The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
operations;
figures ranged from 5,000 to 20,000. The MOD’s public line had been
that it
was not
possible to determine the number of civilian casualties, and that
UK forces took
every
effort to minimise the impact of military operations on the
civilian population.
108.
An “initial
assessment” undertaken by the MOD in February 2004 had
indicated
that 36
civilians had died as a result of UK actions since 1 May
2003.78
The MOD
was
now
undertaking a “comprehensive assessment” of unit records to produce
a more
accurate
estimate; the outcome of that assessment would be shared with
Ministers
in May.
109.
On 21 May,
No.10 asked the FCO to “look again” at the question of
civilian
casualty
figures, and for a weekly “digest” of casualty
figures.79
110.
The FCO
replied on 26 May. It stated that CPA advisers to the Iraqi
Ministry of
Health
(MOH) had told the FCO that the MOH did not have reliable figures
for civilian
deaths or
their causes. The MOH was gradually re‑establishing standard
practices and
procedures,
but those were still “very basic”.
111.
The FCO
concluded that the UK did not have reliable figures for overall
civilian
casualties.
As the MOH improved its systems, it might be possible for the Iraqi
Interim
Government
(IIG) to determine numbers and causes of civilian deaths and
injuries:
“But, for
now, we are primarily reliant on NGO websites whose reliability we
cannot
easily assess.”
112.
The Inquiry
has seen no indications that the FCO provided a weekly digest
on
civilian
casualties to No.10.
113.
In response to
a written question from Lord Lester of Herne Hill on whether
the
CPA had
access to hospital records detailing Iraqi civilian deaths and
injuries and their
causes,
Baroness Symons, FCO Minister of State, stated on 7
June:
“Coalition
Provisional Authority advisers to the Iraqi Ministry of Health
(MOH) do
have access
to some figures on civilian deaths. However these statistics are
not
reliable,
as Iraqis often bury their deceased relatives without official
notification/
registration.
This has been particularly true during periods of heightened
conflict.
The MOH
does not therefore have accurate figures for civilian deaths or
their
causes for
the past year. The MOH is gradually re‑establishing standard
practices
and
procedures, although these are basic. In the longer term the Iraqi
Interim
Government
may be able to evaluate the causes of civilian deaths and
injuries.”80
78
President
Bush declared on 1 May 2003 that major combat operations in Iraq
had ended.
79
Letter FCO
[junior official] to Quarrey, 26 May 2004, ‘Iraq Casualty
Figures’.
80
House of
Lords, Official
Report, 7 June
2004, column WA1.
190