Kilmer Leads Call for Additional U.S. Assistance to Iraqi Citizens Fleeing Fighting in Fallujah
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led a call for the Secretaries of State and Defense to provide emergency relief to Iraqi citizens fleeing fighting in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. The members urged Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to coordinate with relief agencies and get immediate assistance to the more than 85,000 displaced persons.
This month a U.S. led coalition began a push to retake the Fallujah from ISIS militants. As the conflict unfolded, many civilians fled and overwhelmed refugee camps. The Washington Post reported that some have been forced to sleep in the open desert for more than a week. In their letter, the members noted there is a dire need for medical care for pregnant women and disabled persons, potable water, shelter, and food.
“These residents faced torture, siege conditions, the brutal control of ISIS, and targeted killings by ISIS of civilians attempting to flee the city,” the members wrote in the letter sent today. “Now they are faced with under-resourced, under-manned, and under-funded assistance agencies. For them, this is trading one nightmare for another. We urge you to immediately provide additional assistance and support to this desperate group in Iraq, including the use of emergency humanitarian relief by DoD forces, increasing the initial State Department assistance package of $20 million for these 85,000 or more displaced persons, and coordinating with other international donors to do the same.”
Full text of the letter follows.
June 24, 2016
The Honorable John F. Kerry
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
The Honorable Ashton B. Carter
Secretary of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretaries Kerry and Carter:
We, like you, are deeply concerned about the unfolding events in the U.S.-led coalition’s battle against ISIS for Fallujah, Iraq. It is reported that, following initial successes in the battle, more than 85,000 fleeing residents have overwhelmed the resources of the UN, the Iraqi government, and other relief agencies. Local relief agencies and Fallujah residents have described awful, deteriorating conditions in make-shift temporary camps as the battle continues on, and may continue on for some time. These residents faced torture, siege conditions, the brutal control of ISIS, and targeted killings by ISIS of civilians attempting to flee the city. Now they are faced with under-resourced, under-manned, and under-funded assistance agencies. For them, this is trading one nightmare for another.
We urge you to immediately provide additional assistance and support to this desperate group in Iraq, including the use of emergency humanitarian relief by DoD forces, increasing the initial State Department assistance package of $20 million for these 85,000 or more displaced persons, and coordinating with other international donors to do the same. There are reports of immediate needs for medical care for pregnant women and disabled persons, potable water, shelter, and food – all resources DoD has provided in the past in emergency situations and could be provided by the State Department and USAID with more immediate funding to relief agencies. We remain concerned about the preparedness of the Iraqi, U.S. and international community to handle the unpredictable nature of civilian displacement and protection in this and future operations in Iraq.
We cannot turn our back on the residents of Fallujah, who, like many in Iraq, have lived in wartime conditions for so long.
Sincerely,
###