Continued American operations in Falluja; drastic humanitarian conditions
Iraq, Military, 11/16/2004

A spokesman for the America marines troops in Falluja said that the American forces continue military operations to overcome resistance pockets and that these forces are in control of the city.

The spokesman, Bill Gilbert, said that the Marines are carrying out mopping up operations from house to house and tried to justify the American forces prevention of distributing relief aids from the Iraqi Red Crescent under security pretexts, noting the need of ensuring full security to the conditions there.

News reports said that the American tanks were deployed in the streets al-Shuhadaa quarter to the south of the city which used to be considered the last resort for the fighters. The Marines soldiers continued breaking in operations into houses in search of fighters in various parts of the city.

One American military source admitted the killing of 38 soldiers and injuring of 275 others during one week of fighting in Falluja. Transportation of injured soldiers continued to the American Lantstol base hospital in Germany. The American sources estimated number of killed persons in the lines of the gunmen to 1200 in addition to five Iraqi soldiers.

Meantime, While Falluja has been witnessing a humanitarian crisis, the American forces refused to permit the Iraqi Red Crescent from distributing aids.

The American army permitted the burial of bodies of some of the killed persons in the city's streets and houses, and announced via loudspeakers that the civilians who need medicines or any other aid have to resort to the American forces.

News reports said that the body of killed persons started to deteriorate in the city streets where houses, mosques, and electricity and telephone lines were destroyed. News reports said that many people are still buried under the remains of houses, adding that no services are provided and this makes the humanitarian situation more complicated.

Previous Stories:
  Fighting continued in Falluja, Marines prevented relief aid   (11/15/2004)
  Musil is out of control   (11/15/2004)
  Two messages from Allawi to Mubarak and Abdullah   (11/11/2004)
  Lebanese president stresses Iraq sovereignty   (11/11/2004)

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