Aid workers 'at risk' in Iraq

Aid trucks entering Iraq

Coalition forces are not doing enough to ensure the safety of aid workers trying to help people in Iraq, the director of Oxfam has told the BBC.

Barbara Stocking said it was "not good enough" that her staff were still at considerable risk in the country.

The United States and Britain had a legal responsibility to ensure their security while in Iraq, she said.

The director also called for the United Nations to take control of humanitarian operations, and be responsible for organising the political future of Iraq.

Protecting routes

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Stocking said coalition forces needed to remain in the country to protect major aid routes.

Up until a few days ago aid workers could only make short trips into the country and could not stay overnight because it was too dangerous, she said.

The occupying power has to provide the security and they are not

Barbara Stocking

"At the moment it's very high risk for our staff to be in Iraq, and that's not good enough.

"We need the coalition forces to provide the security, and we need them also to do something about the mines and the unexploded ordnance that there is around."

One of their priorities should be securing the road from the Jordanian capital, Amman, to Baghdad, she said, as there had been reports of children being killed or injured by unexploded mines on the route.

Ms Stocking told Today: "The occupying power has to provide the security and they are not. That's their legal obligation under the Geneva Convention.

"We then want the UN to deliver the humanitarian aid along with us.

"Nobody's doubting that this is a very difficult situation to handle and to do comprehensively, but it needs a lot more drive to get it done.

"After all, if the coalition went in, then it has to take responsibility for doing so."

Ms Stocking was one of eight aid organisation representatives who signed a joint statement on Friday which called for the UN to have a "central role" in overseeing and managing Iraq's transition to a new government.

The statement also said: "Unless comprehensive action is taken now by the occupying forces to ensure security and the orderly delivery of humanitarian assistance based on need - which is a requirement under the Geneva Conventions - this already acute situation will only worsen."