UK troops suffer over food

UK troops suffer over food

More soldiers are on their way

British soldiers in the Gulf have had to eat US rations after logistical difficulties led to shortages of fresh food and the usual rations.

The food has arrived in the Gulf but distribution has been flawed, the MoD admitted.

Troops have been reduced to eating US "meals-ready-to-eat" (MREs), food in pouches derided by soldiers.

It has been reported that the US forces have brought massive stocks of MREs to the Gulf, planning to drop them over Iraq to feed civilians after the start of the war.

Fresh food has been reaching the Gulf, but there has been difficulty in distributing it to the troops because of problems with a joint logistics operation with the Gulf.

British soldiers have also been forced to use their American counterparts' toilet paper because of shortages, according to the Times.

But the MoD denied troops were living in overcrowded conditions or that inadequate bedding had been supplied.

Problems rectified

A spokesman told BBC News Online any problems in accommodation could only occur at the very beginning of deployment while camps were being set up.

He said problems with distribution of food had largely been rectified.

"There have been slight difficulties with some of the logistics chain.

"There is a shared logistic arrangement between the UK and the US forces with joint basing.

"It is getting to the Gulf. Any distribution problems are, I understand , being rectified," he said.

'Slight hiccup'

He denied suggestions British soldiers had gone hungry, or been forced to eat half rations, because of the distribution chaos.

"British personnel will not be short of food."

"There are plenty of supplies but there has been a slight hiccup within theatre.

"If a couple of people haven't got packs, it would have been treated as urgent," he said.