From Amnesty International:

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: MDE 14/013/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 090
14 April 2004

Iraq: Civilians continue to pay the price

Amnesty International remains deeply concerned at the ever mounting civilian death toll. Half of at least 600 people who died in the recent fighting between Coalition forces and insurgents in Falluja are said to have been civilians- many of them women and children. Thousands have fled the city in search for safety since a ceasefire was agreed.

"Civilians continue to pay the ultimate price. This tragedy must be stopped and those responsible for civilian deaths must be held accountable," said Amnesty International

"It is clear from recent events in Falluja that the parties to the conflict have disregarded international humanitarian law. A full, independent and impartial investigation is needed now," said Amnesty International.

There are fears that the ceasefire may not hold for long and the population of Falluja may once again be caught in the fighting and face a humanitarian crisis.

Background

The fighting in Falluja erupted when US Marines sealed off the city and launched military operations on 5 April to seek the arrest of those responsible for the killing, burning and mutilation of four US private security guards on 31 March.

After days of fighting a ceasefire was agreed on 11 April and negotiations began between representatives of the Iraqi Governing Council, religious clerics and representatives of the city of Falluja.

Thousands of Falluja residents fled the city, many towards Baghdad. In a press briefing on 13 April UNHCR announced that it had made available 3,500 blankets, 1,200 mattresses, five emergency health kits (benefiting over 50,000 people) and other equipment to cater for displaced people from Falluja in Baghdad.

Take action

If you would like to take action please send appeals urging the US, as the main occupying power, to:

ensure the safety and welfare of civilians in Iraq;
ensure that all humanitarian needs of the Iraqi population are fully met;
carry out impartial and independent investigations into serious human rights violations, including unlawful killing of civilians, and bring to justice those responsible.
Please send appeals to:

The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary
The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301, USA

Fax: +1 703 697 8339
Email: public@defenselink.mil
Salutation: Dear Secretary of Defense