resolve this crisis without recourse to the use of military force and we hope that Iraq will act immediately to bring itself into compliance with its obligations. This would be in the best interests of Iraqi children who have been subjected to great hardship by the stubborn refusal of Saddam Hussein to comply with the legitimate demands of the UN Security Council.
Iraq is a potentially wealthy country and it must be the fervent hope of all of us that its people, and in particular its children, will be able to enjoy the freedom and prosperity which is their birthright.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:117 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated number of Irish citizens in Iraq; and the arrangements in place to provide consular or other assistance to them in the event of hostilities there. [6360/03]
As far as my Department is aware, there is only one Irish citizen resident in Iraq, and she is expected to leave the country shortly. I understand that there are two other Irish citizens visiting Iraq at present, and that a small number of Irish citizens may be intending to travel there in the near future.
My Department issued travel advice on 21 February strongly advising against travel to Iraq and urging any Irish citizens in the country to leave immediately. The Irish Embassy in Baghdad has been closed since 1991 and the Department has made it clear that, in the event of a conflict, we will not be in a position to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in Iraq.
There is a standing arrangement whereby Irish citizens may seek consular assistance from embassies of other EU member states in countries where Ireland does not have a resident mission. However, in the event of a conflict in Iraq, there can be no assurance that such EU embassies as might remain in Baghdad would be able to provide effective assistance to any Irish citizens there.