Iraq aid effort makes progress

Iraq aid effort makes progress

By Kate Milner
BBC News Online

Health workers are worried about the risks from dirty water

Aid agencies are reporting that law and order seems to be improving in Iraq, allowing their workers to increase the humanitarian effort.

But in Baghdad, there is virtually no electricity, and most shops remain closed amid fears of more looting.

Several hospitals in the capital are without water and power, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

The US-led forces in Iraq say they hope to restore power supplies within 72 hours and make sure more hospitals are reopened.

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) told BBC News Online it was "poised" to send medical supplies into Baghdad.

"We're gradually seeing security situation improve and we're hopeful we can make progress in the coming days," said spokeswoman Kathryn Irwin.

We think there is some progress in terms of security

Red Cross spokeswoman

Its aid workers in Baghdad were hampered first by daylight bombing raids, and then by looting and lawlessness, the spokeswoman said.

Unicef is concentrating on trying to get clean water and medical supplies into Iraq.

Seventeen lorries carrying 120,000 litres of drinking water were due to cross into the south of the country from neighbouring Iran on Tuesday.

It has also been sending in trucks from Kuwait, with medical supplies including oral rehydration sachets to treat diarrhoea, and water purification tablets.

"We're very alarmed at the increases in cases of diarrhoea among children," said Ms Irwin.

Malnutrition is also a major concern, she said.

"Before the war, one in four children were malnourished. We're worried we'll see more children are malnourished," the spokeswoman said.

Aid shipments

The ICRC, which last week warned Baghdad's health system was in a state of collapse, said aid workers were working to repair water mains and a pumping station in the capital.

More water supplies are now getting through

"It appears there are more people in the streets, so we think there is some progress in terms of security," said spokeswoman Nada Doumani.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said food shipments into northern Iraq have increased significantly since the weekend.

"We are increasing loading and shipments of food aid through Turkey to northern Iraq by 200%" said Jordan-based spokesman Khaled Mansour.

The French aid agency Medecins du Monde said it had sent teams into hospitals in the southern city of Basra and the northern city of Kirkuk to evaluate the medical situations there.

The Basra team arrived on Saturday from Iran, it added in a statement.

Coalition Central Command in Qatar has said restoring electricity and water is a high priority. It said its engineers were working to repair bridges and power lines damaging during the military campaign.

The BBC's Paul Adams in Doha, Qatar, says the coalition is putting a great emphasis on restoring civilian infrastructure. It had always emphasised it was not targeting civilian infrastructure, but it seems there has inevitably been damage.