Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

67 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the programme for food distribution which will replace the oil for food programme in Iraq, which is now being wound down and is due to come to an end in seven months' time. [30470/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

On 21 November, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1483, responsibility for over 900 contracts covering food, transport and handling equipment was transferred from the United Nations oil for food programme, OFFP, to the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority, CPA, and the Iraqi trade ministry. A sum of US $3 billion in uncommitted revenue has also been transferred by the UN to the development fund for Iraq.

Under the arrangements foreseen, Iraqi workers will resume their pre April 2003 jobs of distributing food rations across the country. According to Tor ben Due, the World Food Programme's, WFP, country representative for Iraq, there is an estimated €8.2 billion worth of goods still in the pipeline as the CPA takes over. This is thought to include sufficient food to continue the oil for food programme until June 2004. By that time it is expected that the Iraqi ministry of trade will have built up the capacity to manage the responsibility both for the procurement and distribution of food.