March 24

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS DAILY BULLETIN

In general: The ICRC has established contacts with a view to gaining access to prisoners of war (POWs).
· There has been a lot of interest in the issue of POWs being shown on Iraqi television: it should be noted that Iraqi POWs had already been shown on various TV channels on 22 March.
· The ICRC draws attention to the relevant passage of Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention: "...prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity."
· It is important to point out that: a) the dignity of POWs should be protected and b) account should be taken of the impact these images could have on their families.
· Other important issues concerning POWs – especially their security and access to medical care – also have to be considered.
· The ICRC's current priority is that POWs be protected and kept in a safe place.

In BAGHDAD: The ICRC can move around, but only to a restricted extent because of daytime bombing. An ICRC team is checking on the situation in hospitals in Baghdad.

(Photo shows wounded Iraqi girl in Baghdad hospital, 24 March).

· The ICRC has no current figures on casualties.
· The ICRC doctor visited Al-Yarmouk general teaching hospital and Al-Kindi general hospital. According to authorities at the former, 50 wounded people were admitted during the night from 23 to 24 March and in the morning of 24 March. They also speak of six persons having being killed. The ICRC delivered 120 blankets to the hospitals. No specific information is available from Al-Kindi except that 35 people had been admitted.
· Since 23 March, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society has set up 14 first-aid posts throughout the city. They are manned round the clock by two volunteers with first-aid equipment.
· Efforts to prepare hospitals and health centres for a possible cut in the water supply are continuing, including the following: 5,000 one-litre bags of drinking water were delivered to a CARE-supported hospital; 2,400 bags were positioned and bladder tanks installed in eight primary health care centres; two autoclaves and water storage tanks were installed at Al-Karama hospital.
· Work continued to connect a new generator for an operating theatre at the Al-Kindi hospital.
· A further 220 cubic metres of supplementary drinking water were delivered to 19 water distribution stations in poorly served districts of the northern Rusafa bank area and to five health centres used as emergency centres at Kharh.
· A number of meetings were held with officials in charge of the water authorities.

Basra
· ICRC technicians have reached the Wafa-Al-Quaid water plant north of Basra that provides most of the city's water. The ICRC hopes that as soon as possible, preferably today, it will be able to carry out the necessary repairs to ensure that the plant can produce water again. However, for the network to become operational there needs to be sufficient pressure in the system, and this can take a while.
· Most of Basra has been without water since Friday, 21 March, because of a power cut. On Saturday the ICRC and local technicians found a temporary solution to restore water to about 30-40% of the city. The water provided is drinkable but not of very high quality. However, media reports indicate that many citizens have had to start taking water directly from rivers. The ICRC therefore remains concerned about a possible public health crisis.
· The back-up generators only offer a temporary solution. During the next few days, the ICRC hopes to be able to facilitate access for local technicians who may be able to assess the damage to high-power voltage lines and repair it.