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ICRC says looted supplies being returned to hospitals
Geneva, Apr 20: Warning that the continuing vacuum in public administration in Iraq is increasing tensions and rivalries, the International Red Cross has said that coalition forces must do more to restore order and stability.
Geneva, Apr 20: Warning that the continuing vacuum in public administration in Iraq is increasing tensions and rivalries, the International Red Cross has said that coalition forces must do more to restore order and stability.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said yesterday that looters had responded to calls from religious leaders in the mosques to hand back stolen medicines and equipment to hospitals, and these returns were now the main source of supply for health institutions.
But otherwise, it said, the situation in Baghdad and many other parts of the Iraq remained grim.
"Iraq is at a crucial stage, where decisions must be taken swiftly to re-establish and maintain safety and public order," it said. "There is a pressing need for direction and organization, as although most civil servants are committed to resuming their work they remain unclear about their situation in the absence of guidance from a civil administration," it said.
The Swiss-led ICRC is the best established aid organization working in Iraq and is the guardian of the Geneva Conventions on humanitarian law in times of war. It is acting as neutral intermediary to facilitate meetings between coalition forces and Iraqi public service leaders in order to speed up the restoration of basic health, water, sewage, electricity and refuse collection services in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra.
It helped establish contact between Iraqi personnel responsible for electricity production and specialists on the US side - who have declared that power will be re-established within the coming days. Bureau Report
But otherwise, it said, the situation in Baghdad and many other parts of the Iraq remained grim.
"Iraq is at a crucial stage, where decisions must be taken swiftly to re-establish and maintain safety and public order," it said. "There is a pressing need for direction and organization, as although most civil servants are committed to resuming their work they remain unclear about their situation in the absence of guidance from a civil administration," it said.
The Swiss-led ICRC is the best established aid organization working in Iraq and is the guardian of the Geneva Conventions on humanitarian law in times of war. It is acting as neutral intermediary to facilitate meetings between coalition forces and Iraqi public service leaders in order to speed up the restoration of basic health, water, sewage, electricity and refuse collection services in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra.
It helped establish contact between Iraqi personnel responsible for electricity production and specialists on the US side - who have declared that power will be re-established within the coming days. Bureau Report