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Press CentreBriefing note20 March 2003: What UNICEF said at the UN briefing
AMMAN, 20 March 2003 - The humanitarian situation in Iraq is extremely dramatic and has been for years. Over the past two months UNICEF in Iraq has done its utmost to try to make children more resilient and better able to cope with whatever now may happen. A polio immuinisation and measles campaign has been conducted. Specialised food for the treatment of malnourished children has been distributed. One of the lessons learned after 1991 was that disruption of water supplies led to the deaths of children through dehydration caused by diarrhoea. According to reports from Baghdad this morning from UNICEF national staff, work is still going on to fit fuel tanks for 11 back up generating plants at water treatment plants. This is essential work. Two trucks with first aid kits and water purification tablets for Baghdad are awaiting clearance at the Jordan border. Emergency supplies such as health kits and high protein foods for malnourished children have been stockpiled in neighbouring countries. We have had conflicting reports on the numbers of people moving from their homes in northern Iraq. Two teams of UNICEF national staff are in the field to try and get a clearer picture. We do know that substantial numbers of people have moved from the towns of Erbil, Dohuk and Sulamanieh to nearby rural areas over the past few days where they feel safer. We understand that in some cases men having moved their families are returning to look after property. In Kirkuk and Mosul people have moved into northern Iraq. These movements at the moment look like people making their own decisions about where it is best to go for their own safety. For the moment, until we have received reports from staff, we do not necessairily feel that this is a situation that requires an immediate humanitarian response. By saying that, we do not in any way belittle the worry and the concern that people in northern Iraq are feeling. We have talked to staff this afternoon in Baghdad, many of whom have gone to the UNICEF office to continue their work. For further information please contact us:. Geoffrey Keele, UNICEF Iraq:
gkeele@unicef.org For interviews in the region, write or call directly to the UNICEF NewsDesk in Amman: (962-79) 50422058 |
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