WHO aid hampered by looters
2003-04-10 20:33
Geneva - A World Health Organisation (WHO) truck carrying 13 tons of emergency medical supplies for hospitals in Baghdad has been unable to deliver its cargo because of looting and fighting in the Iraqi capital, the WHO said on Thursday.
WHO spokesperson Iain Simpson said the truck left Jordan at the beginning of the week, but the driver was forced to take "avoiding action" when he arrived in the city.
"Between it leaving and arriving in Baghdad, the situation had deteriorated," Simpson told AFP.
Simpson would not say where the truck was exactly, except that Iraqi WHO employees were trying to keep it in safety while talks were underway with "warring parties" to try to get the supplies delivered or stored safely.
Until the conflict began the WHO had always worked through the Iraqi health ministry, which was "not functioning" any more, according to Simpson.
"Where to take these supplies, how to store them and to ensure security are big issues," he said.
"Law and order is the big thing that has to be sorted out soon," Simpson added.
Al Kindi hospital in Baghdad has been looted, and patients and doctors have been unable to reach major hospitals, aid agencies warned on Thursday.
Baghdad's hospitals are also critically short of water, electricity, and medical supplies, they said.
The WHO spokesperson insisted it was up to occupying forces to ensure a minimum of safety. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA