22 March 2003 - Field reports from
Baghdad, Northern Iraq (Erbil), and Kuwait
Baghdad
- Bombardments of Friday night were much
heavier than previous nights.
- There are people and traffic in the
streets of the capital.
- ICRC contact with the authorities continues.
- ICRC visits to Al Yarmouk General Teaching
Hospital saw about 100 wounded, including about 20 women. The ICRC
cannot say under what circumstances they were wounded, or whether they
are civilians or military personnel. The ICRC has delivered surgical materials
to the hospital.
- The ICRC is checking the situation in
other hospitals, including Al Kindi.
- ICRC warehouse staff are ensuring that
surgical materials are ready for immediate delivery to hospitals in need.
ICRC Baghdad has considerable stocks of surgical materials for the treatment
of the wounded.
- The ICRC is currently completing the installation of a water purification unit at the Medical City General Hospital, and is monitoring the water situation.
Erbil, northern Iraq
- The situation is generally quiet. Social
services are working normally.
- There is still some movement of Internally
Displaced Persons, but apparently not substantial. The ICRC aims primarily
to assist the most vulnerable IDPs, including those who have fled government-controlled
areas to Diyana, northeast of Erbil. Yesterday, the ICRC assisted about
600 people in this area.
- Local authorities are currently setting
up about 100 tents in Diyana to receive new arrivals.
- Local authorities tell the ICRC that they have registered 22,350 IDPs in Penjwin on the Iranian border.
Kuwait
- The ICRC has made contact with 'coalition' forces to discuss the issue of POWs. No access to prisoners has yet been possible.
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