Red Cross steps up Iraq missions in face of "crisis"

GENEVA, May 7 (Reuters) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said today it was stepping up its relief operations in Iraq in the face of what an official called ''an ever-deepening humanitarian crisis.'' The Swiss-based ICRC said it was upping its Iraqi budget for this year by over 60 per cent -- from some 47 million dollar to 75.2 million dollar -- and was appealing to international donors to come up with the extra 29 million dollar as soon as possible.

''Iraq is in an ever-deepening humanitarian crisis. Things are not getting any better,'' the ICRC's head of operations for West Asia and North Africa Beatrice Megevand-Roggo told a news conference.

The additional funds would be partly used to help the most vulnerable among the growing numbers of internally displaced people -- now estimated at totalling 850,000 across the country -- and the poorest in communities sheltering them, she said.

''This conflict is inflicting immense suffering on all Iraqis. People directly affected by the crisis are finding it increasingly difficult to cope,'' she declared.

Even with the new budget, the ICRC would still not be able to cover ''the appalling needs'' of a huge swathe of the Iraqi population in health care, water supply and sanitation as well as access to new jobs.

Working with the Iraqi national Red Crescent Society, her organisation will aim to boost distribution of food and other essentials to some 110,000 destitute households, or 660,000 people, more than twice the number initially planned for.

Communities, and especially women, taking in people who had fled from other areas would be helped by the creation of employment projects that would help ensure a sustainable livelihood and support for families.

The new funds would also help improve access to clean water ''by restoring basic water, sanitation and health infrastgructure damaged or rendered unusable by armed violence,'' Megevand-Roogo told the news conference.

In a separate statement, the ICRC said humanitarian assistance would not be enough by itself ''to address the immense requirements of the population in the present disastrous security situation.'' It appealed ''to all those with military and political influence on the ground to take action to ensure that the lives of ordinary people in Iraq are spared.'' This was an obligation under international law for all participants in the conflict.

REUTERS RS HS2222