Fears of aid crisis as first shipment bound for Iraq
The first aid shipment was finally due to arrive in Iraq tomorrow amid mounting concern about a humanitarian crisis.
British soldiers succeeded in handing out emergency supplies in villages in the south of the country during the day.
But the numbers reached are dwarfed by the 1.5 million people trapped in Basra where the UN has warned of a crisis.
Water has been reconnected to just half of Iraq’s second city which has endured days with none at all.
Some 200 tonnes of aid destined for Basra had been expected to arrive at Umm Qasr port days ago on board Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Galahad.
However, the ship was delayed by unexpectedly fierce Iraqi resistance in surrounding areas which meant the port was not secure and it was prevented from docking for “at least” 24 hours when more mines were found in the surrounding waters.
Sir Galahad captain Roger Robinson-Brown said: “It is vitally important that the channel into Umm Qasr is cleared properly.”
Even if the shipment arrives tomorrow the military stand-off at Basra makes it unclear when the aid might reach its population.
That is also a blow to political and military planners who hope the aid effort will win over ordinary Iraqis and critics of the conflict around the world.
Air Marshal Brian Burridge, leader of the UK forces in Iraq, said the discovery “illustrates his (Saddam’s) disregard” for the welfare of his own people.
However, a token aid delivery was branded a “disaster” by the Kuwaiti Red Crescent after it was hijacked by fit young men.
The food and water had been intended for more vulnerable Iraqis in but was surrendered to the crowd in Safwan amid chaotic scenes.
Most of those receiving aid today professed support for the US and UK but suspicion on both sides continues.
British soldiers said they believed at least some of those queuing up for hand-outs had been shooting at them just days ago.
And in the village of Al Zubayr, where two soldiers were killed in a grenade attack, one man made it clear that coalition troops and their aid were only welcome on Iraqi terms.
“You are here on the condition that you liberate Iraq,” said Ali Salman Hussein.
“We don’t want you to occupy us, we want you to liberate us and leave. If you don’t leave then we will hate you.”
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