Red Cross Alarmed by Iraq's Worsening Situation

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is alarmed by the worsening humanitarian situation in Iraq and calls for better protection of Iraqi civilians from continuing violence. In a report issued Wednesday the Red Cross reports numerous instances of what it calls clear violations of international humanitarian law.

The Red Cross says the Iraqi people are enduring "unbearable and unacceptable" conditions, and calls on all those who can influence the situation in Iraq "to act now to ensure the lives of ordinary people are spared."

The report says civilians are increasingly the targets of daily shootings, bombings, murders and abductions as well as military operations. It documents the alarming state of Iraq's health-care facilities, noting that medical professionals are forced to avoid going to hospitals and clinics for fear of their own lives.

国际红十字会说，它对伊拉克日益恶化的人权状况感到不安，呼吁保护伊拉克平民不受持续暴力的伤害。国际红十字星期三发表的报告列举了若干事例，称这些事件明显违反了国际人权法。

国际红十字会说，伊拉克人正在经受着“无法忍受和难以接受”的遭遇，并呼吁所有能影响伊拉克局势的人立即采取行动，确保普通民众的生命不受伤害。

报告说，平民日益成为每天发生的枪击、炸弹袭击、谋杀、绑架和军事行动的目标。报告记录了伊拉克医疗设施令人不安的状况，专业医务人员担心自身安全，被迫不去医院和诊所上班。

报告还强调了伊拉克重要的水源、污水处理和电力设施的恶劣状况。