Iraq: Canadian Red Cross condemns Baghdad bomb attack
(Ottawa, October 27, 2003) - The Canadian Red Cross condemns this morning's attack on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Baghdad and expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the victims and their families. All deliberate attacks causing death or injury among civilians are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law and negate the most basic principles of humanity.
Two Iraqi employees of the ICRC were killed in a bomb explosion outside the organization's office in Baghdad this morning. Ten other people in the area were also reported killed.
"We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on the ICRC in Iraq," says Susan Johnson, National Director, International Programs and Humanitarian Issues, Canadian Red Cross. "The ICRC is an impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian organization whose mission in Iraq and other war-torn countries is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance."
The ICRC will be reassessing its working conditions in Baghdad over the next few days. Since 1980, the ICRC has been working continuously in Iraq to address the most urgent needs of the population.
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Media Contact:
Suzanne Charest,
Communications Officer
Canadian Red Cross
Tel: (613) 740-1928
Pager: (613) 594-7405
