6,000 civilian deaths in two months - UNAMI

The Iraqi government says it is worried aboutincreasing sectarian violence in the country, following statistics released by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) stating that nearly 6,000 civilians were killed in May and June alone. “Sectarian violence in Iraq is increasing and day after day more bodies are being found countrywide after suffering serious torture,” says Lt. Col. Abdel-Kareem Hassan, a senior official in the Ministry of Interior. “The numbers presented by UNAMI has just confirmed this is reality and also increases fear among the local population. “We [the government] have to act fast in holding talks with insurgents and the reconciliation plan should be put in practice to prevent more innocent civilians from dying due to the lack of security.” According to the UNAMI report, insurgent, militia and terrorist attacks continued unabated in many parts of Iraq, especially in Baghdad and in the central and western regions. “A total of 5,818 civilians were reportedly killed and at least 5,762 wounded during May and June 2006,” the report stated. “Killings, kidnappings and torture remain widespread. Fear resulting from these and other crimes continued to increase internal displacement and outflows of Iraqis to neighbouring countries.” In the first six months of the year, 14,338 people were killed, the report added. The statistics were compiled with help from the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health says that more than 50,000 people have been killed “in a brutal way” since April 2003. “All these bodies were unrecognisable and suffered serious torture,” says Safa’a Yehia, senior official in the Ministry of Heath. “What is more shocking is that this included women and children. We have reached a serious deterioration in conditions and instead of an improvement of this sectarian violence, the death toll is rising without control.” The UNAMI report also highlighted the fact that Baghdad the morgue had received a total of 30,204 bodies from 2003 to mid-2006. The sectarian violence started after a Shi’ite shrine was targeted in Samarra in February. The violence has also led to massive displacement, with almost 160,000 uprooted, according to the Ministry of Displacement and Migration. In addition, the targeting and killing of teachers, university professors, doctors, nurses and students have caused an increasing number of academics and intellectuals to leave the country, leaving a huge void in the education and health sectors. SZ/ED