• The ICRC has continued to visit thousands of people held under the authority of the Multi-National Forces for Iraq (MNFI), the Iraqi transitional government, and the Kurdish Regional Government. Between May and September 2005, ICRC visited more than 8,800 detainees during 33 visits to places of detention all over Iraq. ICRC also visited more than 2,800 internees to monitor their condition of detention and treatment. The main detention/internment facilities covered during that period were Camp Cropper (Baghdad Airport); Camp Bucca near the southern town of Basra; and several detention places in Kurdistan.

• Confidential reports that include the findings of these visits are regularly submitted to the detaining authorities concerned. Where necessary, the ICRC makes interventions and recommendations to request improvements so that the conditions of detention and the treatment of detainees comply with the Geneva Conventions and international standards.

• In the period under review, released foreign nationals were repatriated under ICRC auspices in collaboration with the authorities concerned. Between May and September, the ICRC repatriated 29 Iranian nationals who had been staying at Ashraf camp. Prior to the repatriation, ICRC delegates held private interviews to make sure they were returning home of their own free will. Two Palestinian nationals were repatriated to the Palestinian autonomous territories and one Syrian to Damascus.

• Persons visited by the ICRC in detention are able to restore and maintain contact with their families in Iraq or abroad through the exchange of Red Cross Messages. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), with support from the ICRC, is responsible for the distribution of red cross messages within Iraq. A total number of 4'420 red cross messages were distributed to detainees. Almost 3'400 red cross messages were collected from detainees to be distributed to their loved ones.

• In addition to the distribution of messages, the ICRC also telephones families to pass on 'Safe and Well' messages.

Tal-Afar

Following the escalation of violence in Tal-Afar in northern Iraq, thousands of people had to flee their homes to shelter in surrounding areas. Some went to live with friends and family members around the city, others settled in abandoned villages.

Between July 1 and August 14 the ICRC distributed 120,000 litres of water per day to 450 displaced families in three locations around Tal-Afar

With the escalation of violence in Tal-Afar in mid-August, humanitarian needs increased. From August 15 the ICRC began to provide the IRCS with family food parcels. Furthermore, the ICRC distributed 180,000 litres of drinking water per day to 900 displaced families.

The ICRC continues to support the IRCS to help it cope with the needs of the displaced population. On September 11 2005, the ICRC provided the IRCS with 5,000 food parcels, 1,000 jerry cans, 1,000 buckets, 100 tents, 600 kerosene stoves and 600 hygiene kits. These items are being distributed to the displaced families around Tal-Afar.


Baghdad

More than 1,000 people were reportedly crushed to death or drowned in the Tigris River on August 31 2005 when panic spread amongst a crowd of pilgrims marching towards the Kadhimiya mosque in northern Baghdad to honour the shrine of Imam Musa Kadhim. Most of the victims were women and children.

The ICRC immediately responded to needs by delivering 70,000 litres of drinking water to the Imam Ali Hospital (capacity 230 beds) in Sadr City in coordination with the Directorate of Health.

The ICRC also provided the IRCS and the Directorate of Health with 500 stretchers, more than 450 body bags and drugs for 100 patients.


Al-Qaim

The military operation in Al-Qaim in May forced more than 2'000 families to leave their homes. They found shelter in towns and villages along the Euphrates. Around 600 families settled in a deserted and isolated area in Akashat in the far west of the country.

In cooperation with the Iraqi water board authorities the ICRC trucked in 180,000 litres of fresh water per day to these displaced families between May 13 and June 1 2005. The IRCS, in collaboration with the ICRC, also distributed relief items to the displaced families. Food and non-food items were distributed to roughly 200 families in Rawa, 250 families in Ana and 500 families in Akashat (100 families had in the meantime gone to live with family members)


Erbil

Following the bomb attack of May 4, the ICRC immediately donated medical and surgical materials to the local emergency hospital. The donated kits, which covered the needs of 100 surgical patients, included dressing materials and intravenous fluids.

During the time period in review, the ICRC completed the following projects:

• Construction of the consultation building for Al-Yarmouk Maternity Hospital in Baghdad that covers the needs for 2.5 millions persons. The hospital has a 1,000 bed capacity.

• Rehabilitation and extension of Al-Khali General Hospital (capacity 50 beds) in Dyiala. The hospital covers the needs of roughly 280,000 people.

• Rehabilitation of part of Tikrit Hospital in Salah El-Deen. The hospital covers the needs of 1.5 million people and has 400 beds.

• Rehabilitation of Zergele primary health care centre in the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraq. The centre covers the need of 5,000 people and has the capacity to treat 15 patients per day.

• Rehabilitation of Al-Qadissiyah primary health care centre in Basra. It has the capacity to host 70 patients per day and covers the needs of 15,000 people.

• The ICRC finalized a water supply project to provide drinking water to 55,000 people n Al Husseiniya in eastern Baghdad.

• The ICRC continues to support seven centres caring for the physically disabled in Baghdad, Hilla, Mossul, Najaf, Basra. The centres produce artificial limbs and other orthopedic appliances. The ICRC fully manages the orthopaedic centre in Erbil. During the reporting period, the ICRC received more than 1,800 patients and delivered over 200 prostheses to amputees.