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Briefing note
3 April 2003: What UNICEF said at the UN briefing
Trucks carrying clean water and
emergency medical supplies arrive in Safwan, Southern Iraq
Briefing by Geoff Keele, UNICEF Communication Officer,
IRAQ
Good Afternoon
UNICEF confirmed today that 9 trucks have arrived in Safwan, a town
south of Basra in southern Iraq. The trucks are carrying clean water
and emergency medical supplies.
UNICEF has an update on the condition of three children injured earlier
this week while playing with a landmine in Northern Iraq. The incident
involved two brothers and their male cousin. Two of the boys, the brothers,
are particularly badly injured.
The older of the two brothers, aged 6, has had to have both his hands
amputated. He has suffered severe facial injuries and chest burns. He
is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of Dohuk hospital.
His condition is critical.
His five year old brother is suffering from severe injuries to his left
eye and cannot be treated locally. The third boy, also six years old,
is suffering from wounds to his right leg and right arm.
The three boys were injured, doing the most normal thing: playing outside.
The families of the boys originally came from Dohuk city, but fled to
the village of Garagow, to escape the current conflict.
Regrettably, these boys are victims of the lethal legacy of another
conflict.
It is a stark and disturbing reminder of the impact of war on children
- a reminder that in war children are most at risk.
UNICEF continues to be deeply concerned about the impact of this war
on the children and women of Iraq. We continue to urge all parties to
protect the lives of civilians.
For further information please contact us:.
Geoffrey Keele, UNICEF Iraq:
gkeele@unicef.org
(962-6) 551-5921 ext. 126,
Cell +962-79) 692-6191
Anis Salem, UNICEF Amman: asalem@unicef.org
(+962-6) 553-9977 ext. 407
(Cell + 962 79 557 9991
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Geneva:
wbelmonte@unicef.org,
(+41-79) 909-5509
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF New
York, aironside@unicef.org
(+1-212) 326-7261
For interviews in the region, write or call directly
to the UNICEF NewsDesk in Amman:
(962-79) 50422058
iraqichild@unicef.org
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Broadcasters!
UNICEF has video footage from inside Iraq, topics include health, nutrition,
education, and access to water and relief supplies being packed at UNICEF's
global warehouse . For a Beta
copy of the b-roll, along with shot descriptions.
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