Abgeschickt von Josef Gladitsch am 25 Maerz, 2003 um 09:09:30
Antwort auf: Iraq von jimm am 25 Maerz, 2003 um 02:47:55:
UNICEF United Nations Childrenīs Fund
24 March 2003:
What UNICEF said at the UN briefing
"... in Basra there is the very real possibility now of child deaths, from the
conflict, but also from diarrhoea and dehydration. We estimate that at least
100,000 children under the age of five are at risk.
"Briefing by Geoff
Keele, UNICEF Communication Officer, IRAQ
UNICEF staff in Iraq were at work today focusing on the urgent need for clean
water in city hospitals across Baghdad.
The importance of access to clean water is very much in the forefront of UNICEF
action, as the lead agency for water in this emergency.
Frequent power cuts and the consequent cutting of water supplies to Iraq's second
biggest city, Basra, is of considerable concern to UNICEF. This is the third
day that reports say Basra has had limited water. The Wafa Al-Quaid water treatment
plant provides 40 per cent of Basra's water needs, and feeds the Al Zubair Hospital.
Currently, the plant is only partially functioning.
There must now be a threat of disease as tens of thousands of people in their
homes, hospitals and care institutions attempt to cope and find what water they
can from the river and other sources. Unfortunately the river is also where
sewage is dumped.
UNICEF has repeatedly
warned that bad water costs lives, especially among the most vulnerable, and
the children of Iraq are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Not
only are they suffering from high malnutrition rates, in Basra there is the
very real possibility now of child deaths, from the conflict, but also from
diarrhoea and dehydration. We estimate that at least 100,000 children under
the age of five are at risk.
UNICEF is currently looking at ways to provide emergency water provision as
soon as conditions allow.
Over the past few years UNICEF has completely rehabilitated 37 water treatment
plants, 23 compact water treatment units, ten sewerage facilities, benefiting
8.6 million people. These activities also included one of the main water treatment
and sewage plants in Basra.
Today in Baghdad the UNICEF team has had talks with other agencies to look at
priorities for action. One of the areas identified is the urgent need for emergency
water tanks at city hospitals.