UNITED NATIONS, March 25: Reiterating that the United Nations would do everything possible to help the Iraqi people, Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday called for urgent measures to restore water and electricity supply to Basra following reports that the southern city may face a humanitarian disaster and urged the parties to the conflict to treat prisoners of war humanely.
Mr Annan told reporters that the major issue today before the Security Council was adopting a new resolution on the now suspended oil-for-food programme, which allows Baghdad to use a portion of revenues generated by petroleum exports to purchase food and other relief supplies.
“We should not forget that 60 per cent of them (Iraqi people) have been dependent on the oil-for-food programme and this is why the council and myself are determined to do whatever we can to keep that pipeline open, and the initiative in the council where they are discussing adjustments to the oil-for-food programme is to make that possible,” he said.
Asked whether the United States and its allies had behaved so far fully in accordance with their responsibilities under humanitarian obligations, Mr Annan replied: “I don’t have all the facts but I’ve heard a report from the Red Cross that people in Basra may be facing a humanitarian disaster in that they have no water or electricity and I think a city of that size cannot afford to go without electricity or water for long.”
“Urgent measures should be taken to restore electricity and water to that population,” Mr Annan said and stressed that in times of war it was the belligerents who were responsible for the welfare and safety of the people and that in an occupation it was the occupying power that had the responsibility for the welfare of the people.
“Without detracting from these responsibilities, the UN will do whatever it can to help the Iraqi population and we would want to resume the oil-for-food programme as soon as possible,” he said.
“In these conflict situations it is urgent that humanitarian agencies and actors are given the space to act. And I should also remind all concerned that they must respect international humanitarian law.”
To a question about prisoners of war, Mr Annan said: “Prisoners of war have to be treated humanely and in accordance with international law and I think both sides have a responsibility to ensure this is done and send a message to the combatants that they do have a responsibility to treat the prisoners of war humanely.”
Responding to a question about charges levelled by Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yasin Ramadan in a letter delivered on Friday, Mr Annan said: “I think I can understand the anger, the frustration, the exasperation of Mr Ramadan and other Iraqis. Their country is at war and this sort of sentiment and anger is something that is understandable.”
“But of course I am doing my work as secretary-general with the council. The UN or I have no interest in becoming a high commissioner and it is ironic that as a former colonial subject I will be accused of being a colonialist,” he added.