MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 39 for 9-15 September 2005

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Key Humanitarian Developments in Iraq

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Wednesday that the United States military had failed to fully investigate the killing of journalists by its forces in Iraq and to implement its own recommendations to improve media safety.

The troops, CPJ said, had killed 13 journalists since the US-led war began in March 2003. At least 40 other journalists have been killed covering the conflict. "Several of the 13 deaths suggest indifference by US soldiers to the presence of civilians, including members of the press," CPJ noted.

Another 21 media support staff had been killed in Iraq, two by US forces, it added.

"By failing to account for all shooting deaths and demonstrate that it is taking steps to avoid future tragedies, the US military shows an alarming disregard for the safety of civilians, including journalists covering this conflict," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said in a statement.

In Iraq, violence continued with an estimated 200 people killed by suicide bombers within two days. Hundreds more were wounded. On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed "great sadness" about the attacks. He condemned the use of terror and indiscriminate violence against civilians, saying no cause or belief could justify them.

The US military blamed the bombings on attempts by insurgents to undermine an ongoing offensive in Talafar as well as a planned referendum on the new constitution that is expected to take place on 15 October.

Annan, in a report to the Security Council, congratulated the interim Government for their efforts in creating the draft constitution. He urged member states to provide US $107 million in international financial support needed to pay for the referendum and the elections that will follow.

Meanwhile, the OPEC Fund for International Development announced a grant of $200,000 to provide relief supplies and support emergency operations in the aftermath of the stampede that took place in northern Baghdad on 31 August.

Hundreds of people died in the stampede on a bridge following rumours of a suicide bomb attack targeting pilgrims visiting a mosque.

Across Iraq, an estimated six million children headed back to school on Sunday. "About 20,000 school establishments ranging from kindergartens to high schools are ready to take in six million young Iraqis," the education minister Abdel Falah Hassan told reporters. Five hundred new schools, he added, were being built to accommodate the children.

In a related development, a one-day advocacy meeting for 26 clinicians working at different health facilities in districts in Erbil, was held to increase their awareness on the importance of notification, reporting and investigation of vaccine preventable diseases, especially polio and measles.

CONTENTS:

IRAQ: UN concerned over lack of protection for civilians
IRAQ: New traffic regulations hurt free movement, say residents
IRAQ: Urgent aid required as displacement increases in Talafar
IRAQ: Focus on increasing cases of abused women
EGYPT: Focus on presidential elections
JORDAN: Growth rate falls but families still large
SYRIA: ICT center for the blind launched in Salameya
SYRIA: Authorities tackle issue of human trafficking
SYRIA: Women to bike for peace across Middle East
YEMEN: Food incentives for girl education
YEMEN: New system to eliminate thousands of "ghost" civil servants
YEMEN: More polio cases confirmed as campaign planned

[ENDS]