The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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With the papers full of speculation that Kofi Annan may have been able to broker a diplomatic solution to the immediate military crisis in the gulf there is a danger that the crucial issue of the EMBARGO will slip back into obscurity. Iraqi children are dying at the same rates that they were before the current crisis. The new "oil-for-food" deal is woefully inadequate - according to Dennis Halliday, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Iraq, Iraq would need something like $30 billion a year to fund its needs for food, medicine and infrastructure (statement made on 12th Jan. 1998). The new "oil-for-food" arrangement is likely to provide something like a sixth of this figure. OVER A MILLION CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY DIED FROM EMBARGO-RELATED CAUSES ACCORDING TO FIGURES FROM THE IRAQI MINISTRY OF HEALTH - FIGURES THAT HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY UNICEF (THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND). Robin Cook is indicating that the embargo may be lifted in the near future if Saddam complies with the UN weapons inspection programme. If his past record is anything to go by (eg. his statements about selling arms to repressive/aggressive regimes) these statements are worthless. Nothing is likely to be done without MASSIVE PUBLIC PRESSURE. Plus, if the US don't whack 'em this week they may well whack 'em in a fortnight or a months time. So STAY MOBILIZED. Gabriel Carlyle Magdalen College tel. 276012. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To be removed/added, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk, NOT the whole list. Archived at http://linux.clare.cam.ac.uk/~saw27/casi/discuss.html