PRESS RELEASE FROM THE
DELEGATION TO END ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ
BAGHDAD 10-13 NOV. 2000
On November 10th 2000, a delegation of 95 persons flew from Athens to Baghdad to protest the sanctions imposed by the UN since the Gulf war of 1991. This was the first flight of a National carrier from Western Europe (Olympic Airways), since the sanctions were imposed. It constituted a statement of solidarity with the peoples of Iraq by defying the embargo on civilian flights. It exposed the incredible suffering imposed on the people since the implementation of this unprecedented sanctions regime.
According to Alain Gresh, in the Le Monde Diplomatique of October 2000, the UN Sanctions Committee, controlled by the USA and the UK, enforces a series of punitive measures that are the worst the world has known since the Treaty of Versailles. These sanctions have caused harrowing results that are not relieved by the so-called 'oil for food program' controlled by the UN Compensation Commission.
During the bombing by the allied forces in the Gulf War, an estimated 800 tons of depleted uranium contained in ammunitions were used, causing cancer rates to increase five fold and childhood leukaemia in Iraq to be the highest rate in the world. The means to provide relief or cure are withheld through the sanction regime.
Prior to the sanctions, Iraq had one of the most satisfactory levels of quality of life for the region. One and a half million Iraqi civilians have died since 1991 as a direct result of the sanctions, and according to UNICEF reports substantiated by the Red Cross, 600,000 of the dead are children under 5 years of age. Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled during the period of the sanctions and 70% of Iraqi women suffer from anaemia. The number of malnourished children has increased over 300% since 1991.Unemployment and inflation have soared.
Margarita Papandreou, the head of the organising committee for the flight, stated that “an increasing number of women and men in the world are appalled by this dismal situation wilfully created by humans.” The participants, coming from Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, the USA, the UK, and Canada, are vehemently opposing the sanctions on Iraq by taking tangible actions and increasing the number of challenges to the embargo.
The President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, a member of the organising committee, said: “By this visit and the actions to follow, ;we demand that on the basis of moral, legal and economic reasons, the USA and the UK, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council relentlessly opposing the lifting of the sanctions, stop vetoing food, medicines and repair parts from entering Iraq, immediately cease the embargo on approved shipments, and remove all sanctions against Iraq.”
STATEMENT FROM THE DELEGATION TO END ALL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ BAGDAD 10-13 NOV. 2000
On November 10th 2000 a delegation of 95 persons flew from Athens to Bagdad to protest the sanctions imposed by the UN since the Gulf war of 1991.This first flight of a national carrier from Western Europe defying the embargo on civilian flights that has been part of the sanctions, constituted a statement of solidarity with the peoples of Iraq. It exposes the incredible suffering imposed on these people since the implementation of this unprecedented sanctions regime.
The UN Sanctions Committee, controlled by the USA and the UK has imposed a series of punitive measures that are the worst the world has known. These sanctions have caused the following results that are not relieved by the so called 'oil for food program' which is controlled by the UN Compensation Commission.
Prior to the imposed sanctions, Iraq had the following indicators:
1- The world Health Organization ( WHO ) , reports that " pre- 1990 Iraq reflects the health statues of a modern developing society , in which the wealth it obtained from exporting its main commodity , oil contributed into improving the quality of life of the Iraqi people , which then ( 1988/1989 ) was already at a relatively satisfactory level with indications of a trend for further improvement .
2- UNICEF reports " the Government of Iraq made sizable investments in the education sector from the mid – 1970's until 1990 Educational policy included provision for Scholarship , research facilities and medical support for students . By 1989 the combined primary and secondary enrollment stood at 75% ( slightly above the average for all developing Countries at 70% ) . Illiteracy had been reduced to 20% by 1987 . Education accounted for over 5% of the state budget above developing Countries of 3.8% .
After the imposition of sanction, this is the situation
1- 1.5 million Iraqi civilians have died since 1991 as a direct result of the sanctions .
2- 600,000 of the dead are children under 5 years of age according to UNICEF reports and substantiated by the Red Cross .
3- Maternal mortality rates have more than doubled during the period of the sanctions and 70% of Iraqi women suffer from anemia .
4- The number of malnourished children has increased over 300% since 1991 .
5- Unemployment has soared under the sanction , as has inflation . The average civilian salary , for example is $ 3 .60 per month .
6- An estimated 800 tonnes of depleted uranium contained in ammunitions were used by the allied forces in the Gulf War . Cancer rates in Iraq have increased five – fold since the Gulf War . Childhood leukemia in Iraq is at the highest rate in the world .
In recent weeks we have seen an opening of the floodgates with in excess of 50 flights to Iraq. This is evidence that the majority of women and men in the world oppose the economic sanctions imposed on the peoples of Iraq.
We demand that
The two permanent members of the UN Security Council, the USA and the UK, who continue to veto food, medicines and repair parts from entering Iraq, cease immediately the embargo on approved shipments and remove all sanctions against Iraq.
We demand that these actions be taken without delay on the basis of moral, legal and economic reasons.
Signed by the participants and the organising committee.
Khadouri Alkaysi of the International Action Center and Sue Harris of the IAC and Peoples Video Network were part of the delegation of 95 headed by Margarita Papandreou that went to Iraq via Olympic Airlines to smash the sanctions against Iraq.
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