New York: Voicing concern over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Iraq, the United Nations expressed its willingness to provide assistance in the country's troubled region particularly in south-east region of Basra, where a large-scale military operation is under way.

Veronique Taveau of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said the UN agencies in Iraq are ready to provide assistance in both Basra and Sadr City.

Amid flare-ups in violence, Taveau said movement and access to Basra's population is currently impossible. Half of the 3.2 million-strong population of these areas comprises children, she said.

The UNICEF is equipped to provide relief to 70,000 families by providing 39 million water purification tablets and 40,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts to treat young children for diarrhoea.

The World Health Organization has prepositioned 1,600 blood bags and trauma kits to treat injuries, while the World Food Programme has 200 tonnes of food ready to distribute outside Basra.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is prepared to hand out non-food items, such as blankets, cooking stoves and water containers, for up to 8,000 families, it said.
Source : PTI