DATE=
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38638
TITLE=A NEW PLAN FOR IRAQ
BYLINE= ED WARNER
DATELINE= WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ECONOMIC SANCTIONS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL OF THE PEOPLE OF
IRAQ, LEADING NINE AID AGENCIES TO URGE THAT THEY BE LIFTED. BUT
BECAUSE IRAQ HAS NOT FULLY COMPLIED WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS, THE
SANCTIONS REMAIN IN PLACE. VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS A PLAN BY A
FORMER U-S DIPLOMAT TO GET BADLY NEEDED FOOD AND MEDICINE TO IRAQ
WITHOUT REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON SADDAM HUSSEIN.
TEXT: A RECENT SURVEY BY UNICEF INDICATES THAT ONE-THIRD OF ALL
IRAQI CHILDREN UNDER FIVE-- ALMOST A MILLION-- ARE CHRONICALLY
MALNOURISHED AS A RESULT OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. THE INFANT
MORTALITY RATE HAS DOUBLED IN THE LAST SIX YEARS WITH EIGHT
THOUSAND DYING EACH MONTH FROM A VARIETY OF DISEASES.
IRAQ IS PERMITTED TO SELL SOME OIL TO ACQUIRE FOOD AND MEDICINE.
BUT NOT MUCH IS GETTING TO THE PEOPLE. ALONG WITH BUREAUCRATIC
SNAGS AND DELAYS, TRANSPORTATION IS LACKING IN IRAQ FOR TIMELY
DELIVERY.
BRIDGET DUCHESNE IN THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF UNICEF SAYS A WHOLE
NATION IS AT RISK:
/// DUCHESNE ACT ///
IT IS A DRAMATIC DETERIORATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL LEVEL
AND THE WELL-BEING OF IRAQI CHILDREN SINCE 1991, AND
OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ALL CONCERNED. I SUSPECT THAT MANY
GOVERNMENTS MAY NOT BE AS INTERESTED IN A COUNTRY SUCH
AS IRAQ, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS CHLDREN ARE SUFFERING,
AND ONE HAS GET TO THEM REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICS. IT
IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO GET TO THOSE MOST IN NEED.
/// END ACT ///
TO GET AROUND THESE DIFFICULTIES, A FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE
MIDDLE EAST PROPOSES THAT THE UNITED NATIONS DELIVER FOOD AND
MEDICINE DIRECTLY TO IRAQIS BY ESTABLISHING ITS OWN DISTRIBUTION
CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
WILLIAM RUGH, NOW PRESIDENT OF AMIDEAST, A PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL
ORGANIZATION, SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN MIGHT RESIST SUCH A PROGRAM BUT
IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE U-S HUMANITARIAN RESOLVE:
// RUGH ACT //
IN PRINCIPLE, THE UNITED STATES IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IRAQI PEOPLE, AND OUR POLICY IS DIRECTED AT THE IRAQI
REGIME AND NOT IN ANY WAY INTENDED TO HURT THE IRAQI
PEOPLE. BUT BECAUSE SADDAM HUSSEIN CONTROLS HIS COUNTRY
SO TIGHTLY, HE HAS MANAGED TO DIVERT FOOD AND MEDICINE
TO A SELECT GROUP OF IRAQIS, AND HE HAS CONVEYED THE
NOTION THAT THE WEST IS TRYING TO HURT THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
WHICH IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
// END ACT //
EVEN SO, BY INSISTING ON MAINTAINING THE EMBARGO, THE UNITED
STATES IS INCREASINGLY BLAMED IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR THE PLIGHT
OF THE IRAQIS. THERE ARE FEARS SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED
COULD SEEK A SUBSTANTIAL REVENGE.
AMBASSADOR RUGH SAYS ARAB-WORLD PERCEPTIONS OF IRAQ DIFFER FROM
THOSE OF AMERICA:
// RUGH ACT //
THERE IS AN INCREASING FEELING IN THE ARAB WORLD THAT
SOMETHING DIFFERENT MUST BE DONE. THEY DO NOT HAVE A
SIMPLE AND LOGICAL ALTERNATIVE COURSE, THEY ARE JUST
VERY UNEASY WITH THE CURRENT STATUS QUO AND FEEL THAT IT
IS TIME TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ. I
THINK AMERICANS SYMPATHIZE WITH THAT, BUT WE SEEM TO BE
STUCK IN THE CURRENT GROOVE AND UNABLE TO FIND A NEW
WAY.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR RUGH HAS PROPOSED ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION, A DIRECT U-N
DISTRIBUTION SIYSTEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/MGB
10-Jan-98 2:30 PM EST (1930 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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