Iraq Humanitarian Assistance Appeal

Restoring Family Links

Restoring Family Links in Iraq

The war may be over, but the pain lingers for many Iraqi families. The consequences of three wars and economic sanctions have caused enormous suffering and despair for the Iraqi people. More»

Delivering message brings Iraqi conflict home

Like many other people, Karen Miller, Disaster Services Coordinator for the Lower Mainland Region, has watched some of the extensive media coverage devoted to the armed conflict in Iraq. Unlike most people, however, she has also experienced firsthand the anxiety felt by a family in Vancouver who endured weeks without contact with their relatives in Iraq. Miller was given the task recently of delivering a family message that had been forwarded to Vancouver from Basra, Iraq through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva. More»

Family News Network of the International Committee of the Red Cross

To accelerate the process of restoring contact between separated family members and to facilitate the exchange of family news, the ICRC, in cooperation with the tracing services of the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is using this website to offer the following services to victims of this conflict. Available in English and Arabic.

Headlines

06/20/03 Latest news from Red Cross Staff in the field More»

On the Path to Rebuilding Iraq (07/08/03)

When Jody Sydor left her North Vancouver home in March 2003 destined for Iraq where war was imminent, she had little information on the details of the mission ahead. A seasoned disaster planner currently working as the Director of Emergency Management for North and West Vancouver, with two previous International Red Cross missions under her belt-her eight-week mission to Kuwait and Iraq as a relief delegate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) would also show her the importance of flexibility. More»

Raffi Encourages Support of Red Cross Iraq Appeal (06/10/03)

Raffi, the children's troubadour known to millions of Canadian families through songs like "Baby Beluga," has joined with the Red Cross to ask Canadians to support aid to Iraqi families recovering from the affects of war and 10 years of economic sanctions. More»

Conflict in Iraq: a nation caught in the cross fire (03/25/03)

Following two previous wars and 12 years of crushing trade sanctions, the once-wealthy country of Iraq is crumbling as it faces yet another conflict. The consequences of conflict in the region will be disastrous for the most vulnerable-the majority of whom already depend heavily on international aid for their survival. More» (PDF, 138kb)

IRAQ: ICRC Calls for Respect for International Humanitarian Law (03/21/03)

Deeply concerned about the human consequences of the
hostilities under way in Iraq, especially the impact of military operations on the civilian population, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls upon the warring parties to abide strictly by the rules and principles of international humanitarian law. More»

Leaving Room for Humanity (03/18/03)

As the military build-up in the Middle East gathers pace, it is important that we pause and remind ourselves of what war does to people and communities. We need to ask ourselves whether everything possible and necessary is being done to protect the people of Iraq and the region against the suffering caused by another man-made disaster. More»

Additional Headlines:

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Links

Specified War Crimes in the 1949 Geneva Conventions

The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols

International humanitarian law: answers to your questions (PDF File)

News from the Red Cross Staff in the field

International Committee of the Red Cross Web Site (English)

International Committee of the Red Cross Web Site (French version)

International Committee of the Red Cross Web Site (Arabic version)

Fact Sheets

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iraq Fact Sheet

In the event that conflict erupts, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will build on its long presence and experience in Iraq (knowledge of the country, infrastructures, established relations with the authorities, and co-operation with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and other humanitarian organizations) to respond to the most urgent needs of the population. More»

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Fact Sheet

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), also known as the laws of war, is a set of rules that seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict, protect persons who are not participating in the hostilities and restrict the means and methods of warfare. A major part of international humanitarian law is contained in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977. More»

Helping Youth Face Fear

Facing Fear Program

Its goal is to help young people aged from 5 to 16 be prepared for disasters and deal with the aftermath of terrorism and tragic events. The events of September 11, 2001 confronted us with the reality of new forms of armed conflicts aimed at terrorizing the population. The potential conflict in Iraq bears similar components that would also affect civilian populations, which is contrary to international humanitarian law. More»

Even Wars Have Limits

The Canadian Red Cross, as part of the larger Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, is a leader on issues concerning humanitarian response to war and armed conflict. The founder of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent - Henry Dunant - fueled the formation of international humanitarian law (IHL), the governing laws of war. More»

Press Releases

04/11/03	Iraq: Canadian Red Cross urgently calls for protection of the civilian population and services for people no longer fighting
04/09/03	Tragic death of Red Cross delegate in Baghdad confirmed
04/03/03	Red Cross helping Canadians as war in Iraq continues
04/02/03	Red Cross and First Calgary Savings Respond to Crisis in Iraq
04/01/03	Banks accepting donations for the Canadian Red Cross to help victims of the Iraq humanitarian crisis
03/31/03	Red Cross Starts Visiting Iraqi Prisoners Of War
03/26/03	Iraq: Water Supply Partly Re-established in Basra
03/20/03	Canadian Red Cross Appeals for Cash to Help Vulnerable People in Iraq and Surrounding Countries

Public Service Announcement

Crisis in Iraq : Caught in the Crossfire (PDF, 198kb)