Eyewitness: Taking cover in Falluja

For people in the city, life has become even more extreme.

Food is in short supply and the shops are all closed in anticipation of the looming attack.

Electricity is cut off because of damage to the main power station from the bombardment. The water supply has been cut off too. The roads are now heavily cratered.

People, particularly children and women, tend to stay at home, fearing being mistaken for a military target.

Doctors say medical supplies at the main hospital, which has been in American hands since Sunday, are low.

Most of the city's population has left, some for other parts of Iraq, others, I hear have left the country altogether for neighbouring Arab counties.

Economic life here has been way down since the first siege last April.

This has meant that most people are suffering desperate financial difficulties and many are living in Baghdad with family.

Rents in Baghdad have shot up, partly because of refugees from Falluja.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3993621.stm