ICRC'S ASSISTANCE TO PECIGRAD

ZAGREB, Aug 7 (Hina) - "The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), present in the vicinity of Pecigrad in the Bihac pocket during its six-day siege, was able to immediately respond to the town's humanitarian needs when the besieged forces surrendered on the 4th of August," the Zagreb-based Red Cross said on Sunday in a statement. "During these anxious days, the ICRC supplied hospitals and medical centres on both sides of the conflict line with surgical and medical items in preparation for a sudden influx of war wounded," said the statement. "Some 350 civilians and 70 war wounded were trapped in the town where the ICRC finally gained access on the evening of the 4th of August to assist the local medical structures in aiding the victims. These included 35 wounded soldiers who were transported by the ICRC to the closest hospital from where they could send Red Cross messages assuring their families that they were still alive," the statement said. "In adition to immediate medical and food assistance, the ICRC gained access to 390 detainees as a first step in assessing any medical problmems and ensuring humanitarian treatment," the statement said. (hina) as 071652 MET aug 94