UNICEF report, April 30, 1998
"Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Iraq"*
"Economic sanctions on Iraq over the past seven years have had a devastating effect on the majority of the Iraqi people, particularly children."
Deaths caused by sanctions:
The actual number of deaths is even higher, because families often don't report someone who has died, for they will lose that food ration. These deaths could be prevented with an adequate amount of food, clean water and sufficient medicines.
Malnutrition:
Over half of the children are dying from malnutrition, never a problem before the sanctions. Today, 30% of the children under 5 are malnourished, approximately 1 million kids.
Healthcare:
Before the sanctions, public hospitals in Iraq were free. 97% of the urban population and 78% of rural residents received medical care. Now, there is a critical shortage of life-saving drugs: The Iraqi Ministry of Health's budget for drugs and medical supplies has been reduced by 90-95 % since 1989
Water/Sanitation:
The principle cause of malnutrition, illness and death in young children are water borne communicable diseases, such as diarrhea, typhoid and cholera.Before the sanctions, 92% of the population had access to safe water and modern sanitation. Now, the water and sanitation systems are in a state of collapse: Water treatment plants act only as pumping stations, without treatment. In 1997, lack of sewage treatment caused over 100 tons of raw sewage to be dumped every day into the major rivers.
"Oil for Food" program
"The "Oil for Food" Program has not yet resulted in adequate protection of Iraq's children from malnutrition/disease" due to inadequate amounts of food, medicine and clean water provided."
Economy:
Unemployment is widespread. Individuals often sell their belongings to survive. Many professionals (doctors, engineers) have left Iraq due to the economic situation. Inflation: In 1990, 1 Iraqi dinar was worth $3. Now, 1 dinar = 1/1700 of a dollar. Salaries: Public workers used to make $50 - $100 a month. Now, they barely make $3 - $5 a month. Gross Domestic Product per capita: In 1990 = $3,508. In 1997 = $600.
100 page UNICEF report, contact Jean Ando, UNICEF librarian, jando@unicef.org [$30] It's also available on the UNICEF ftp server ftp://www2.unicef.org/pub/iraqsa a 20 pg. Summary http://www.peacecenter.com this leaflet is at http://judi.greens.org/peace/iraq
Links
Iraq Action Coalition
Iraq Action Digest
A Campaign To End The Economic Sanctions On Iraq
Peace Center's Documents on Iraq