Radio Workshop

Helping Iraq (Transcript)

by Michael Morton

NARRATION:

War will probably cause hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to flee the country, creating a refugee population that needs to be fed and housed. If the power grid inside Iraq is bombed, no electricity will be available for sewage treatment plants, and water-borne disease will spread. And the oil-for-food program will be disrupted, leaving millions hungry.

The U-S military has not disclosed its plans for disaster relief, which it says are part of its written report on military operations. Sid Balman, Jr., is a spokesman for Interaction, an umbrella group of U-S NGOs.

ACT SID BALMAN:

We don't want their war plans, we just need to get prepared for this if it comes to it.

NARRATION:

The NGOs want to fill the gaps in the military planning and don't want to duplicate the military's efforts. For example, Balman says that if it appears the military can't provide enough water, then aid agencies can help out.

ACT SID BALMAN:

We prefer a diplomatic solution, but we need to get prepared for this because we're expected to do this, it's our job and we need to be ready.

NARRATION:

Since U-N security council resolution 1441 passed last fall, the Bush administration has been more open about discussing Iraq with NGOs. At meetings with members of the State Department, Defense Department and National Security Council, NGOs have explained the enormous impact the war will have on the civilian population. But according to Gerald Martone of the International Rescue Committee, the NGOs haven't been getting much information in return.

ACT GERALD MARTONE :

Sometimes the exhange of information feels a bit one-sided, perhaps we're more forthcoming than some U-S government departments, but there is a genuine attempt to improve that.

NARRATION:

NGOs would like to stockpile relief supplies in the region. But one obstacle they face is the economic sanctions the U-S has imposed on Iraq, and on two of its neighbors, Syria and Iran.

U-S NGOs must apply to the Treasury Department for exemption so that they can travel to these countries and assess civilian needs. Martone says the process slows down NGO efforts.

ACT GERALD MARTONE:

Sometimes we find ourselves waiting for many months to receive official permission from the department of treasury to operate in Iraq or Iran and that's a real barrier to emergency response. We should be exempt from those kinds of restrictions because the work we do is not political in nature.

NARRATION:

After six months of lobbying by aid agencies, the Treasury Department recently streamlined the process of applying for exemption, but only for agencies that have U-S government funding. Balman of the group Interaction understands that those applying for a license should be closely scrutinized, to keep terrorist groups from exploiting the process. But he says further improvements could be made.

ACT SID BALMAN:

NGOs, humanitarian providers who do not get American government approval still have a fairly cumbersome process to go through. We think they need to finish the job. We would like a blanket waiver.

NARRATION:

Despite the long application process, 20 small U-S NGOs have managed to get licenses and are currently operating in Iraq. For Columbia Radio News, I'm Michael Morton.