UN Says War is "Wreaking Havoc" on Iraqi Youth

[BurtWorm]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-Aid.html?pagewanted=print&position=


November 23, 2004
U.N.: War 'Wreaking Havoc' on Iraq Young
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 12:35 p.m. ET

GENEVA (AP) -- Fighting in Iraq is ``wreaking havoc'' on the country's children, nearly doubling malnutrition rates since the start of the war and all but preventing relief groups from working in the country, the U.N. children's' agency said Tuesday.

In a sign of the difficulties faced by humanitarian efforts, the first independent aid convoy to enter the Iraqi city of Fallujah after two weeks of fighting had to turn back before delivering any aid because of security fears, the international Red Cross said.

The Red Crescent convoy of ambulances and three trucks carrying blankets, water and first-aid kits managed to enter the city on Monday and saw a few civilians before it had to turn back, Ahmed Rawi, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said.

The Marines said the team was briefed on the aid situation in the city and visited a relief site but was advised by military officials not to distribute aid.

``They did not deliver any assistance,'' Rawi said, adding that he was waiting for the convoy's report. ``We want to see what they saw inside. We want to see their evaluation of the conditions.''