Baghdad, Iraq/Los Angeles, CA, USA - For the residents in an Iraqi city paralyzed by violence and fear the arrival of vital supplies from International Medical Corps (IMC) comes just in time. For some, it was the first food they had in days. However, it was no small feat.

Baghdad's Sadr City district has been hit by fierce clashes between U.S. and Iraqi forces and local militias causing shops and markets to close. A curfew now in its third week has kept families indoors preventing them from reaching stores to restock critical supplies of water and food.

Since last week, International Medical Corps staff is assisting the most vulnerable families in Sadr City. IMC is distributing one month's worth of food to poor families - including rice, cooking oil, sugar, beans, and flour - as well as potable water and essential medical supplies. Obstacles such as mines and sniper fire in the main streets make accessing the area and providing assistance very difficult.

"After three weeks of curfew people feel the effects in every part of their life," says Agron Ferati, International Medical Corps country director in Iraq. "The oppressive nature of curfews further compounds the deep-rooted problems ordinary Iraqis have to deal with every day."

For the residents of Sadr City life is growing more miserable by the day. Food is running out and people are clearly in need of assistance. Fresh produce is completely depleted. Electricity shortages occur daily in Baghdad, even at the best of times. People are unable to drive to petrol stations to restock on fuel for generators. However, now, even if they made it to the petrol station, they would find supplies depleted.

To avoid further disruptions in critical care regional hospitals are receiving much needed medical supplies from International Medical Corps that will help them to better cope during curfews and administer life-saving care to patients.

With food supplies initially located within the midst of fierce fighting around Jamila Market and access restricted for all civilian vehicles, International Medical Corps staff improvised a network of wheelbarrows to transport the goods from the stores. Trucks were positioned at the nearest accessible point to ferry the foodstuffs to the areas targeted for distribution.

In order to keep a low profile and minimize the risk to beneficiaries by air strikes, International Medical Corps staff established a low-key distribution center in a residential house. Food was given out to small groups to avoid attracting attention.

In anticipation of increasing scarcity of essential supplies, International Medical Corps has strategically pre-positioned 1,500 food packages and has two additional emergency medical supply distributions planned for hospitals in Sadr City.

International Medical Corps has continuously worked inside Iraq for the last five years and will continue to assist to the most vulnerable Iraqis.

Since its inception nearly 25 years ago, International Medical Corps' mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. For more information visit our website at www.imcworldwide.org.