Geneva, July 17: The United Nations panel overseeing compensation to victims of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait released USD 190 million today, with the majority going to claimants in Kuwait. The UN compensation commission, which distributes funds received from the Security Council-supervised oil-for-food program, said it was handing over the installment to 25 governments and to the UN relief and works agency for distribution to 1,069 claimants already approved by the panel.

The amount set aside for Kuwait in the periodic payment is USD 113 million, with money going to individuals, corporations and the government itself.

The list also includes USD 47 million for Jordan and USD five million for Syria. None of the individuals or companies was identified. The payments bring to USD 17.8 billion the total the commission has so far released to companies, governments and individuals who suffered losses from the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Awards totaling USD 46.3 billion have been approved for payment when the money is available.

Until the US-led war that toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, the compensation commission received at least 25 per cent of the income from the oil-for-food program under which the former Iraqi regime could sell oil and buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.

Bureau Report