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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FYI, I am forwarding this comment from an anti-sanctions activist to a US-based discussion list. Sender: jonathan.edwards@gartner.com ******************** I'm an anti-sanctions activist based in Boston, MA, and have just returned from a trip to Iraq. Our group visited hospitals, including neonatal wards, where we saw a number of incubators in operation. We were also shown some incubators that we were told were not operating at full capacity. So although the sanctions have put a severe strain on Iraqi hospitals, it is a mistake to assume that nothing functions properly. It is untrue to say that Iraq cannot import any medical supplies or spare parts for medical equipment. The Sanctions Committee has vetoed many, but not all, requests for medical supplies. Medical supplies have been brought in through the oil-for-food program. Foreign relief groups have also brought in medical supplies and spare parts. A final, important source for medical, and many other civilian supplies is cross-border trade with Jordan and other neighboring countries - the only problem is the high cost of these imported items and the lack of adequate government funding to purchase them. Jonathan Edwards -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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