Collapsed bridge will delay humanitarian convoys

The collapse of a bridge on the main supply route between Jordan and Iraq is expected to further delay the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Baghdad, aid officials said on Tuesday.

Although the reason for the collapse of the Al-Ramadi bridge - an overpass above Highway 10 - is still unclear, the UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC) in the Jordanian capital, Amman, said heavy shelling during the war had already weakened its structure. The Al-Ramadi Bridge is 174 km west of Baghdad, and Highway 10 is the main supply route between the Jordan/Iraq border and Baghdad.

"The bridge had suffered some damage during the war which had obstructed eastbound traffic. We are still unclear if the collapse has affected westbound traffic and, if so, to what extent," a UNJLC field officer, Mervat Shelbaya, told IRIN.

Shelbaya added that although there were alternative routes, "it would take considerable time before the supplies reached their destination."

Of chief concern is the timely delivery of food and medical equipment, which, Shelbaya said, were urgently needed. "A team of civil engineers are assessing the extent of the damage and it is hoped that the debris will start moving by end of week," Shelbaya said.