Humanitarian officials are increasingly concerned about civilians still trapped inside Fallujah as well as thousands of refugees who fled their homes in advance of the US decision to take the city by force. They said that residents who were too old, sick or poor to leave the city had been left without access to food, water, electricity or medical treatment and that the situation was particularly precarious for children. In a statement, Louise Arbour, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said:
There have been a number of reports during the confrontation alleging violations of the rules of war designed to protect civilians and combatants. Those responsible for breaches - including deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, the killing of injured persons and the use of human shields - must be brought to justice. ……..
[I am] particularly worried over poor access by civilians still in the city to the delivery of humanitarian aid and about the lack of information regarding the number of civilian casualties.
The number of civilians killed during the eight-day battle for the city remains unclear. One report yesterday quoted an unnamed Red Cross official in Baghdad as saying up to 800 civilians were feared dead.
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