Summary
The entire city of Basra's water supply was cut last Friday (affecting some
1 million people). For a heavily populated third world city in the desert,
no water (and thus also no sanitation with the resultant epidemics) can
lead to tens of thousands of deaths. This is what happened in 1991 and
coalition forces had given public assurances that they would cooperate with
Red Cross and UN efforts to maintain civilian water supplies.
The water plant is outside the city and controlled by Coalition forces;
until today access to restore the water supply was denied, even to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) international
inspectors. Finally, apparently after behind the scenes protest by the Red
Cross and the UN Secretary-General, limited access was given today to
international Red Cross staff, but the inadequate nature access still
leaves a very dangerous situation for the civilian population. The Geneva
conventions require the US and UK to provide "rapid and unimpeded" access.
Details
(source: International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva - audio clip
report of the ICRC head of Water and Habitat programmes in Iraq):
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/audio_iraq
1) On Friday the electrical supply was cut to the main pumping station for
all of Basra, the Wafa' Al-Qaed, north of the city towards the
international airport. This station pumps ALL of the water for the City of
Basra, drawing it from the Tigris river; it also contains the largest of
the 5 water treatment sub-plants. The pumping station was under the
control of the Coalition Forces with no reports of fighting in the
immediate area. Anticipating the disastrous humanitarian consequences of a
power cut, the UN and ICRC had pre positioned 3 electrical generators at
the plant. However access to the pumping station was not granted by
coalition forces to startup the generators.
2) Over the weekend the ICRC was therefore obliged to hook up the four
remaining treatment substations (under Iraqi control, in the city) to the
Shaat al Arab a salinated industrial waterway providing an unclean sources
of water and for only 30-40% of the population.
3) Since Friday the ICRC undertook "efforts" in Kuwait to obtain
access. It should also be noted that for several days in his morning
comments to reporters the UN Secretary General expressed, without specifics
or naming parties, his concern over humanitarian access in the besieged
cities. (source of latest and most subdued statement:
http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=405 ).
4) Today (Tuesday) limited access was granted to the ICRC so as to start
the generators. But this limited access only permits the main treatment
plant to operate at 60-70% of capacity [not the 90% reported by CNN] and
even this is subject to the generators not stalling\breaking down. The
Coalition has not permitted access to restore the main electrical hookup.
5) The Geneva Conventions require the US/UK to provide rapid and unimpeded
access to these plants:
" The Parties to the conflict and each High Contracting Party shall allow
and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of all relief consignments,
equipment and personnel provided in accordance with this Section, even if
such assistance is destined for the civilian population of the adverse Party."
[Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and
relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts
(Protocol I), 8 June 1977. Art 70. Relief actions; para.2.]
6) The ICRC points out that should Baghdad also be besieged the same
crisis could be reproduced. Of course it would be on a yet larger scale.
