|
|
 |
|
A report from the 11th Voices
in the Wilderness UK sanctions-breaking delegation to Iraq, May
2002
|
|
Four
members of Voices in the Wilderness UK joined up with three from
Voices US to visit Iraq, from 8th to 18th May, on a sanctions-breaking
delegation. These pages detail some of the visits they made, what
they saw and the people they met.
Children
in a village outside of Basra
|
 |
|
|
|
|
What
the agencies say
|
|
The
delegation was fortunate to be able to meet UN Humanitarian
Co-ordinaotr Tun Myat - who wasted little time in rejecting
the Foreign Office claim that 'smart' sanctions have
left Iraq 'free to meet all of its civilian needs without
impediment.'
He stated that 'Meaningful progress in the overall humanitarian
situation' can only come with the resumption of normal
economic activity. No matter how much you try and modify
(oil for food) it is not designed for - and it will
never be - a substitute' for economic revival.
He
also said, "I consider water and sanitation to
be the biggest killer of children in this country” -
a relflection on the poor state of water and sewage
systems after the Gulf War and 12 years of sanctions.
|
|
Recent
press reports of a 'booming' Baghdad were misleading he said.
Until people can afford to buy the wider range of goods now
available in shops 'everything else you see will only be superficial'.
My Myat said that Resolution 1409 was designed to make
the import of goods into Iraq 'a little bit easier', but
that it remained to be seen whether this would actually
happen. He also revealed, despite a request from his office,
he has never received any evidence from the US Government
to support its allegations, made ealier in this year,
that Iraq has been diverting trucks purchased through
the humanitiarian programme to the military.
Mr Myat told the delegation, 'if by my resigning today
sanctions would be lifted tomorrow, I would be very happy
to do so.' |
|
|
|
|
|
voices uk - working in solidarity
with ordinary families in iraq
5 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London N1 9DX
telephone : 0845 458 2564
voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
|
|
