UN coordinates Iraq relief operations with European Union

Continuing his efforts to coordinate relief activities, the top United Nations humanitarian official in Iraq met today with a senior representative of the European Union (EU).

"This is a challenging moment for the UN as we re-establish our presence in Baghdad in order to provide humanitarian assistance and to provide the leadership in coordinating humanitarian work," UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Ramiro Lopes da Silva told reporters after meeting EU Commissioner for Development Poul Nielsen.

Mr. Nielsen said he was looking to the UN to establish itself as the main humanitarian coordinating body.

A team from the UN World Health Organization (WHO), which now has a permanent presence in Iraq's second city of Basra, visited the Al Tahrir Teaching Hospital, where doctors reported a significant increase in the number of cases of diarrhoeal diseases, gastroenteritis and dehydration. Seven cases of clinically confirmed cholera were reported, mainly among very young children.

Samples from other children with suspected cholera were taken to Kuwait for analysis because medical laboratories in Basra had been destroyed and looted of equipment and viral agents. At Basra’s children hospital doctors suspected more cases of cholera but also could not conduct laboratory tests.

WHO said the other overriding problem in Basra's local health sector was security. In addition to stolen equipment and hospital vehicles, female health workers particularly feared for their personal safety, it said.

In northern Iraq, 85 international UN humanitarian workers are currently operating, with an additional 31 expected to arrive tomorrow by road from Turkey. UN agencies there are undertaking needs assessments work with priority being given to water and sanitation, assistance to vulnerable groups, the electricity supply, mine action activities, health and primary education.