SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES UN MEMBER COUNTRIES TO RESPOND ‘SWIFTLY AND GENEROUSLY’

TO APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQI PEOPLE

Following is today’s statement to the Security Council, as delivered, by Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

SECRETARY-GENERAL, CONDOLEEZZA RICE DISCUSS HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN IRAQ

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

‘GARDEN OF EDEN’ IN SOUTHERN IRAQ LIKELY TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY

IN FIVE YEARS UNLESS URGENT ACTION TAKEN

UNEP Says Post-War Rehabilitation Should Include

Marshlands of Mesopotamia for Sake of People and Wildlife

(Reissued as received.)

UNFPA PREPARES TO AID PREGNANT IRAQI WOMEN

(Reissued as received.)

NEW YORK, 21 March (UNFPA) -- To protect the health of pregnant women displaced by the war in Iraq, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has put essential medical supplies and equipment in place inside the country and at sites in neighbouring countries where refugees are anticipated.

PRESS STATEMENT ON IRAQ BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the text of a statement to the press on Iraq by Security Council President Mamady Traoré (Guinea):

The Members of the Security Council welcomed the Secretary General’s proposals concerning the emergency humanitarian plan in Iraq and decided that they provide a good working basis.

UNEP'S POST-CONFLICT ASSESSMENT UNIT INITIATES STUDY OF ENVIRONMENT IN IRAQ

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI/GENEVA, 21 March (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced that its Post-Conflict Assessment Unit has initiated a desk study of the environment in Iraq.

SECRETARY-GENERAL AUTHORIZES WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL FROM IRAQ

      The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for
Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROVES AWARDS

OF OVER US $223 MILLION FOR COMPENSATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 14 March (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission, under the Presidency of Germany, concluded its forty-seventh session yesterday and approved awards of

FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE UNCC GOVERNING COUNCIL

TO BE HELD FROM 11 TO 13 MARCH 2003

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 7 March (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its forty-seventh session from

11 to 13 March 2003.

MAJOR-GENERAL FRANCISZEK GĄGOR OF POLAND APPOINTED FORCE COMMANDER

IN UNITED NATIONS IRAQ-KUWAIT OBSERVATION MISSION

Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Major-General Franciszek Gągor of Poland as Force Commander of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) with effect from 17 January 2003.