Source: Agencies
ALMOST 19,000 IRAQI CIVILIANS KILLED SINCE 2014?
UN documents more than 55,000 civilian casualties and 3.2 million people displaced by violence in 22-month period.
In figures it calls "staggering", the United Nations says that almost
19,000 civilians have been killed and more than 36,000 wounded in
violence in Iraq since the start of 2014.
In a new joint report published on Tuesday, the UN Assistance Mission
for Iraq and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
listed a large number of 
atrocities committed by the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
atrocities committed by the Islamic State of
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
It also called on the government to do more to stop sectarian violence and help displaced families to return to their homes.
The joint report highlighted abuses committed by ISIL, saying that
about 3,500 people were currently being held as slaves in Iraq by the
armed group.
"Those being held are predominantly women and children and come
primarily from the Yazidi community, but a number are also from other
ethnic and religious minority communities," the UN report said.
Source: Al Jazeera...More...1,375 KILLED IN IRAQ SINCE JANUARY
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The United Nations mission to Iraq said
Sunday that violence in the country amid the war against the extremist
Islamic State group killed at least 1,375 people in January.
The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI, put the number
of civilians killed at 790, while identifying the rest as security
forces members. It said at least 1,469 civilians and 771 security forces
members were wounded.
It said the worst affected city was the capital, Baghdad, with 256 civilians killed and 758 wounded.
According to UNAMI figures, last year was the deadliest in Iraq since
2006-2007, with a total of 12,282 people killed and 23,126 wounded.
However, the U.N. says its numbers “have to be considered as the
absolute minimum” as they do not include territories held by the Islamic
State group, which is about a third of 
Iraq, and of those who lost
their lives due to “secondary effects of violence … (like) exposure to
the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care.”
Iraq, and of those who lost
their lives due to “secondary effects of violence … (like) exposure to
the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care.”
The Islamic State extremist group and other Sunni insurgents have
seized control of wide areas in western and northern Iraq. The
militants’ offensive has thrown Iraq in its worst crisis since the
withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Sources: – AP, Agencies
US READY FOR MILITARY ACTION TO QUELL INSURGENCY IN IRAQ
President Barack Obama on Thursday said he was dispatching
up to 300 military advisers to Iraq to help quell the rising insurgency
in the crumbling state. He called on Iraqi leaders to govern with a more
“inclusive agenda” to ensure the country does not descend into civil
war.
Though not specifically mentioning airstrikes, an option the US has
been considering, Obama said he was leaving open the possibility of
“targeted” military action in the future.
He said the US also would
increase its intelligence efforts in Iraq and was creating joint
operations centers with Iraqis.
When coupled with previously announced steps, Obama’s actions could put
about 600 additional US troops back on the ground in Iraq. The 300
military advisers he announced on Thursday would join up to 275 being
positioned in and around Iraq to provide 
security and support for the US
Embassy in Baghdad and other American interests.
security and support for the US
Embassy in Baghdad and other American interests.
Meanwhile, The Philippines on Thursday ordered all of its nationals out of Iraq as violence continue to rock the country.
“Due to the rapidly
deteriorating security situation in Iraq, the Department of Foreign
Affairs has raised the crisis alert level for all areas in Iraq to Alert
Level 4 (Mandatory Repatriation) except for the Iraqi Kurdistan Region,
which remains under Alert Level 1 (Precautionary Phase),” the
department, which is also charged with safety and security of Philippine
nationals overseas, said in a statement.
Level 4 is the highest
possible level threat in the DFA protocol. It equates to mandatory
evacuation of all Philippine nationals in Iraq.
DFA spokesperson
Charles Jose(pic) said, the Filipinos will be sent back to the their home
country at the expense of the Philippine government.
Source: Agencies
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
