GRAVE CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN IRAQ

28 October 1996

Press Release
ICEF/1834
WFP/1038

GRAVE CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN IRAQ

19961028 In Joint Statement, DHA, UNICEF, WFP Call For Urgent Contributions to United Nations Humanitarian Programme for Iraq

NEW YORK, 28 October (DHA/UNICEF/WFP) -- Gravely concerned over sharply deteriorating conditions in Iraq, the heads of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP) issued a joint appeal today for urgent contributions to the current United Nations Humanitarian Programme for Iraq.

The humanitarian situation throughout Iraq was dismal and, with the onset of winter, would become critical for tens of thousands of women, children and other Iraqis, who already were living well below the poverty line, senior United Nations officials warned.

Making the appeal for urgent assistance were the Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Yasushi Akashi, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, and WFP Executive Director Catherine Bertini.

The cumulative effects of war, economic sanctions, hyper-inflation, unemployment and this year's 30 per cent drop in crop production are starting to exact a terrible humanitarian toll, especially among women and children, more than half of whom are receiving less than 50 per cent of their caloric needs, they stated. Malnutrition, particularly among children under five, has become rampant. In the north, the effects of the recent conflict have further worsened the situation.

And yet, to date, donor countries have contributed only $1.6 million to the $39.9 million appeal that the United Nations issued on 27 September to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in Iraq through the end of the year, they added.

The Humanitarian Programme covers a three month period -- October to December -- and is a transitional measure that will be re-examined or superseded with the implementation of Security Council 986 (1995), on the "oil-for-food" formula.

- 2 - Press Release ICEF/1834 IHA/607 WFP/1038 28 October 1996

Under the interim appeal, the WFP was to receive $19 million to cover the food aid needs of 2.15 million highly vulnerable people, including 900,000 war widows, 180,000 malnourished children under five and 200,000 pregnant or nursing mothers. The UNICEF was to receive $10.5 million for essential medicines and nutritional supplements for children suffering from malnutrition and disease.

A number of critical programmes are also envisaged to be implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the sectors of health, nutrition, electricity, returnees, internally displaced persons and resettlement/shelter respectively.

So far, the only donations under the current appeal have been by the Government of the Netherlands, which has contributed $586,796 to the WFP and $584,795 to UNICEF. Other donations have included $291,829 by the Government of France to the UNHCR and $146,299 from the Government of the Netherlands to the Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

With winter approaching, the interim appeal remains 96 per cent unfunded in spite of the fact that the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate since the appeal was issued.

The current urgent and basic needs of the Iraqi population must be addressed now. High levels of malnutrition still prevail, particularly among women and children. Inadequate and impure water supplies, poor sanitation facilities and inadequate health care systems already are contributing to high mortality rates from preventable communicable diseases.

Mr. Akashi, Ms. Bellamy and Ms. Bertini urged all donors to respond quickly and generously to the urgent humanitarian situation throughout Iraq.

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