World
13:22, 01-Mar-2018
Iraq in Recovery: Head of ICRC Iraq explains neutral, impartial approach
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Since its creation in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been working to ensure protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It does so through its direct action around the world, as well as by promoting international humanitarian law (IHL) and its respect by governments and all weapon bearers.
In an interview with CGTN, Katharina Ritz, the ICRC's head of delegation in Iraq, explained the organization’s neutral and impartial approach in carrying out humanitarian work in the war-torn country.
“Our mandate held us as, first of all, a neutral organization, which acts impartially focusing on the humanitarian need and need-based response. That means we seek proximity from the communities. We really need to go to the people so that we can help them, and this often entails that we have to have dialogues with the armed groups," she explained.
“This can be soldiers at checkpoints, anybody who is controlling the area, tribes, community leaders, and so on. The purpose is always to be transparent, and they know what we are doing in the area,” she added.
Ritz told CGTN that based on her working experiences, Iraq has improved drastically since the conflicts in the early 2000s, though enormous challenges like health care and education, are still lying ahead to restructure the country.
She said she is impressed by the resilience of Iraqi people who are working hard to seek a better future for their families.