April 22, 2004: Headlines: Peace Corps Directors - Bellamy: Unicef: Children: Scoop: "The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll," said UNICEF Executive Director and former Peace Corps director Carol Bellamy, "and children are paying with their lives."

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Directors of the Peace Corps: Carol Bellamy: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Peace Corps Directors - Bellamy : Carol Bellamy and the Peace Corps: April 22, 2004: Headlines: Peace Corps Directors - Bellamy: Unicef: Children: Scoop: "The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll," said UNICEF Executive Director and former Peace Corps director Carol Bellamy, "and children are paying with their lives."

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-69-95.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.69.95) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 1:46 pm: Edit Post

"The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll," said UNICEF Executive Director and former Peace Corps director Carol Bellamy, "and children are paying with their lives."

The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll, said UNICEF Executive Director and former Peace Corps director Carol Bellamy, and children are paying with their lives.

"The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll," said UNICEF Executive Director and former Peace Corps director Carol Bellamy, "and children are paying with their lives."

UNICEF Condemns Killing of Children in Iraq
Thursday, 22 April 2004, 11:50 am
Press Release: UNICEF

UNICEF Condemns Killing of Children in Ongoing Iraq Fighting

NEW YORK -- Responding to the deaths Wednesday of children on a school bus in Basra, UNICEF said it is alarmed by the growing impact of the ongoing fighting on Iraqi children.

"The fighting in Iraq is exacting a heavy toll," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, "and children are paying with their lives."

In many cities across Iraq, children are unable to lead a normal life. "They are not just unable to attend school and get decent health care and clean water, but far too often they are paying the ultimate price," Bellamy said. "The ongoing instability and fighting is hitting children the hardest."

The killings in Basra follow the reported deaths of more than 100 children in Fallujah in recent days.

Many schools are closed due to the recent upsurge in violence. Even where schools are open, many parents are keeping their children at home out of fear.

"Children have the right to continue their education, and to do so safely, even when they live in the midst of conflict," Bellamy said. "They must feel free to exercise that right, and they must feel safe going to and from school. In fact, everywhere children spend time, whether on a bus, in a health center, at a school, or on a playground, must be treated as a zone of peace."

"We must not allow children to become the victims of adults battles," she said.

In response to requests from the Ministry of Health, the Red Crescent Society and direct appeals from local hospitals, UNICEF has mobilized emergency health supplies, emergency water supplies and fuel supplies for generators. UNICEF said it was having difficulty delivering these life-saving supplies in the most critically affected communities because of blocked roads.

"We must remind all parties that the protection of children and all civilians during conflict is required under International Humanitarian Law," said Bellamy. "Access for humanitarian aid must be granted via protected corridors, and the integrity and safety of humanitarian workers must be respected."




Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Scoop

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps Directors - Bellamy; Unicef; Children

PCOL11155
44

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: