Iraq (Hansard, 25 June 1991)

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the future safety of Iraqi refugees living in camps outside the safe havens.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We expect Iraq to continue to comply with Security Council resolution 688, which calls for an end to Iraq's repression of its civilian population. We would take the gravest view of any renewal of systematic repression.
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§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the present level of food stocks in Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
On 15 May the UN published a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq. This report is available in the Library of the House. The United Nations Secretary-General's executive delegate, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, will lead a multi-agency team to Iraq to reassess the situation in early July.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the potential risks of epidemics of serious diseases in Iraq during the summer.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We are aware of reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross that diseases related to drinking water have increased in recent weeks. The ICRC is therefore distributing purified water to vulnerable groups throughout Iraq.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the condition in Iraq of (i) the food distribution system, (ii) the supply of drinking water, (iii) sewerage and (iv) irrigation.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
On 15 May the United Nations published a comprehensive report on the situation in Iraq. This is available in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment as to the likelihood of famine in Iraq during the summer months.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Reports from northern Iraq indicate that this year's harvest will be significantly better than last year's. Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan will report on the situation in the rest of the country when he visits Iraq in July.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the objectives of the United Nations force in northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United Nations guard's mandate is to protect United Nations personnel, assets and operations and to report any significant incidents.