HC Deb 25 February 1991 vol 186 cc384-5W
39. Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of humanitarian needs inside Iraq.

Mrs. Chalker

None. Security Council resolution 666 charges the United Nations Sanctions Committee to make the necessary determination to establish whether or not humanitarian circumstances have arisen, and to keep the situation regarding foodstuffs in Iraq and Kuwait under review.

Neither the ICRC nor the UNICEF/WHO team now in Baghdad have yet been able to conduct a full assessment for consideration by the United Nations Sanctions Committee. The ICRC have, however, identified a serious shortage of drinking water and, after notifying the United Nations Sanctions Committee, dispatched water purification supplies to Baghdad. The United Nations Sanctions Committee has authorised a consignment of food for ICRC distribution to Iranian internees and some other Asian nationals which the ICRC have identified as being in need.

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