[A-List] Iraq: weather forecast

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Heatwave forecast as cholera concerns grow
REBECCA SMITH
The Herald, 2 April 2003

Troops in Iraq are facing a heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar as
high as 41C (about 106F) by Sunday.

But the sandstorms which ravaged the country in recent days are not expected
to return in the near future.

Michael Dukes, meteorologist at the PA WeatherCentre, said: "This is the
first major heatwave of the season but it looks more intense than is usual
for this time of year. It will be a dry heat and there is no indication that
the sandstorms will return any time soon."

But military officials do not expect the weather to hamper operations.

Defence analyst Thomas Withington, research associate at the King's College
centre for defence studies, said: "It is going to get very hot, but the
British troops are trained to fight in these conditions. The situation may
get more difficult if the troops have to use their chemical/ biological
suits, but those in theatre have had a good amount of time to be
acclimatised."

The weather worries came as cholera became a "huge concern" in Basra,
according to the UN.

Around 500,000 people, half of the population of the city, have been without
water, although allied troops were taking in supplies.

The conditions were taking their toll on people already weakened by
malnutrition - particularly children, said Unicef spokesman Geoffrey Keele.

"We have heard reports that there have been some cholera cases," he said.

"That is obviously a huge concern for us now. We don't know how many cases
have been discovered but it is a few. We have been hearing this for a few
days."

Medical supplies are beginning to run low in Basra and fresh stocks are
urgently needed said Tamara Rafai, spokeswoman for the International Red
Cross in Kuwait.

A shortage of mosquito nets is putting British troops at risk of contracting
malaria.

In one unit, only 6000 nets have been delivered for more than 9000 soldiers
in the latest in a series of problems with the supply chain which have led
to reported shortages of toilet rolls, rations, and water.