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.