March 31

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:

31 March: A US Apache helicopter reportedly fired on and destroyed a pickup truck in the region of al-Haidariya near al-Hilla. The sole survivor, Razeq al-Kadhem al-Khafaji, told an AFP journalist how 15 members of his family were killed in the attack. He said the family was fleeing fierce fighting in al-Nasiriya, further south, when their truck was blown up. Sitting among the 15 coffins at the local hospital, he said he had lost his wife, six children, his father, his mother, his three brothers and their wives. The circumstances of the attack have not been clarified to AI's knowledge.

March 31

WOMEN & CHILDREN KILLED AT U.S. CHECKPOINT: Associated Press U.S. troops killed seven Iraqi women and children at a checkpoint Monday when the Iraqis' van would not stop as ordered, U.S. Central Command said. Two other civilians were wounded at a U.S. Army checkpoint on a highway near Najaf in southern Iraq, according to a Pentagon official and a Central Command statement. The military is investigating, the statement said. Initial reports indicated the soldiers followed the rules of engagement to protect themselves. ``In light of recent terrorist attacks by the Iraqi regime, the solders exercised considerable restraint to avoid the unnecessary loss of life,'' the statement said. The soldiers involved were from the 3rd Infantry Division, the same unit that lost four soldiers at a checkpoint near Najaf Saturday when an Iraqi soldier dressed as a civilian detonated a car bomb. The seven dead and two wounded on Monday were among 13 women and children in a van that approached the checkpoint but did not stop, according to the Central Command statement. It said soldiers motioned for the driver to stop but were ignored. The soldiers then fired warning shots, which also were ignored. They then shot into the vehicle's engine, but the van continued moving toward the checkpoint, according to the statement. There is some question as to whether the warning shot was fired in time for the driver to react, or whether it was fired at all.

March 31

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS DAILY BULLETIN

Iraq: ICRC STARTS VISITING IRAQI PRISONERS OF WAR

Geneva, (ICRC) – Delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today began visiting Iraqi prisoners of war captured by the coalition forces. The ICRC team consists of 15 delegates, including one doctor and six interpreters.

During this first day, they visited all parts of the camp, located in southern Iraq, and registered an initial group of prisoners. The visit is due to continue tomorrow and for a number of days thereafter.

Prisoners of war are protected by international humanitarian law. They must be treated humanely at all times. The Third Geneva Convention gives the ICRC access to all prisoners of war, wherever they are being held, so that the organization can monitor their treatment and conditions of detention. The ICRC will also be striving to re-establish contacts between the prisoners and their relatives.

In line with its standard practice, the ICRC will not comment publicly on treatment or conditions of detention, but will submit its findings to the detaining authorities with a view to achieving improvement if and when required.

The ICRC is actively pursuing its dialogue with the Iraqi authorities, with a view to GAINING ACCESS TO COALITION SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY IRAQ. TO DATE NO ACCESS HAS BEEN GRANTED.

BAGHDAD and areas to the west (31 March)

General situation

Large sections of the telephone network are no longer functioning, meaning that ICRC delegates have to personally visit contacts in government and local businesses. Movement in the city actually appears to have increased, as people have to visit family and friends to check on their condition rather than being able to call them.

The number of visitors to the ICRC's delegation has decreased. For the time being, only a few journalists and foreigners trying to resume contacts with their country of origin are coming to the office. While most shops remain closed, some open-air markets have started catering for the population's needs.

Water

The ICRC continued to transport additional drinking water to poorly served areas of Baghdad and some of the capital's northern suburbs. In all, 145 cubic metres (145,000 litres) were provided. In addition, 14,200 one-litre water bags were delivered to five nutritional rehabilitation centres and one hospital in Baghdad. Repair and maintenance work at different Baghdad hospitals is ongoing (for details see Daily bulletin of 31 March).

Ramadi and Fallujah

An ICRC doctor and water engineer have made assessments of hospitals and the water infrastructure in Ramadi (100 km west of Baghdad) and Fallujah (50 km west of the capital), both in Anbar governorate. The whole western area of Iraq, from Heet to Fallujah, has been without electricity for three days since two major electricity sub-stations were damaged during hostilities. Most water treatment facilities in the governorate are operated by back-up generators and consequently only function between 6 and 9 hours per day at roughly 40% capacity.

The ICRC plans to provide one first-aid-post kit, other medical equipment and 120 blankets to the main hospital in Ramadi; and blankets and body bags to the hospital in Fallujah, as well as spare parts and a contractor to repair the hospital's second autoclave. The main hospital and the maternity and children's hospital in Ramadi will also be assisted in their preparations for a possible breakdown in the power and water supply (generator maintenance, supply of one-litre water bags and repair of the water compact unit).

BASRA (31 March)

General situation

Fighting continued around Basra, and the overall situation was reported to be tense.

Water

Local technicians from the water and electricity boards, working with the support of the ICRC, were continuing their efforts to increase capacity at the Wafa' Al-Qaed water pumping station. They were carrying out cabling and connection work to ensure operation of the remaining three back-up generators at the station.

Meanwhile, the ICRC hired four tanker trucks to provide drinking water to suburbs of Basra not connected to the water-supply network. An ICRC engineer was also working to increase the quantity of water reaching Basra general hospital.

Monitoring the health situation

An ICRC health delegate continued to monitor the situation closely in three hospitals as well as at first-aid posts throughout the city. She is particularly attentive to any signs of outbreaks of diarrhoea or similar diseases as a possible result of the insufficient water supply.