UN agencies report improved security in Iraq, but concerns remain

United Nations relief agencies in Iraq, which have long been alarmed at the lawlessness hampering their activities, today reported “a significant improvement,” but still warned that public security remained a top concern.

“All information received reported a significant improvement of public security and decrease of night shooting,” Veronique Taveau, spokesperson for the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, told a briefing in Baghdad. “A great number of weapons and ammunition is seized every day. The number of Iraqi police stations is increasing.”

But, she added: “Even though more shops remain open late, security remains on top of our concerns, more and more Iraqi people keep firearms in their homes and shops. Crime rate is still high and pressures of fundamentalist Islamic groups are reported growing dramatically in Baghdad.”

Meanwhile, the top UN envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, continued his “familiarization” meetings to define the world body’s role in the country’s reconstruction.

Today, on his third full day in Baghdad, Mr. Vieira de Mello, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative, met informally with a group of 15 Iraqi professionals, including lawyers, judges, journalists, economists, human rights advocators, from various background including Sunnis and Shiites, Kurds and Christians.

Members of the group emphasized their desire to see the UN assisting Iraq in a number of areas such as the political process leading to a representative government; reconstruction; rehabilitation of the infrastructure; provisions of food supplies and other humanitarian services; the amelioration of standards of living throughout the country; the issue of gender equality; and improving conditions for youth. They also stressed the need for justice and reform of the judicial system.

Briefing them on the Security Council resolution that established his mandate, Mr. Vieira de Mello stressed that the UN role is to help the Iraqi people participate effectively in rebuilding their country. He particularly emphasized the promotion of human rights and the role of women in promoting peace, unity, stability and justice.

He further explained that decision-making rested with the United States-run provisional Authority, and offered to convey the concerns of the Iraqis to the US Civilian Administrator, Paul Bremer, with whom he later met.

On the humanitarian front, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with Iraq’s Civil Defence Organization (CDO) to deal with tens of thousands of unexploded ordinance (UXOs) – coalition cluster bombs dropped during the war and Iraqi munitions stored in public places such as schools – which have already killed or injured hundreds of children around the country.

A single hospital, Al-Noor General in Al-Sho'la district, has treated well over 60 children who have been seriously injured or killed by UXOs since the end of the war, their injuries ranging from severe burns to the face, hands and bodies, to amputations and gaping stomach and face wounds, spokesman Geoffrey Keele said.

UNICEF and CDO have devised a rapid assessment procedure for identifying areas contaminated by UXOs and munitions, finding contaminated sites all over Baghdad's 24 civil defence districts in its initial run. The US military is to send teams to clear contaminated areas.

For its part, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that food distribution was proceeding smoothly since resuming on 1 June. WFP has brought in about 440,000 tons to replenish the food distribution system – enough to feed the whole Iraqi population for one month. The actual distribution is carried out by thousands of Iraqi food agents.