Inside a Siege, Signs of Life and Loss
The Israeli siege has left Mr. Arafat and a few dozen aides, sympathizers and international peace protesters virtually isolated in a few rooms, often without electricity, water or working plumbing. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's visit to the compound in a heavily armed and armored motorcade this morning gave outsiders a rare look inside, and it was fairly grim.

"I am down to the last analgesics," said Dr. Zedi Abu Shawish, a surgeon and deputy director of hospitals for the West Bank who said he has been caring for a half dozen wounded Palestinian fighters inside with dwindling supplies left by the Red Cross, performing an amputation below the knee on one man with just local anesthetic. "I need first of all the water. It's the most important here for us, because if I have more diarrhea here, it will be messy."

As Israeli tanks pulled just far enough away to let Secretary Powell's convoy pass, the 14 American journalists traveling with him got only the briefest glimpse inside the compound today, and a sanitized glimpse at that, people staying in the compound said. They said the Israelis had restored water on Saturday just long enough to clean the place up a bit, and flush the toilets, before a tank rumbled over a makeshift supply pipe and left the compound dry again. This morning, the corridors were filled with the sweet smell of disinfectant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/15/international/middleeast/15COMP.html?todaysheadlines