12/6/2004 12:00:00 PM GMT
The U.S. military ordered the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to leave the Iraqi city of Fallujah, after it was prevented from providing humanitarian aid to the residents of the war-torn city because of continued violence.
IRCS spokesperson Ferdus Al-Ibadi confirmed that U.S. forces asked the staff to leave the city.
Major M. Naomi Hawkins said that the Marine Corps escorted IRCS workers out of Fallujah.
He added that U.S. troops sealed off the Red Crescent building on Thursday and arrested eight Iraqi survivors of last month’s offensive who came seeking shelter.
During November, continued fighting has prevented the IRCS staff from providing humanitarian aid to Fallujah residents.
The group said that it eventually succeeded in distributing food, water and blankets to some 1,500 people.
The IRCS is an affiliated organization to Geneva's Red Cross. It established an office in Fallujah two weeks ago to aid Iraqi civilians affected by the U.S. bloody offensive.