Watching Greg Baker's Oscar-nominated documentary "Sergio" about the life and death of the UN's Special Representative in Iraq Sergio Vieira De Mello brought back good and bad memories of 2003 when I was in Iraq as a journalist covering post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.
Like other journalists, I frequented the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad for press briefings. The news of the bombing of the Canal Hotel where the UN had its headquarters two weeks after I left Iraq came as a shock.
The bombing killed 22 people, including Sergio and a dear friend Rick Hooper.
I had escaped death several times in Iraq, but the bombing of the Canal Hotel marked a turning point. Instability and violence became the norm.
Baker's moving and emotional film tells the story of Sergio who, despite his opposition to the war in Iraq, accepted the job as the UN's top man there, and showed his deep belief that the UN could be a force for positive change.
UNHCR's office in Jordan chose World Humanitarian Day on August 19 to show the film. It is the day the UN recognizes all humanitarian and UN personnel who have risked their lives to promote the humanitarian cause. It marks the day Sergio was tragically killed along with 21 of his colleagues.
The film was a tribute to a charismatic peacemaker, who has left his mark everywhere he worked.
Chetin Chabuk, co-producer of the HBO documentary "Sergio" was invited to attend the film screening in Amman. Greg Baker could not attend since the documentary was nominated for the Emmy Awards and was waiting for the result.
Chabuk said in the process of researching "Sergio", "lots of lessons were taken away: you think of this man as an inspiration to better the lives of others who need it."
Imran Riza, UNHCR's representative in Jordan said before the film screening in Amman's Film House that the world in which humnanitarian workers live in today has changed. Figures of humanitarian workers killed or abducted or injured have risen five fold compared to 10 years ago.
- 278 humanitarians were victims of 139 serious security incidents in 2009, compared with 1999 when 65 humanitarians were involved in such incidents. In 2009, 205 of these victims were national staff members of humanitarian organizations, while 73 were international. In 1999, 40 victims were national staff and 25 were international.
- 102 humanitarian workers were killed in 2009 compared with 30 killed in 1999.
- 92 humanitarian workers were kidnapped in 2009 compared with 20 in 1999.
- 139 security incidents occurred in 2009, compared with 34 in 1999. Kidnappings, the most common incident, increased from 9 to 37 over this period. Attacks and assassinations rose from 7 to 32. Bombing incidents increased from 3 to 23. Ambush and road attacks increased from 8 to 20.
Seven years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the problems of this country have not been resolved.
By the end of this month, U.S. troops would withdraw to leave behind 50,000 from some 160,000. There are mixed feelings about U.S. President Barack Obama's pledge to complete withdrawal next year, leaving behind a limited military training presence.
Though the security situation in Iraq has improved in some areas, it is still risky, political deadlock hampers stability, and sectarian conflict is likely to continue.
Humanitarian workers aiding victims in disaster and conflict areas often work in remote, difficult, and dangerous places.
The Pakistani Taliban today said the presence of foreign relief workers in flood-ravaged Pakistan was “unacceptable” and hinted that militants could carry out attacks against members of aid groups.
In July, monsoon rains led to flooding in Pakistan and an estimated 1,600 people have been killed and about 17 million have been affected across the country.
UNHCR, which had previously sought $41 million for its special Pakistan operation, has upped its appeal for Pakistan's flood victims to $120 million so it can provide some 2 million people emergency shelter and assistance over the next four months.
UNHCR field workers reported that encampments were mushrooming across Sindh province as the floods spread into new areas of southern Pakistan over the past few days.
So far, UNHCR has provided more than 41,000 plastic tarpaulins, 14,500 family tents, 70,000 blankets, 40,000 sleeping mats, 14,800 kitchen sets, 26,600 jerry cans, 18,600 plastic buckets, 17,700 mosquito nets and 13.3 tons of soap amongst the flood affected people of Pakistan. In the first delivery to Sindh province , the Provincial Disaster Management Authority airlifted 1,000 UNHCR tents to Sukkar.
UNHCR staff across the world have left their families and homes to go to Pakistan to help the flood victims. They know they can make a difference.
