Iraq warns of refugee disaster in al-Qaim

BAGHDAD, June 28 (UPI) -- Iraq's health ministry is warning of a human refugee disaster as thousands of families flee the Iraqi city of al-Qaim, an Arab newspaper reported Tuesday.

The United Arab Emirates' al-Khaleej daily newspaper quoted Iraq's deputy health minister Jalil al-Shammari as warning of starvation among the refugees who fled and continue to flee al-Qaim and surrounding areas to avoid massive U.S. military operations against suspected insurgents.

Al-Shammari told the pro-government paper that more than 7,000 families have left several towns in al-Qaim province in Iraq's northwest.

While most families have taken refuge in several towns, hundreds of families are stranded in the desert, he said.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have banned ambulances and humanitarian aid from entering al-Qaim city, and most of the refugees are suffering from a shortage of food, water and medicine, al-Shammari said.

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