Parliamentary questions

 

WRITTEN  QUESTION   E-1809/03

 

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Council and Commission

(20 May 2003)

 

 

Subject: Iraq - serious danger to civilians from unexploded landmines and looting activities

 

 

E-1833/03EN

Answer given by Mr Patten

on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2003)

 

 

 

The Commission shares the concerns of the Honourable Member about the security situation in Iraq, and about the continuation of looting and attacks by criminal elements or remnant of the Baath Party. The present situation seriously risks compromising the effort to stabilize the country and prevent the deliver by the humanitarian operators of the necessary aid to the population.

 

The Commission hopes that the coalition forces which represents the authority in Iraq will undertake the necessary steps to guarantee security and to protect the civil population from any sort of threat. In this respect, the conclusions of the European Council in Thessaloniki stress the need to provide security to the civilian population as a precondition for the sustainable reconstruction of the country.

 

The Commission is also aware of the problem of the casualties provoked on a daily basis by the unexploded ordnance left on the ground following the conflict. In this regard the Commission has recently adopted a decision to provide a financial contribution of € 10 million, for supporting de-mining activities carried out by international non-governmental organisations and co-ordinated by UNMAS. This funding decision will help collect and disseminate information on likely locations of high concentration of unexploded landmines and bombs, develop local capacity through formal training sessions and raise awareness through Mine Risk Education.