Iraq (Hansard, 19 May 1999)

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the Government's policy on supervision of aid to Iraq; and what steps the Government have taken at the United Nations to pursue its policy. [84411]
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§ Clare Short
The UN oil-for-food programme is the largest source of humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people. It was established in 1996 under UN Security Council Resolution 986, and is implemented largely by the Government of Iraq under the supervision of the UN Office of Iraq Programme (OIP). It is much less effective than it could be if the Government of Iraq wished to provide effective humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq. The UK maintains regular contact with the OIP to monitor progress on the oil-for-food programme. We have proposed a number of practical improvements to the programme, many of which have already been accepted by the UN Humanitarian Panel. We have included our proposals in a draft Resolution, which is now before the Security Council for its consideration.

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the amount of international aid dispatched to Iraq in the last five years; and if she will make a statement on the method of its distribution. [84412]

§ Clare Short
From 1993–1997, (the last years for which figures are available) international donors (bilateral and multilateral) provided an estimated £918 million in humanitarian assistance to Iraq. This figure does not include the UN oil-for-food programme, which provides the majority of humanitarian supplies to Iraq, and is funded through the sale of Iraqi oil. International donors usually distribute their aid through UN organisations, such as UNICEF and FAO, the European Commission Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO), and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Non-Governmental Organisations such as CARE International, and Premiere Urgence. The Iraqi authorities permit only seven NGOs to operate in Baghdad-controlled Iraq.

§ Mr. Fitzpatrick
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact of United Nations sanctions on people in Iraq. [84410]

§ Clare Short
There has been a marked decline in living standards in Iraq since the Gulf War. The economy has stagnated, public health and education services have declined and infrastructure (water and sanitation, electricity) has seriously deteriorated. Food and medicines have always been exempted from sanctions, but it was only in 1996 that the Government of Iraq agreed to implement the oil-for-food programme. This has provided invaluable humanitarian relief, but has been less effective than it could be because the Government of Iraq have 363W not implemented the programme effectively. The UK is currently working to achieve an improvement in the operation of the programme.