I think it would be useful to review the main characteristics of this crisis in order to show the extent to which the Iraqi people have been profoundly affected by the deterioration in their living conditions. It also confirmed that the disturbing figures given by United Nations agencies on the nutrition, health and social situation of the country are reliable and exact. The infant mortality rate is among the highest in the world. The situation is scarcely better in the educational sector. In the area of social services, the situation has also deteriorated.
Power cuts are frequent and growing longer.
Iraq's health-care system has suffered greatly from the shortages of clean water and electricity. At this point, it is in a decrepit state, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Lastly, the almost daily bombardments have had negative humanitarian effects on the civilian population. An entire society is today living without structure and being destroyed. This will have long-term consequences for Iraq and for regional balance as a whole.