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19 March 2003

10 million people will be without food within 6 weeks of the onset of a war, warns Save the Children.*

 

“In the event of war, many more Iraqis will die from hunger and disease than from bombs and bullets," said Save the Children New Zealand’s Executive Director John Bowis today.

 

“60 percent of the Iraqi population – around 16 million people –are dependent on the monthly oil for food ration. This ration will almost inevitably be cut off in the event of war.

 

“Children and their families will not have alternate food supplies or enough funds to buy the equivalent amount of food if the ration ends."

 

Mr Bowis also said that deliberate or accidental damage to the electricity, sewerage and water supply infrastructure would result in thousands of deaths from illnesses such as diarrhoea – especially amongst infants.

 

“90 percent of Iraq’s sewerage treatment stations are vulnerable if the electricity is cut off, leading to polluted drinking water and dire public health consequences."

 

“The Iraqi population –half of whom are children under 15 - are already suffering after years of conflict and international sanctions. Death rates of children have more than doubled since 1990. Nearly 1 in 4 children in Iraq are chronically malnourished. War will make an extremely bad situation worse for Iraqi children and their families."

 

Mr Bowis said today that Save the Children has made emergency preparations in the event of war, putting non-food items in place to assist thousands of displaced families, and establishing logistical bases and supply lines in neighbouring countries.

 

Save the Children was also preparing for a six-month intervention throughout the country to meet the most basic emergency needs of vulnerable groups, including food, water, medicine and shelter, at an estimated cost of USD $10,000,000.

 

“Save the Children UK has been working in Iraq since 1991 and the organisation is particularly well placed to respond to the current humanitarian crisis, once conditions inside the country permit NGO activity."

 

“Save the Children asks all New Zealanders to contribute to Save the Children’s emergency intervention to ensure that innocent Iraqi children can be helped. Donate now by calling 0800 167 168 or online at www.savethechildren.org.nz

 

ENDS

Spokespeople available now

1) Save the Children Media Officer Eileen Burke in Kuwait
2) New Zealander and Media Officer Brendan Paddy in London. Brendan was in Iraq in December and is returning to the Middle East over the next two weeks
3) John Bowis in Wellington

Contact Save the Children for more information: 04 385 6847, info@scfnz.org.nz or 021 137 6694