| Submit your comments on this article |
| International |
| UN nears new Iraq aid deal |
| 2003-03-28 |
| The UN Security Council has agreed on a draft resolution to reactivate the huge Iraq oil-for-food programme. Diplomats describe the programme as the largest humanitarian assistance operation in the UN's history. The draft resolution will give UN Secretary General Kofi Annan control over the programme, which was previously run jointly by the Iraqi Government and the UN. It allowed Iraq to sell oil to buy food and medicines, providing a lifeline for more than half its population. Especially the Kurds, who could actually use the money to buy food and medicines. Both Mr Annan and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, who met at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, welcomed the decision. The Council could vote on the issue as early as Friday, and diplomats have said they hope that all 15 members will support the resolution. Perhaps we should dare the French to veto it. There is currently $2.5bn earmarked for food in the oil-for-food account. But the programme was suspended last week and more than 300 relief workers were evacuated prior to the coalition invasion of Iraq. On Thursday, Deputy Secretary General of the UN Louise Frechette told the BBC that it was critically important for the programme to be reactivated, warning that some people already displaced by the war could have just a few days of food left. She said that while the UN would try to get humanitarian aid through to Iraq, it was the responsibility of the US and its allies to look after the basic needs of the people. Earlier on Thursday, US President George W Bush spoke of the urgent need to resume the programme to help Iraqi civilians — but he warned that the aid effort should not be politicised. The BBC's Susannah Price at the UN says concern had been expressed by Security Council members Russia and Syria during the week-long negotiations, over the issue that the draft resolution might appear to sanction the war in Iraq. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Iraqi oil for food benefits the big French oil company Elf. They are unlikely to veto. The US might however. By the time oil for food is working Saddam will be gone and regular oil shipments can flow. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-03-28 14:24:25 |
| #1 My impression is that a French veto would mean a break with Germany. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-28 08:00:01 |