Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 3

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Enda Kenny

Question:

123 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government of Iraq has ordered medical supplies under the food for oil Programme from the EU or other sources in the past six months to deal with the health and medical needs of children in Iraq; the estimated numbers of children who have died in hospitals in Iraq due to medical needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6719/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government consistently advocates the rapid delivery of essential humanitarian supplies under the United Nations oil for food programme. The programme, which is administered by the United Nations office of the Iraq programme, is the international co-ordinating mechanism for meeting the humanitarian and other essential needs of the people of Iraq.

In December 2001, the Iraqi Government submitted a proposed distribution plan for humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, under the programme. In January 2002, this plan was agreed with the UN. The plan, which amounts to a total of US$4,432 million, covers a beneficiary population of 26.3 million Iraqi people, including 698,279 children below the age of one. Under it, US$10 million has been allocated specifically for nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers. With approximately 50,000 births per month, the allocated funds are considered sufficient to meet the additional food requirements of this vulnerable group. Medical supplies are a particularly important part of the humanitarian aid which the international community has agreed to provide. The medical sector has been allocated US$178 million, divided equally between the provision of medicine and medical supplies and the rehabilitation of hospitals and equipment. In addition, US$44 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of the health infrastructure in Iraq's three northern governorates.

Water and sanitation are other areas of critical importance to children's health. US$700 million has been provided to help improve water and sanitation, with US$195 million directed at improving the food-handling sector. Similarly, substantial allocations have been made to the broader agriculture, education, irrigation, housing, transport and electricity sectors. A special allocation of US$309 million has been agreed to cover emergency needs in housing, health facilities, water, sanitation, mine action and other key areas.

Assistance for children is also provided from EU sources. The European Union has been a major donor of humanitarian aid to Iraq, providing over €270 million in aid since 1991. More than €12 million of this total was provided during 2001 when an additional €27 million was provided by EU member states, including €310,000 from Ireland. To date, more than $29 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies have been approved under the oil for food programme. Humanitarian supplies worth $18.3 billion have been delivered to Iraq, while another $10.9 billion worth are in the process of preparation or delivery. The oil for food programme is currently in its eleventh phase which runs from 1 December 2001 to 29 May 2002. So far during this phase, Iraq has exported 114.1 million barrels of oil for an estimated revenue of €2 billion. As of this month, US$1.9 billion and further substantial unused funds are available under the United Nations Iraq account for the purchase of humanitarian supplies by the Government of Iraq.

Under the existing Security Council resolutions, the Government of Iraq has the necessary authorisation to export unlimited amounts of oil in exchange for the importation of a wide range of humanitarian goods. The UN Secretary General has confirmed on a number of occasions that the improved funding level for the oil for food programme means that the Government of Iraq is in a position to address the nutritional and health needs of the Iraqi people, particularly those of children. Estimates of the number of children who have died in hospitals in Iraq due to medical needs vary greatly depending on their source. In general terms, the lack of reliable information has made it extremely difficult to estimate the levels of child mortality in Iraq over recent years.

Along with our UN and EU partners and in conjunction with the Iraqi authorities, the Government will continue to strongly support practical measures aimed at ensuring the delivery of assistance to children and other vulnerable sectors of the population in Iraq. The Government believes that the application of a more targeted sanctions regime is the best means of ensuring both that the primacy of the Security Council resolutions is respected and that humanitarian concerns are addressed. We are hopeful that this will convince Iraq to accept fully its international obligations under the relevant Security Council resolutions and to meet all of its responsibilities and commitments, while minimising the suffering of the Iraqi people.