AS the charity Unicef continues its aid operation in Iraq, it has renewed its appeal for help from the people of Swindon.

UNICEF the United Nations Children Fund is already in Iraq supplying food, medicine and educational supplies.

Its latest report states that in several northern areas of the country all schools have now reopened.

UNICEF in northern Iraq is also resuming its school health programme and will be monitoring children to ensure that their health needs are being met.

The charity has reported that the relative stability of northern Iraq contrasts with the lawlessness elsewhere.

In the south and centre of the country, schools remain closed, further delaying a stable environment for children where they can begin to deal with the trauma they have suffered.

In Umm Qasr, on the Kuwaiti border, UNICEF workers have begun screening children for malnutrition.

Chris Wynn, regional fundraising manager for UNICEF South West, said: "For aid to be effective, we need partners on the ground at community level.

"With the disintegration of the Ba'ath party structure and the looting which has left skeletons of vital social infrastructure, the rejuvenation of these centres is a positive sign that our network of people trained to meet the humanitarian needs of Iraq's children are still there and are starting to re-emerge."

In southern Iraq the main problem facing children is lack of drinking water.

In Umm Qasr people became so desperate that they began drinking water usually only used for washing with.

UNICEF has used the example of 29-year-old Zibieh Abbas to illustrate the desperation of the situation.

Mrs Abbas told aid workers aidworkers: "I saw red worms coming out of the water. It was horrible but there was nothing else to drink so I boiled the water for a long time before drinking it and giving some to Noor."

Noor is the name of her six-month -old daughter and fifth child she is already suffering the effects of diarrhoea and malnutrition.

According to UNICEF, Mrs Abbas's first three children all died before reaching the age of six months.

Those wishing to support the UNICEF Iraq Appeal should send cheques to UNICEF, Hunky Dory, Tanners Lane, Shrewton, Salisbury, Wilts SP3 4JR.

For more details call 01980 621287.

www.unicef.org.uk