78                          HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


    On I May 1991, the United Nations raised its flag over Zakho before a
crowd of about 1,000 Kurds.94 By 4 May, about 3,000 Kurds were living at
Zakho. Bulk food (rice, flour, lentils, sugar, and salt) stored there could feed an
estimated 9,000 refugees two meals per day for about 30 days. The Zakho Civil
Affairs Team met with the mayor, the police chief, and the leader of the Baath
Party. They worked out a compromise and agreed only 50 unarmed police would
remain in town. The major civic problems were electric power and sanitation
because all electric generators were out of order and Saddam stubbornly refused
to switch on external power sources. Despite these handicaps, Zakho's markets
and shops were open,   currency was plentiful, and one of the banks was
operating. The streets of Zakho soon teemed with people hurrying to market.

                         BLT 2/8 Moves South

    On 4 May, Battalion Landing Team 2/8 moved south of Zakho along the
road leading through Summayl to Dohuk. A platoon from Company E relieved
a similar unit from Company F.  Company F then formed a combined arms


                                        Paintitig by Cci Peter M. "Mike" Gish, USMCR

                    Young KurJ~ on burros in Shiladeza, Iraq