The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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"Another human face on the effect of sanctions.
The UN Sanctions Committee and Personal Bank Accounts.
We once again see one of the tragic farces of economic
sanctions on Iraqi individuals.
An Iraqi teacher-friend from the days of my wife's and my UN
service in Iraq has managed to obtain a place as a post-graduate student in a
university in Europe. Her late father had left her funds placed for safe keeping
in a London Bank. She needs access to those funds to pay for her
expenses.
The bank will not transfer her any of those funds, even though
she has a residence permit for the country of current residence. Should she go
to London (visa permitting) and personally request funds from her account, the
bank will release only £250.- per week for sustenance in United Kingdom
and, against receipts! There can be no receipt without expenditure, without
payment.
Because she is an Iraqi citizen, the bank
decides not to give this person (and persons in like situations) access to their
own funds. The policies of the UN Sanctions Committee work down to personal bank
accounts; even to those of teachers whose studies have been professionally
deprived in Iraq by the sanctions.
Roy Skinner
Seewen/SZ
Switzerland
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