10 October -- The United Nations is working to reduce the number of humanitarian relief contracts for Iraq that are not being processed because of a lack of information, the office overseeing the UN's oil-for-food programme announced today.
The Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, has written to countries informing them that about $1.1 billion worth of contracts lack adequate technical information to be sent to the Security Council committee monitoring the sanctions against Iraq. In his letter, Mr. Sevan asks that suppliers move more quickly to provide the requisite technical data.
Meanwhile, the Office reported today that over the past week Iraq had exported 1.6 million barrels of oil, earning $305 million, part of which will go to purchase humanitarian goods under the oil-for-food scheme. During the same period, the sanctions committee, known as the 661 committee for the Security Council resolution which established it, approved 57 new contracts for the humanitarian effort in Iraq.
In another move, the committee released contracts valued at $32.2 million which had been on hold, paving the way for the delivery of iron bars, circuit breakers, construction columns and drums to Iraq. It also placed holds on an additional $70.4 million worth of contracts that are pending approval.
Also during the past week, the committee gave the green light to two new contracts for the sale of Iraqi oil, each for the purchase of 8 million barrels of oil. One went to an Italian company and the other to a British company. Since the oil-for-food programme began in December of 1996, Iraq has exported over $35.2 billion worth of petroleum and petroleum products.
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