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The World Health Organization (WHO) has received disturbing reports from Baghdad that the ability of hospitals and hospital staff to do their work is being severely curtailed by the lack of civil order in the city.
According to a WHO briefing on health in Iraq on Thursday, the Medical City hospital center is reported to be running very short of water, which makes it almost impossible for the hospital to offer effective medical care to the people who need it. Another main hospital, Al Kindi, in Baghdad is reported to have been looted.
WHO said it is extremely concerned that the apparent lack of law and order in Baghdad will have a very serious impact on health and health care in the Iraqi capital.
Hospital staff is reported to be reluctant to leave their homes and travel to work for fear of becoming held up by demonstrations, looting, or celebrations. Surgical and medical supplies from central warehouses are not getting to hospitals when their own stocks run out.
The UN agency said it is ready to deliver urgently needed surgical and medical supplies into Baghdad. However, this can only be done once the security situation improves and once secure delivery can be ensured.
WHO said it is also working hard to return international staff to Baghdad and the rest of Iraq once it is safe to do so.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)
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