UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $340 MILLION FOR INTER-AGENCY HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMME IN IRAQ

Press Release
IHA/598

UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $340 MILLION FOR INTER-AGENCY HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMME IN IRAQ

NEW YORK, 3 June (Department of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Yasushi Akashi, has addressed a communication to Member States forwarding a copy of an appeal calling for $340 million for inter-agency humanitarian programme in Iraq over the period from April 1996 to March 1997. The appeal is being launched now after taking into consideration the outcome of the discussions regarding the implementation of Security Council resolution 986 (1995), which culminated in the memorandum of understanding between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations on 20 May.

A significant portion of the needs and activities identified in the appeal document, prepared in March, will be met from funds to be generated by the implementation of that resolution. However, there will be significant aspects of the current humanitarian programme in Iraq, particularly those which address special needs of vulnerable groups, which will require voluntary contributions from the international community between now and such time as the programme envisaged by resolution 986 becomes operational.

Some $80.5 million are urgently needed to cover immediate needs for food and agricultural assistance and nutrition, water supply and sanitation services, basic health services, as well as shelter and education. In addition, funding for the operation of the United Nations guard contingent in Iraq will be exhausted this month. Resources are critically required to continue this operation, since it is envisaged that the guards will play an important role in escorting relief convoys and in providing support to relief personnel in charge of monitoring aid distribution to the population in northern Iraq.

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