Relief agencies, shocked by the scenes that unfolded after Kuwaitis rushed food by road across its border, are pushing for systematic deliveries to ensure the weakest get help first. “My heart goes out to the civilians because of what they are experiencing,” said Tamara Al-Rifai, spokeswoman of the International Committee of the Red Cross. “We are very worried that this situation marks the start of something very ugly in Iraq.”

No major relief can reach Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, because fighting has limited water and electricity supplies and forced many civilians to flee. “It is extremely urgent situation in Basra, especially to do with children,” said Geoffrey Keele of the UN children’s fund. “There is a convergence of risk factors which can lead to debility and death, particularly with the hot weather approaching. If you are malnourished you are more vulnerable and if you have no clean water then you are prey to bacteria.”

British troops advanced into southeastern Iraq on March 20, the first day of the US-led invasion. They have secured southern oil fields and the deep water port of Umm Qasr, but hopes the Shiite south would welcome US and British forces as liberators have proved premature.

The British military sees no humanitarian crisis in Basra, with water was restored to about 40 percent of the population this week, most families believed to have a month of food and medical facilities rudimentary but functioning. “That said, we would still like to improve their living conditions as soon as possible,” British Army spokesman Col. Chris Vernon told a news conference in Kuwait.

Aid workers say the scuffles over Kuwaiti food aid highlight the potential for instability in the south as the war grinds on. Some privately describe the scenes of the weak and the elderly being pushed aside by young toughs as a disaster.

Rifai said an ICRC team would go in to repair three of the six generators at Basra’s Wafa Al-Qaed water treatment plant. An ICRC team performed initial repairs to several of the generators at the plant several days ago.

UNICEF said it was finalizing contracts with a private firm to truck water to Basra using up to 40 vehicles. Fifty-five community water bladders with a capacity of 5000 liters had been flown to Kuwait for delivery to Basra and neighboring areas.