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CNN Live Today

Humanitarian Efforts Not Yet Fully in Place

Aired March 10, 2003 - 11:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the U.S. is preparing to feed and house perhaps hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis. Much of the aid could come through Kuwait, and that's where CNN's Richard Blystone is today -- hi, Richard.
RICHARD BLYSTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Well, here's a message today for Iraqi civilians from the U.S., Britain, and Kuwait: please stay home, you'll be a lot better off.

The worst case estimate is that war could put to flight up to 2 million Iraqis, far outnumbering the fighters and swamping humanitarian efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES BROWN, KUWAITI HUMANITARIAN COMMITTEE: We all know that this could be, potentially, something that's never occurred before, and the size and the magnitude of this potential crisis is -- is unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLYSTONE: At a news conference today, officials of the Joint Humanitarian Operation Center tried to reassure reporters that they're on top of the situation, and that humanitarian relief is an integral part of the allied war plan.

But, only a couple of dozen of the relief agency's staff who would actually do the job on the ground are in Kuwait today, and they are saying they need money and fast.

Meanwhile, we have been shown almost none of the tents, the food, the water, and the medicine that would be required -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: In fact, I was going to ask you about that, so there you go. Thanks very much, Richard Blystone.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired March 10, 2003 - 11:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the U.S. is preparing to feed and house perhaps hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis. Much of the aid could come through Kuwait, and that's where CNN's Richard Blystone is today -- hi, Richard.
RICHARD BLYSTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Well, here's a message today for Iraqi civilians from the U.S., Britain, and Kuwait: please stay home, you'll be a lot better off.

The worst case estimate is that war could put to flight up to 2 million Iraqis, far outnumbering the fighters and swamping humanitarian efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES BROWN, KUWAITI HUMANITARIAN COMMITTEE: We all know that this could be, potentially, something that's never occurred before, and the size and the magnitude of this potential crisis is -- is unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLYSTONE: At a news conference today, officials of the Joint Humanitarian Operation Center tried to reassure reporters that they're on top of the situation, and that humanitarian relief is an integral part of the allied war plan.

But, only a couple of dozen of the relief agency's staff who would actually do the job on the ground are in Kuwait today, and they are saying they need money and fast.

Meanwhile, we have been shown almost none of the tents, the food, the water, and the medicine that would be required -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: In fact, I was going to ask you about that, so there you go. Thanks very much, Richard Blystone.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com