Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
21 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the failure to publish estimates of civilian deaths in Iraq; if he sought such estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30078/04]
View answerThe Government does not have any information on casualty figures among civilians in Iraq, other than those estimates by various commentators which are available in the public domain. We have no means of assessing the accuracy of any of these figures. These have usually ranged from 10,000 to 15,000 persons. I am also aware of a recent study in the UK journal The Lancet, which by statistical extrapolation suggested a civilian toll of up to 100,000. The Iraqi Ministry of Health has now estimated that 3,800 civilians have been killed in the six month period to 5 October 2004.
The Government's view, which has been expressed clearly since the outset of the conflict, is that the use of force should be kept to a minimum, and that every possible effort must be made to avoid civilian casualties.
In this context, it is right that we should recognise also that very many Iraqi civilians have been killed or injured in bomb attacks against multi-national forces by insurgents, who seem indifferent to the loss of life they cause.
