5 Years After The Fall Of Saddam Hussein, Situation In Most Part Of The Country Remains Grim

[Purveyor]

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The areas of violence are scattered and although the Southern governorates are considered safer, violence against women is increasing in Basrah.

In the North, preparations are under way for the launching of a massive military intervention in Mosul to rout out the militias still masterminding numerous suicide attacks across the country. The civilian population caught in the middle is prevented from leaving and will suffer the consequences. The number of Iraqis killed by suicide attacks and fighting has decreased notably and was at the beginning of the year the lowest in almost two years, nevertheless 541 individuals lost their lives in January (Source : Health and Internal Affairs Ministries), considered a quiet month.

Hundreds of thousands of Baghdadis now live in walled-in, ethnically cleansed, heavily guarded enclaves that they are terrified to leave. Sunnis do not venture into Shia areas, and vice-versa. Sectarian hatreds have been contained, but not resolved.

2 millions of internally displaced and 2 millions of refugees (Sources : United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Iraqi Ministry of Displaced People) are still struggling to survive in dire conditions. They cannot return to their place of origin, as their safety cannot be guaranteed. Together with the hosting communities in the governorates, they cannot rely on public services, for clean water, for the provision of electricity, for accessible and appropriate health care, for decent education, and for their share of food supplies.

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Five year later the US led invasion has produced one of the largest humanitarian crisis of our time and no end is in sight. If the risk of disintegration has subdued, the sectarian divisions impair all attempts to start the reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/217256/120671461917.htm