Trocaire sends aid consignment to Basra

Irish aid agency Trocaire is expected to deliver its first humanitarian consignment to the Iraqi people today.

The consignment of medical supplies and water purification tablets has been sent to the southern port city of Basra, where electricity and water supplies have been cut for four days.

British forces have reportedly secured the water treatment plant in the city, but are still facing strong resistance from Iraqi soldiers and militiamen.

Trocaire spokesperson Caroline Lynch said: "A consignment is currently on the way. It left Jordan early this morning. There's enough chlorine tablets in that consignment to clean 1.5 million litres of drinking water. That would provide 100,000 people with clean water for one day. We've also organised that there will be further consignments sent into Iraq in the next few days."