War 'would destabilise Middle East'

War in Iraq is likely to cause “significant chaos and suffering” to ordinary people long after the fighting is over, a leading aid charity warned today.

In an open letter to Tony Blair, Christian Aid warned that war would cause massive humanitarian problems for which the preparations made by the international community appeared to be “woefully inadequate”.

On the day when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Catholic Archbishop of Westminster Cormac Murphy-O’Connor voiced doubt over the moral legitimacy of war on Iraq, Christian Aid questioned Mr Blair’s claim that there was a “moral case” for removing Saddam Hussein.

Christian Aid director Daleep Mukarji told the Prime Minister: “We do not believe there is yet a ‘moral case’ for war, as you asserted in your speech on 15 February.

“Rather, we believe the options for a peaceful solution to the current crisis are not exhausted and urge you to pursue those options vigorously.

“Your moral argument for war asserts that the long-term benefits for the people of Iraq will outweigh the short-term costs of war. This is far from certain.”

A leaked UN document recently warned that conflict which affected the normal provision of basic services in Iraq could lead to “a humanitarian emergency of proportions well beyond the capacity of UN agencies and other aid organisations”, said Mr Mukarji.

He asked Mr Blair: “If troops are sent into battle, do you really believe the international community is sufficiently prepared to cope with a potential humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq?

“There is a raft of evidence suggesting that preparations may turn out to be woefully inadequate.”

Mr Mukarji warned: “War is always unpredictable. Our experience in post-conflict Afghanistan teaches us that it is likely there will be significant chaos and suffering in Iraq long after military strikes have ended.

“The international community is morally obliged to recognise and prepare for these consequences.”

War in Iraq was likely to have a destabilising effect on the Middle East as a whole, particularly on Israel and the Palestinian territories, said Mr Mukarji, who asked Mr Blair if he was pressing Israel to comply with UN resolutions as vigorously as Iraq.