Baghdad conditions 'appalling': UN

Baghdad conditions 'appalling': UN
ABC
April 20, 2003
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s835959.htm


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photo:
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200304/r2322_5251.jpg
Iraqi girl Rosslal, aged 11 months, cries in a Baghdad children's hospital, suffering from gastroenteritis due to poor drinking water. (Reuters)
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Aid agencies have described the basic infrastructure conditions in Baghdad as appalling.

While food aid is trickling into the city, children have been seen digging in the street for untreated water.

Power is yet to be restored across most of the city, and the lack of traffic lights has caused widespread traffic jams.

Carol Bellamy of the UN children's fund UNICEF says hospital conditions are also grim.

"While they still have some of the essential medicines, [they] are very low on oxygen, so they're not able to do some of the work that they would otherwise have to do," she said.

"They're overcrowded, they're having to bury bodies in their own gardens.

"So the hospitals, and in some cases they've also been looted... are in a very difficult condition, certainly in Baghdad."

Basra aid

British forces in southern Iraq have relaunched a train service between Umm Qasr and Basra in an attempt to speed up distribution of aid.

However, the trial-run ventured just 30 of the 50 kilometres to Basra before returning, with security still too uncertain to take the train all the way from the port to the city.

The British hope to have the train running by the end of next week.

Local officials on board were philosophical.

"The trip of 1,000 miles starts with one step, and this is the first step and we will do everything that can do something good for our people," one said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s835959.htm