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HUMANITARIAN
AID IN IRAQ
By Joanne Dufour, Seattle, Washington
15 minute activity
For suggested use in the following courses: World History; Current
Events: Contemporary World; United States History/Foreign Policy; Political
Science; Health -Disaster Units; English-Human Rights Units
Objectives:
Students will be able to (SWBAT)
- gain
an appreciation for the impact of war on a civilian population
- engage
in a process of determining the impact of electrical and water treatment
plant destruction on the civilian population and preparations underway
to help them
- learn
about refugees and Web site resources of relief aid
Key Words:
Humanitarian Assistance, Code of Conduct, Non Government Organizations/Private
Voluntary Organizations, United Nations High Commission for Refugees
Materials:
Correlation
to national standards
Procedure:
- Using
a map
of Iraq (Printer-friendly
version), locate the city of Basra and the port city of Umm Qasr.
If Basra residents choose to flee from their city, where might they
go?
- Divide
the class into two groups:
(A) Ask one group to brainstorm and make a list of how life is impacted
when electricity is cut off. Consider situations that impact household,
neighborhood and overall city operations.
(B) Ask the second group to brainstorm and make a list of the results
of the following: The situation is most dire in Basra, Iraq's second
largest city, where more than 1.5 million people live. Electricity and
water have been cut off for the past three days, according to the International
Committee for the Red Cross. How will lifestyles have to change
for the people affected?
- What
implications come from the following: Day time temperatures in Basra
with a population of around two million can soar towards 104 degrees
Fahrenheit. Ask each group to add to their list.
- Ask groups
to share their findings.
- According
to the NewsHour
article what efforts are underway to relieve these conditions? What
are some of the problems encountered. What refugee flows have been reported
in northern Iraq. Students may wish to find out more about conditions
there.
Homework/Extension
Activities:
- Check
the following Web site for refugee preparations which have been taking
place in neighboring countries. You will find a very helpful map with
major roads and locations of refugee
relief offices and camps.
- The following
Relief Agencies have been working with the governments of Iran and Kuwait
in anticipation of refugee flows into those areas. Check their Web sites
for an update of current information regarding their activities: Oxfam,
Mercy Corps, International
Committee of the Red Cross. Check the UNICEF
site for an update of their activities.
- The Web site
of the United Nations
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has been coordinating the preparation
of relief activities. Check the site for Iraq Emergency information.
See Humanitarian Update for developments in Iran to date. A look at
the Neighboring Country report for Iran provides background information
for Iran's experiences with refugees from Afghanistan and Iraqi Kurds
in the recent past.
Critical
Thinking Exercise: Abiding by the Code of Conduct
The Principle
Commitments of the Code of Conduct has been developed by the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent and other NGOs in Disaster Relief:
- The humanitarian
imperative comes first.
- Aid is
given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients
and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated
on the basis of need alone.
- Aid will
not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.
- We shall
endeavor not to act as instruments of government foreign policy.
- We shall
respect culture and custom.
- We shall
attempt to build disaster response on local capacities
- Ways
shall be found to involve program beneficiaries in the management of
relief aid.
- Relief
aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well
as meeting basic needs.
- We hold
ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those from
whom we accept resources.
- In our
information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognize
disaster victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless objects.
According
to this code, what concerns might exist for non governmental agencies
wanting to take part in relief efforts for the peoples affected by the
current military action in Iraq. Explain your answer.
Correlations
to National Standards:
National
Council for the Social Studies:
Global Connections IX:
b. Explain
conditions and motivations that contribute to conflict, cooperation and
interdependence among groups, societies and nations.
f. Analyze or formulate policy statements demonstrating an understanding
of concerns, standards, issues and conflicts related to universal human
rights.
MCREL Thinking and Reasoning Standards
Standard 2 - Understands and applies basic principles of logic and reasoning
MCREL Health Standards
Standard 2 - Knows environmental and external factors that affect individual
and community health.; Knows … international efforts to contain an environmental
crisis and prevent a recurrence
Standard 5 - Knows essential concepts and practices concerning injury
prevention and safety
Geography Standards
Places
and Regions - understands the physical and human characteristics of place
Human Systems - Understand the nature, distribution and migration of human
populations on Earth's surface
-Understands the forces of cooperation and conflict that shape the division
of Earth's surface
Civics
Standards
Basic
Values and Principals of American Democracy
Understands the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain
values, beliefs, and principles of American constitutional democracy
Joanne Dufour has been a classroom teacher, teacher trainer and curriculum
developer in the New York and Seattle area and an educational consultant
to the United Nations, Newsweek Educational Division and a host of non
governmental organizations in the educational field. She is currently
on the faculty of Heritage College in their Seattle location.
To find out more about opportunities to contribute
to this site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.
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