An 11-person team from the WFP and the UN children's fund UNICEF, as well as representatives from the UN Office for the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI), were assessing humanitarian needs in the southern port city of Umm Qasr, the WFP's emergency coordinator for Iraq Russell Ulrey told AFP.

UN staff had carried out a security assessment in the area on Tuesday and Friday's trip was "the first visit by the humanitarian side," he said.

The final UN expatriate staff withdrew from Iraq on March 17 on the orders of Secretary General Kofi Annan on security grounds.

Umm Qasr is the only entry point for direct port deliveries into Iraq, and had been handling vessels carrying in food and other vital necessities under the UN-administered oil-for-food programme before the start of the US-led war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on March 20.

Ulrey said Friday's visit would "allow humanitarian staff members of the UN to begin to assess what's required".

"We are assessing logistics, including the port, the hospital, water supplies and the market place," said Ulrey.

SPACE.WIRE