The United Nations said yesterday it had moved expatriate staff in Basra to Kuwait due to security concerns but they would return on a daily basis to carry out their work.
"It is a temporary measure until the security situation is reassessed," said Ms Veronique Taveau, a UN spokeswoman in Baghdad. "They will sleep in Kuwait but go each day to Basra." Twenty-two UN staff, including head of mission Sergio de Mello, were killed on August 19th in a car attack on the UN's Baghdad headquarters.
Ms Teveau said the United Nations was reassessing the safety of its staff in Iraq, but it would not leave. Two thirds of about 350 workers left Baghdad after the bombing, but many went just for short breaks.
"We have a committment to the Iraqi population," Ms Taveau said.
"We are not closing, we are not evacuating." Ms Taveau said the decision to relocate staff from Basra would affect about 10 employees.
The city, under the control of British troops enjoyed relative stability after the war which ousted Saddam Hussein ended in April. But there were riots over fuel and electricity last month and several attacks on British soldiers.
Basra lies 550km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, a short drive from the Kuwaiti border.
-(Reuters)