Speech by Mr. Ross Mountain
Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General
UN Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Resident Coordinator - Iraq
On the occasion of the commemoration of the
First Anniversary of the Baghdad Tragedy
Amman, Jordan
19 August, 2004
One year ago today the UN faced its darkest hour ever.
Sadly, this was not the first time that UN workers have lost their
lives or have been murdered. Even more sadly this will not be the
last. Yet, the Canal Hotel bombing was unique in a number of ways
including its savagery (22 killed, more than 150 injured) and its
circumstances. The UN had been deliberately and massively targeted.
Despite the very special and uncomfortable environment of occupation
in which the Organisation was obliged to operate, it is our
understanding that the UN was not a chance target - or that we were hit
out of ignorance of our goals. Indeed it appears that it was the very
ideals for which the Organisation stands that attracted attention:
- Working to promote human rights, stability and the return of
sovereignty to the Iraq people.
- Helping provide basic needs and services to those in need, and;
Everyone one of us has an indelible memory of the blast.
Two weeks before I was completing a visit to Iraq in connection with
my previous assignment to consult with Sergio and other colleagues
including many of those whose contributions we are recalling today on
the likely evolution of humanitarian needs. While in Baghdad the first
humanitarian casualty occurred an IOM staffer then a worker of the
ICRC, was shot and killed.
On 19 August I was in Monrovia, Liberia, and as is usual in such
situations, endeavoring to persuade hostile parties to grant access to
civilians caught in the crossfire - armed only with our blue flag.
As we know, it is always civilians non combatant children and women
in particular, that pay the greatest price in any conflict. The world of
those who take on humanitarian work in conflict zones is not large. We
may work for different organisations the UN, NGOs, the Red Cross/Red
Crescent Movement, government programmes, but there is a considerable
camaraderie.
In Liberia our first reaction was of course shock and profound grief,
but closely followed by incredulity how could such a thing happen?
Those of us working in such areas despite occasional usually random
casualties, had believed that our commitment to providing humanitarian
help to those in need, irrespective of political, military or ethnic
considerations, should, with dialogue with all parties and judicious
precautions, ensure our protection.
Even after the blast as we watched the nightmare unfold on
satellite television - many of us could not conceive that our friends
would not come out alive -wounded perhaps, but alive. One-hundred and
fifty people came out physically and psychologically wounded - many very
severely - some of whom have still not recovered. Twenty-two of our
friends members of our enlarged family -succumbed to their horrific
injuries. So many of them amongst the best and the brightest the UN, and
the humanitarian community, had to offer. The blast also shattered any
innocence we may have had. Institutionally it was a watershed. The UN
had been a deliberate target. It might well be again. Indeed while this
has special relevance for Iraq, and to an extent Afghanistan, in this
age of globalisation the concern had been raised that this could happen
elsewhere. This perception has seriously affected the way we now operate
in crisis zones around the globe, not only Iraq.
As you are aware, after further attempts to attack the Canal Hotel
and the offices of the ICRC, the Secretary-General decided to move out
virtually all international staff that were working in Iraq (in
humanitarian and reconstruction programmes), most at least initially
moved to Jordan, others to Cyprus and Kuwait. But the UN never left
Iraq. Hundreds of our national colleagues continued to work on projects
in support of the Iraqi people. Indeed, nine of our Iraqi colleagues
died on 19 August and scores suffered physical and psychological wounds
- I want to especially welcome the presence of the family members of
those who perished with us here today.
The return to Baghdad last week, of an international presence led by
Mr. Ashaf Qazi, the new SRSG, with a team of 30 international staff is
an important development for the United Nations. It is also an
especially appropriate time to express our appreciation to our Iraqi
staff for their dedication and commitment. With sovereignty returned a
new Interim Government in place, Iraq is starting to rebuild its society
amid the continuing insecurity and the legacy of almost three-decades of
oppressive rule.
Its major asset more than oil is the solid base of talent Iraq
can tap inside and outside the country.
Following consultations with the IIG the UN Security Council has
given the UN a major and challenging role in supporting the rebuilding
of Iraq As circumstances permit :
- The political process (National Conference and constitutional
development);
- Organisation of elections;
- Support for reconstruction and humanitarian activities;
- Promotion of human rights and the rule of law.
For the time being the bulk of international staff will be based
outside Iraq notably in Jordan, but also in Kuwait and Cyprus.
This occasion, Mr. Minister, gives me the opportunity to publicly
express through you, the deep appreciation to His Majesty the King, and
His Government for the their outstanding support, which you continue to
extend to the UN Iraq Team, in exile, here in Amman. The generous
assistance Jordan also extends to Iraq and Iraqis, as a good neighbour,
is another reason why we consider ourselves fortunate to be based here.
Today, I would also like to look back to last year and recall the
extraordinary assistance, and welcome Jordan, through the Government and
crisis Management Centre, made available to the victims of the Canal
Hotel the dead, the wounded, their families, my colleagues. You could
not have done more, let me thank in particular the armed forces, the
Royal Medical Corps, the Al-Hussain Medical Centre, the Royal Jordanian
Air Force, Directorate of Security, and the many others who provided
support.
I and my Iraq colleagues also owe a deep debt of gratitude to
Christine McNab, UN Resident Coordinator, and her Team, who
compassionately and effectively dealt with the burden of this enormous
influx.
Today, amid the sorrow and reflection, let us remember that as great
as our loss has been, it is the Iraqi people themselves who continue to
suffer the brunt of the ongoing hostilities with hundreds losing their
lives and livelihoods each week. We should also spare a though for the
other colleagues who lost their lives working in other dangerous areas
Congo, Angola, Burundi, Sudan, Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Afghanistan to name but a few.
On 19 August last year we may have lost our innocence but we have not
lost our ideals or forgotten the commitment our colleagues and friends
made to the Iraqi people to provide hope.
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