Items:

1. NIGERIA: Blast victims begin receiving relief aid

International – Entertainment news

2. Houston in Drug Fuelled Coma-Like Stupor for Days

3. Halle's Nude Scenes Thanks to New Husband

NIGERIA: Blast victims begin receiving relief aid

Relief aid has started coming in for victims of the munitions dump blasts that have caused the death of over 600 persons in Lagos, Nigeria, and rendered thousands homeless, humanitarian officials said on Wednesday.The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working with the Lagos State government to help displaced people in two camps, the officials said.

"We have two teams that have gone in to work closely with the Lagos government with the specific mandate to support in the areas of medical supplies, water and sanitation," UNICEF spokesman Batilloi Warritay told IRIN. Nigeria’s government announced on Wednesday that it had earmarked 200 million naira (US $1.76 million) for emergency assistance for victims through the National Emergency Relief Agency. Warritay said UNICEF was also working with humanitarian non-governmental organisations and the Red Cross to set up tracing programmes to help reunite missing children with their families.

"Between Sunday and yesterday we recorded about 4,000 children who were reported missing by their relatives," Red Cross spokesman Patrick Bawa told journalists. "Out of this number we had found a little under 3,000 by the end of Tuesday," he said. Most of the missing children were residents of the Ikeja Military Cantonment and adjoining areas, where an old armoury stocking bombs and other military hardware went up in flames on Sunday, setting off massive explosions. The military base had over 15,000 residents, who are now homeless. Most have taken refuge in camps set up around the city, churches, and other military and police barracks, or with relatives.

Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma visited the base on Wednesday and promised that the armoury would be relocated.

Houston in Drug Fuelled Coma-Like Stupor for Days

Troubled singer WHITNEY HOUSTON is spending days in a cocaine induced "coma-like stupor", according to reports in the British press.   A friend of the soul star, who has reportedly been suffering from substance abuse problems for some time, is quoted in tabloid DAILY STAR as claiming that Whitney is spiralling out of control.   They say, "She's falling apart and sinking fast. When she's out cold, they can barely wake her.   "Nobody dares to call emergency because they're afraid it will

turn into another celebrity overdose scandal.   "Her father JOHN takes care of her, making sure she's OK."   The pal also claims that Houston worst, and most recent, drugs binge caused her to collapse for two days - prompted by her failure to record a song because her voice was so raspy.  

Halle's Nude Scenes Thanks to New Husband

HALLE BERRY had a change of heart over showing off her body in movies - after splitting with a lover who hated nude scenes. The curvy star hit the headlines after baring her breasts for terrorist flick SWORDFISH, but says she would never have gone for the sexy shots while still married to her first husband.   But Berry is now married to singer ERIC BENET, 34, who has no problem with her showing off her fantastic figure. She says, "The man I have now is very artistic and free."   The pair married after Eric's first wife was killed in a car crash and now look after his step-daughter INDIA together.   Halle says, "We had a great reason to get married. To have a real family and to give India a sense of security."