DATE=10/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ-HUMANITARIAN AID (L-O)
NUMBER=2-255500
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-N official in charge of coordinating
humanitarian aide in Iraq, Hans Von Sponeck, says
delays in some relief supplies are causing problems.
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United
Nations.
TEXT: Mr. Von Sponeck told reporters good progress is
being made in providing adequate nutrition for the
people of Iraq. He said this is primarily because
increased oil revenues enable more food imports. The
U-N Security Council has authorized Iraq to sell oil
for the sole purpose of raising funds for food,
medicine, and other humanitarian supplies.
But some supplies are being delayed because of so-
called -- holds -- insisted on by the United States
and Britain. The holds involve products and equipment
that might be used for other than humanitarian
purposes.
Mr. Von Sponeck suggested many of the holds are the
result of inadequate information on what is being
imported into Iraq.
/// VON SPONECK ACT ///
If you look at the reasons for the holds you
will see that, more often than not, items are
put on hold because of inadequate technical
information. So we must try to provide better
information. We must encourage the government
(of Iraq) to talk to their contractors to make
sure the information is better and more readily
available.
/// END ACT ///
Earlier, U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a
letter to the Security Council expressing concern
about the holds on shipments to Iraq. Mr. Annan
suggests the Council review the holds policy to make
sure it is not interfering with what he called -- a
smooth humanitarian operation in Iraq. (SIGNED)
EB/UN/BA/LSF/RAE
26-Oct-1999 14:17 PM EDT (26-Oct-1999 1817 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
