Summary S-G report of 8 Sept 2000

["David Rolstone" <rolstone@DELETETHISfreenetname.co.uk>]

Dear all

 

A brief summary of points arising from the latest report on oil-for-food (OFF) by the Secretary-General.

 

Cheers

 

Milan Rai

via Dave Rolstone's connection

 

1) Continuing decline and the threat of collapse

    a) Electricity

    b) Water purification

2) Holds

3) The humanitarian situation - unreported

4) Expanding the green lists

5) Time lag

 

1) Continuing decline and the threat of collapse

 

While oil revenues have been improving and OFF has been funding more infrastructure repair, I voiced at the last National Coordinating Meeting the fear that there was still the lingering possibility of catastrophic collapse in key sectors, leading to a radical deepening of the humanitarian crisis. This possibility is directly mentioned by the Secretary-General in the 8 Sept report.

 

a) Electricity

A fire in Mussaiyab Power Station in August resulted in the loss of 600 MW, doubling power cuts in Baghdad to 8 hours a day and increasing cuts in other affected governorates to 20 hours a day. Kofi Annan writes, 'The entire electricity grid is in a precarious state and is in imminent danger of collapsing altogether should another incident of this type occur.' (para 36)

 

Recall that in February 1998, the Secretary-General said that the collapse of the power generation sector could create 'humanitarian consequences [which] could potentially dwarf all othe difficulties endured by the Iraqi people.'

 

b) Water purification

At a lesser level of threat, the water and sanitation sector continues to deteriorate. Given that contamination of drinking water is a key factor if not the dominant factor in the current levels of child malnutrition, disease and death, this is of grave concern. Kofi Annan writes, ''In the absence of key complementary items currently on hod and adequate maintenance, spare parts and staffing, the decay rate of the entire system is accelerating.'

 

The rate of deterioration is actually increasing, despite the increased levels of funding potentially available in this vital sector.

 

2) Holds

 

This report continues the trend seen over recent reports in focussing on Sanctions Committee holds. In the electricity sector, for example, the Secretary-General notes that the 25 per cent of contracts currently on hold in this area 'represent the most critical components and spare parts, making much of the equipment already delivered under the programme inoperable.'

 

There have been recent special missions to Iraq for the water/sanitation, food handling and electricity sectors to gain the information and reassurances which Sanctions Committee members say they need before they can release holds in these areas. [If anyone could get hold of the reports of these missions, that would be of great value.]

 

The Secretary-General notes that the level of holds on telecommunications equipment 'is having a negative multiplier effect on the implementation of the humanitarian programme.' (para 38)

 

3) The humanitarian situation - unreported

 

Curiously, the trend towards omitting data on the humanitarian situation is also continuing. Reports on the level of child malnutrition were first reworded - chronic malnutrition became 'mild' malnutrition - and now are absent entirely. Drinking water contamination/purification is also not quantified. There is a dearth of statistics, statistics which I believe to be still being generated by UN agencies operating in Iraq and compiled by the Geographical Observation Unit and the Multi-disciplinary Observation Unit. [Again, if someone can get hold of these reports, it would be tremendously useful.]

 

In fact, the Secretary-General says that 'comprehensive evaluations of current and planned activities in all sectors by United Nations agencies and programmes have already been completed or are being initiated.' These evaluations should be in the public domain!

 

4) Expanding the green lists

 

The report recommends that the green list system should be expanded and extended to 'all remaining sectors in the distribution plan' (which now includes housing). (para 47)

 

5) Time lag

 

The British Government concentrates on the massive increase in oil revenues Iraq can expect over this coming year. Kofi Annan cautions that 'it is important to recall that the full impact of such improved funding will take time to be felt, as it is dependent on timely approval and delivery of goods and their subsequent distribution.' Note that phrase 'timely _approval_'.