WORLD NEWS

April 10, 2003

Getting Aid to Iraqis

Aid groups ask for safety so they can get food, water and medicine to Iraqis

Safety concerns in Iraq are slowing down, and sometimes stopping, badly-needed aid from getting to the Iraqi people. In recent days, many aid agencies have been forced to cut back on the amount of aid being delivered inside Iraq because of continued fighting and chaos in the streets.

Aid Workers Face Challenges

Iraqis are in desperate need of clean water, food and medicine. Water and electricity are in such short supply in some areas that hospitals are unable to provide necessary care. Officials from the United Nations say $ 720 million in relief supplies are on their way to Iraq. But aid workers worry they cannot safely do their jobs inside Iraq as long as war and unrest keep areas of Iraq unsafe.

Danger and Disorder in Iraq

On Wednesday, U.S. troops took control of central Baghdad (though fighting continued in other parts of Iraq). This was a clear sign that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein no longer holds power in the country. Many Iraqis have celebrated the end of Hussein's brutal rule by destroying pictures and statues of the leader. This has resulted in disorder, chaos and danger in cities and towns all through Iraq. Aid workers hope a temporary government will be in place soon so laws can be enforced and safety and order can return to the Iraqi people.

Help from the Pentagon

In the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriya, U.S. Marines gave out bright yellow plastic bags of rice, beans and other basic foods to Iraqis. "They were grateful. They accepted them without reservation," said Kyle Norris, a U.S. Navy hospital worker. The U.S. also announced it would send 69 people to help organize the relief effort in Iraq. These aid workers speak Arabic, the language of the Iraqi people, and have been trained by the U.S. military. The troops and agencies hope that much more help will soon be on the way for Iraqis in need.

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/news/story/0,6260,442545,00.html