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Iraqi city water shortage { March 24 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://society.guardian.co.uk/disasterresponse/story/0,1321,920934,00.html http://society.guardian.co.uk/disasterresponse/story/0,1321,920934,00.html Iraqi city suffers water shortage David Batty Monday March 24, 2003 The Red Cross today warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster in Iraq's second city of Basra, as the aid agency struggled to restore water supplies destroyed in the war. Most of the city has been without water and electricity since Friday, which has been threatening hospitals and sanitation services in the area, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC's spokesman, Florian Westphal, said that tackling the situation in Basra was now its top priority. He said: "We have not been able to gain access to the main water station today so we will try and do the same thing tomorrow. "Sixty per cent of the local population are still without access to a regular water supply - this could develop into a humanitarian crisis. "We are really, really going to try and gain access to the supply and do anything we can to repair it." Yesterday the US president, George Bush, pledged that "massive amounts of humanitarian aid should begin to get moving in the next 36 hours" in the wake of the allied ground offensive in southern Iraq. Meanwhile, British military sources have denied reports that as many as 77 civilians have died in the battle for Basra already - the highest figures anywhere in the war so far. TV channel al-Jazeera yesterday showed harrowing pictures of a young boy with the back of his head blown off, apparently a civilian victim of coalition bombing of the city, and scenes of bloodied people being treated on the floor of a hospital. Electricity supplies for the region's main water station in Wafa al-Quaid, 20km north-east of Basra, have been destroyed during heavy fighting between coalition forces and local militia. The ICRC said the station, which supplied two million people, was under allied control and negotiations were underway to set up emergency generators. Roland Huguenin Benjamin, based with the ICRC team in Baghdad, told the BBC World Service: "People will very soon be without the possibility of operating in hospitals or anything else for that matter. "It is a humanitarian emergency that they should be given access to clean water." ICRC engineers and technicians managed to restore clean water supplies to 40% of Basra on Saturday after reconnecting several treatment plants to the Shatt el-Arab river. But the aid agency stressed that this was "obviously an emergency measure".

baghdad-bombing beginning-war celebration colateral-damage friendly-fire grenade-soldier iraq-downfall jessica-lynch media missile-mishaps northern other-cities south-advance us-casualties US-POWs warplan 75 billion not even close { April 4 2003 } Alqaeda fighting with iraqis { March 28 2003 } American flag raised { March 21 2003 } American idol might leave { March 26 2003 } Australians support war now { March 25 2003 } Back code yellow Bosnia iraq arms scandal { April 3 2003 } British officer punched kicked prisoners Bush budget doesnt add up { March 25 2003 } Bush has solid support Bush mental breakdown Buying tribes from saddam Buying tribes { April 3 2003 } Cheneys daughters not human shields { March 26 2003 } Demands russia cease iraq aid Dirty war cuts both ways { March 2003 } Dolphins clear landmines Dolphins enlisted locate mines { March 26 2003 } Fbi questions us iraqis German intelligence gave US iraqi defense plan { February 27 2006 } Intentially destroy water supplies Iraq accuses israel Iraqi city water shortage { March 24 2003 } Iraqi deserter desperate days Iraqi plots to kill americans { March 29 2003 } Israel obligated to defend { March 16 2003 } Jail of evil Marines avenge blood executed gis { March 25 2003 } Marines dropped devices similar to napalm Marines line up iran border Missile hits kuwait Monster saddam now hero Navy dolpins awol { March 29 2003 } Officials confirm dropping firebombs { August 5 2003 } Officials defiant { March 23 2003 } Phoenix power plant threat { March 20 2003 } Pows guantamo bay { April 1 2003 } Reports moab used Rumsfeld tough days ahead { March 23 2003 } Russia provided iraq intelligence Saddam vows to fight { March 18 2003 } Saddam warns of world war Saudis help with cheap oil and air bases { April 25 2004 } Seize airports Senate slashes bush tax cut { March 26 2003 } Soldiers pray pamphlets Us admits used napalm bombs Us capture chemical plant Us leaves british with oilfields { March 21 2003 } Using du illegal Weather forecast secrets { March 25 2003 } Whats next korea iran { April 3 2003 } Files Listed: 52

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