Instability in Iraq is making the provision of humanitarian aid understandably difficult. Brian Purchia reports on that.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says large quantities of food, water, and medicine are waiting to be brought into Iraq.
COLIN POWELL U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE
“A large amount of humanitarian supplies and equipment are already heading to ports where it can be moved into Iraq; tens upon tens of thousands of metric tons of wheat and grain, large quantities of water.”
Humanitarian aid agencies are making cautious plans to provide fresh supplies. For those in need…
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD
“Water, Water”
Some representatives of those agencies say law and order must be re-established before they can effectively deliver aid. Antonia Paradela of the World Food Program.
ANTONIA PARADELA, WFP SPOKESPERSON
"The World Food Program has to deliver food for 27 million Iraqis. It's a massive aid operation. It will be the largest humanitarian operation ever. To do our work properly, we need safety on the ground.”
International humanitarian agencies are concerned that lawlessness is crippling aid efforts and hampering hospital operations throughout Iraq. As widespread looting continues in Baghdad Friday. Some Baghdad shopkeepers are shooting at looters, while others are calling for coalition forces to control street violence.
INIDENTIFIED IRAQI
"Our problem is the taking over, robberies. They do robberies everywhere, in Kirkuk, the hospitals and other places. We need security, we need security in Kirkuk with United Kingdom and the American governments."
The commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf region, General Tommy Franks, says American troops are forbidden to use deadly force to prevent looting. U.S. military officials in Baghdad are urging Iraqi civilian government and emergency personnel to return to work to help restore order.