"We need to deal immediately with the access to the population," Kathleen Hunt of CARE International, the principal private aid organization, said after the meeting.

During a closed-door session with the 15 members of the Council, the non-governmental organizations also stressed the importance of establishing as soon as possible a system for investigating violations of human rights in Iraq.

"The Council must establish as soon as possible a commission of experts to monitor human rights," Yvonne Terlingen of Amnesty International said afterwards.

"Beyond security, no limitation should be placed on NGO movement and they must have access everywhere," Mexico's ambassador and Council chair Aguilar Zinser said.

"Civilians are much better placed than soldiers to provide assistance to the civilian population," said Pakistan's UN ambassador Munir Akram.

SPACE.WIRE