Red Cross to scale up Iraq operations

The international Red Cross said today it will scale up its operations in Iraq to provide food, water and medical treatment for some 660,000 people struggling to survive amid the “disastrous” security situation in the country.

The Geneva-based humanitarian organisation said it was seeking 35 million Swiss francs (€21m) to fund the expansion of its relief work, bringing its total 2007 budget for Iraq to more than 91 million francs (€55m).