UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL STAFF RETURN TO BAGHDAD TODAY

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 1 May (UN Information Service) -- Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, led a team of senior United Nations officials across the border from Jordan into Iraq this morning and is expected to arrive in Baghdad later today, where the group will re-establish a permanent presence of United Nations international staff in the Iraqi capital for the first time since hostilities began.

Mr. Lopes da Silva was accompanied by the country representatives of the World Health Organization, Dr. Ghulam Popal; the World Food Programme, Torben Due; the United Nations Children’s Fund, Carel de Rooy; and the United Nations Development Programme, Francis Dubois.

Communications, logistics, security and other key staff completed the team of 21, which crossed the border at 11:20 a.m. local time, in a convoy of eight vehicles.

The arrival of the senior delegation in Baghdad will bring to more than

60 the number of United Nations international staff working in Iraq.  Additional staff will enter the country in the north, centre and south during May, to increase the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.

Mr. Lopes da Silva and heads of the United Nations humanitarian agencies have been coordinating the delivery of emergency relief into Iraq by the United Nations since the war began from outside the country, while waiting for conditions in Baghdad to stabilize sufficiently to allow a permanent re-entry.  The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator will continue to administer the “oil-for-food” programme, on which 15 million Iraqis depend completely for their daily food requirements, pending any changes to the programme by the Security Council.

The United Nations team will operate from its headquarters in the Canal Hotel which was damaged and looted along with other public and private buildings in Baghdad following the collapse of law and order.  The Swedish Rescue Service Agency will assist the United Nations re-entry by providing tented accommodation for staff returning to the Iraqi capital.

* *** *