Continued insecurity hampering relief efforts

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Dominique AitOuyahia McAdams told IRIN today priority humanitarian needs were to treat wounded civilians and provide water and sanitation assistance to displaced populations. However, no assistance could be provided without security assurances, she added. The precarious humanitarian situation in the city is exacerbated by the absence of electricity and running water supplies over the past five days, McAdams said. Personnel of local health facilities have fled, and there is currently no access to the affected districts of southern Brazzaville, she said. A UN spokesman said yesterday in New York that 10 UN international staff members were evacuated by plane to Kinshasa on Saturday, leaving five in Brazzaville. Humanitarian sources in Brazzaville told IRIN some aid agency equipment, including vehicles and fuel supplies, had been looted.