Local employees of United Nations relief agencies fanned out inside Iraq and around its borders today to bring aid to the civilian population, with particular concern focused on the country's second city, Basra, where lack of water has raised the spectre of disease for its 1.7 millions residents, especially 100,000 children under the age of five.

While the United Nations steps up its relief effort in various parts of Iraq, people displaced from their homes have been returning to some of the country's northern governorates, a spokesman for the world body reported today.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today the United Nations will do whatever it can to bring assistance and support to the Iraqi people and called on all parties in the conflict to scrupulously observe the requirements of international humanitarian law.

Despite having withdrawn their international staff from Iraq, United Nations humanitarian agencies continued working inside the country today with local personnel.