Aid supplies expected as troops lay siege to Basra
Long-awaited aid was expected to arrive in southern Iraq today, after allied forces laid siege to Basra following a tank battle victory.
The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Sir Galahad – carrying 200 tonnes of food and 100 tonnes of bottled water – was supposed to dock in the deep water port of Umm Qasr days ago.
But the vessel was delayed by fierce Iraqi resistance around the port as well as the discovery of mines in the surrounding waters.
Dolphins trained in the US to track mines were airlifted to the port and also searched the 60-nautical mile Khor Abdallah waterway leading to it.
Australian officials partly responsible for the mine clearance said they hoped the ship would dock at the port “within hours”.
Australian defence force chief Peter Cosgrove told Sky News Australia: “We think that they’ve made tremendous progress to the point where it looks that the British ship, the Sir Galahad... will be able to berth later today in Umm Qasr port.”
The deep-water port is strategically essential for allied military as well as relief operations.
But Basra, with its population of 1.5 million, still faces a humanitarian disaster as the military stand-off in the city shows no immediate signs of abating.
British forces there have laid siege, hoping for a successful uprising by the city’s Shiites.
The city’s water supply was cut off a week ago and just 50% has been reconnected by engineers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The allies had hoped the arrival of aid would persuade normal civilians that the coalition forces were in Iraq for humanitarian reasons.
“The sooner we help the Iraqis the better, so that the message spreads that we are the good guys,” Britain's Major Tom Ellis of 102 Logistics Brigade told pool reporter David Sharrock of The Times.
“It’s all very well saying that we’re the good guys but if your house has just been bombed that’s not much consolation.”
Journalists were being bussed to Umm Qasr from Kuwait to witness Sir Galahad’s arrival.
The port town is slowly starting to recover after the recent fighting with the local population starting to venture out of their houses.
Britain's 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines were reportedly assuming control of the area, taking over from US ground forces.
UN and aid organisations were expected to take up to three weeks to become established in Umm Qasr, meaning an inevitable delay in distribution.
“In the meantime we will fill the vacuum,” Major Ellis said.
Other aid operations have fared less well with a token delivery being 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 but was surrendered to the crowd in Safwan, south of Basra, amid chaotic scenes yesterday.
In Nasiriyah, north of Basra, reports emerged of shortages of supplies for allied troops as they continued to encounter unexpectedly fierce resistance.
Associated Press reported some Marines were being issued two meal packets every 36 hours rather than three meals a day.
An American C-130 cargo plane landed in Tallil, four miles from Nasiriyah, carrying fuel, ammunition, water, food and reinforcements, US officials said.
Yesterday’s fierce encounter outside Basra was described by military sources as the largest tank battle involving UK forces since the Second World War.
It erupted as Challenger 2 tanks engaged the Iraqi tanks, thought to be Russian-built T55s, which were moving south towards the Al Faw peninsula.
All 14 Iraqi tanks were destroyed by a similar squadron-strength number of tanks from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
British soldiers just outside Basra have been told that Iraqi tanks are hidden “in the shop windows and under car parks” in the city.
Troops at checkpoints to the south of the city said they had seen only a handful of refugees leaving the city, who were searched for weapons and military paraphernalia before being allowed on their way.
The soldiers painted a grim picture of the military forces amassed in the city.
“Civilians tell us that the militia have piled into Basra,” said Sergeant Duane Gardner, of Britain's Queen’s Royal Lancers.
“All their kit, their army – apparently the tanks are hidden in the shop windows and under car parks.”
Colleague Corporal Tony Uprichard said: “We spoke to one English student who said the Iraqis were behind us and wanted him (Saddam Hussein) out.
“He said the regular army had gone north but the militia were in Basra.”
The Fedayeen – the black hooded fighters most loyal to Saddam – is known to be active in the city, the scene of fierce fighting since the outbreak of war.
