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China 'seriously concerned' about humanitarian situation in Iraq
( 2003-03-25 19:07 ) (7 )

China on Tuesday said it was "seriously concerned" about a "worsening" humanitarian situation in Iraq and reiterated its calls for the United States to stop the war.

"We are seriously concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in Iraq," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.

He noted that international and Chinese media have shown the war has created a humanitarian disaster.

"We are shocked by that ...," Kong told a regular news briefing. "We strongly appeal to the relevant parties to cease war and return to the correct path of political solution to the Iraqi question."

China had agreed to provide humanitarian assistance to Jordan to help refugees from Iraq and Kong indicated Tuesday that China planned to provide additional assistance if necessary.

"China will provide humanitarian assistance within its capacity to relocate the Iraqi refugees in the plague of war," he said.

China, as one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has repeatedly called for an immediate halt to the US-led assault against Iraq since war broke out Thursday, saying the actions violated the UN Charter and international norms.

Kong also urged Iraq and the United States to fully abide by the Geneva Convention and respect international law governing prisoners of war.

"According to a 1949 Geneva Convention, POWs must be granted humanitarian treatment. They should enjoy the respect of their body and their honor ...," he said.

"We appeal to the two warring parties to fully abide by the Geneva Convention and other regulations of international humanitarian law."

China Tuesday also welcomed a plan by Arab nations to ask the Security Council to convene an urgent meeting with a view to halting the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"To solve the Iraqi question ... China welcomes any effort that is in favor of a peaceful solution to Iraq and China will give it serious consideration," Kong said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Arab League's envoy to the world body, Yahya al-Mahmasani, said Arab states had asked the council to "quickly hold a meeting focusing on the US and British invasion of Iraq."

Asked for China's reaction to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's request to the Security Council last week to allow him to take over the suspended Iraqi oil-for-food programme and change it to meet the needs of those hit hardest by war, Kong said China understands changes may need to be made to the programme.

"In order to satisfy the immediate humanitarian needs in Iraq, we understand any necessary adjustment," he said.

The programme, which allowed Iraq to export oil and import humanitarian goods exempt from UN sanctions, was suspended on March 17 when Annan ordered all international staff working for the United Nations to leave Iraq.