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US, British security clearances holding up humanitarian aid to Iraq: UN
United Nations, Apr 23: The United Nations called yesterday for urgent action to remove obstacles to humanitarian aid to Iraq, notably security clearance by the British and US forces occupying the country.
United Nations, Apr 23: The United Nations called yesterday for urgent action to remove obstacles to
humanitarian aid to Iraq, notably security clearance by the British and US forces occupying the country.
Benon Sevan, director of the UN Oil-for-Food programme, told the Security Council "urgent and pragmatic action" was needed to "remove some of the bottlenecks we have been facing in the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people."
Among the major difficulties were "delays in receiving the necessary security clearance from the occupying powers," he said. Sevan's remarks, made to Council members behind closed doors, were released by the UN spokesman's office.
The Oil-for-Food programme has grown into a 10-billion-dollar-a-year industry since it was set up in December 1996 to cushion Iraqi citizens from crippling economic sanctions.
"We believe that because of the dramatically changed circumstances in Iraq, sanctions should be lifted as soon as possible," the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, told reporters before the meeting. But his French counterpart, Jean-Marc De La Sabliere, noted that 60 percent of Iraq's 23 million people were totally dependent on the programme and said it should be phased out, not abruptly ended.
"The programme should be adjusted to take into account the reality that is there," he said. "Let's not destroy the process which exists."
Bureau Report
Among the major difficulties were "delays in receiving the necessary security clearance from the occupying powers," he said. Sevan's remarks, made to Council members behind closed doors, were released by the UN spokesman's office.
The Oil-for-Food programme has grown into a 10-billion-dollar-a-year industry since it was set up in December 1996 to cushion Iraqi citizens from crippling economic sanctions.
"We believe that because of the dramatically changed circumstances in Iraq, sanctions should be lifted as soon as possible," the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, told reporters before the meeting. But his French counterpart, Jean-Marc De La Sabliere, noted that 60 percent of Iraq's 23 million people were totally dependent on the programme and said it should be phased out, not abruptly ended.
"The programme should be adjusted to take into account the reality that is there," he said. "Let's not destroy the process which exists."
Bureau Report