Contents

1. The Grief Of Mothers In Basra
2. Fast For Life : 6-9 August 1999
3. Is Britian Really 'Urging An End To Sanctions'
4. British Officials Lie About Sanctions
5. Drought A 'Catastrophe' Says UN
6. Voices US Fasters Arrested
7. The Scene Of a Crime
8. Halliday's Successor
9. NGO Criticises Sanctions
10. Bishop Attacks Sanctions
11. Postal Report
12. Gabriel And Andrea In Prison
13. Rosy
14. Quotes
15. Resources
16. Speakers
17. Videos

1) THE GRIEF OF MOTHERS IN BASRA Return to top

Andrea Needham writes: During our trip to Iraq we visited three hospitals, and saw endless wards full of children dying of starvation and disease caused by the sanctions. Standing in front of these children, looking at the hopelessness in their mothers’ eyes, trying in halting Arabic to express our sorrow for what our country was inflicting on them - these are not experiences I wish to repeat.

And yet the worst part of the hospital visits involved a child we didn’t even see. In Basrah we were walking past the door of a paediatric ward when all of a sudden a terrible wailing emanated from the room. Looking in, we could see a circle of women, sitting on the floor, all wailing, crying with grief. The doctor we were with barely glanced up. "That woman’s child has just died of gastroenteritis," he said, before continuing with his previous conversation. He didn’t need to point out that gastroenteritis is usually a minor and curable disease in children, and one which is rare when there is access to clean drinking water. He didn’t need to tell us that this child had died because of the sanctions.

Most of us were quite overcome by this situation, with even our Iraqi Red Crescent interpreter - whom one might assume would be used to such awful experiences - in tears. I just wanted to run out of the hospital; this child, this nameless, faceless child, seemed to personify the whole inhumane sanctions system. For that moment, I didn’t need to read the statistics about the increase in water borne disease since the sanctions were imposed; I didn’t need to know about massive increases in infant mortality rates; I didn’t need to know facts and figures about malnutrition.

Everything I needed to understand about sanctions was there in that awful, almost indescribable wailing, of mothers grieving for a child who never had a chance at life, and had now been killed by our sanctions. For that moment, nothing more needed to be said.

Andrea Needham, Simon Emdin, Joanne Baker travelled to Iraq from 17-26 May 1999 as the third voices in the wilderness uk delegation. They were accompanied by Soyun Kim and Jeff Guntzel of Voices US. A full report is available from voices uk.

2) FAST FOR LIFE : 6-9 AUGUST 1999 Return to top

This summer, voices will be holding its second international fast and vigil outside Downing Street in London, and, we hope, outside UN HQ in Baghdad, calling for the lifting of sanctions.

Last August, two members of voices uk travelled to Baghdad to fast and vigil outside the UN there, whilst others set up a continuous vigil at Downing Street for the same period. Both events received important media coverage and made many people aware for the first time of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

This year, the fast and vigil will start at 7pm on August 6th - the ninth anniversary of the imposition of sanctions, and also Hiroshima Day when people all over the world remember the devastating effects of war. It will run 24 hours a day until 7pm on August 9th. Some people will fast throughout; others will join in for shorter periods. If you are able to book a slot on the vigil rota, please contact David Polden on 0171 607 2302.

If you can’t get to London, you may wish to run a vigil of your own. (6 August is also the third ‘National Day of Action’, see p.8.)

On Saturday 7 August, the most recent delegation (Andrea, Simon and Joanne) will report back at a meeting at LSE, Houghton St, 7.30pm.

3) IS BRITAIN REALLY 'URGING AN END TO SANCTIONS'? Return to top

Milan Rai writes: Readers may have been surprised by recent reports of a dramatic change of policy by the British government. The truth is rather more depressing. A draft resolution put forward at the Security Council by Britain and the Netherlands was reported by the BBC on 15 June as ‘a significant turnaround’; the UK was ‘putting forward new proposals to end United Nations sanctions on Iraq’. ‘Britain urges sanctions end’, said the Guardian news-in-brief item.

The Real Test

To judge the real worth of the proposals, we need to compare them with the recent report of the Humanitarian Panel to the Security Council (see last issue for full details). The Panel, which had been set up by the Security Council to examine the humanitarian situation in Iraq and to recommend remedial action, found that there was a major crisis in Iraq (‘The gravity of the humanitarian situation is indisputable and cannot be overstated’), and made a number of recommendations. The recommendations it put forward, in the words of the Panel, ‘may lead to incremental improvements’ (emphases added).

The three main recommendations were (1) to remove the ceiling on Iraqi oil exports under ‘oil-for-food’; (2) to authorise private investment flows into the Iraqi oil industry and other non-military export industries; and (3) to ‘reduc[e] by an agreed percentage the revenue allocated to the United Nations Compensation [Fund]’ (which currently swallows 30 per cent of all oil-for-food revenues). The Anglo-Dutch proposals have changed quite a bit since they were first put forward in April; the details of the most recent version are not directly accessible.

The latest proposal covers all three areas of recommendation by the Panel: removing the cap on oil sales for oil-for-food, allowing ‘foreign investment in Iraq’s oil infrastructure’ (British Foreign Minister Geoff Hoon, speaking in London on 23 June 1999, see www.fco.gov.uk ); and cutting the amount going to the Compensation Fund from 30 to perhaps 20 per cent of oil revenues.

Watered Down

However, two major differences exist between the Panel report and the Anglo-Dutch proposals. Firstly, the Anglo-Dutch resolution appears to put forward the weakest possible form of the Panel recommendations. One crucial area is foreign investment in the Iraqi oil industry (which appears to be the only way of boosting oil revenues, and therefore the repair of civilian infrastructure and the purchase of essential goods). According to the authoritative Middle East Economic Survey (24 May), the proposals seem designed to exclude ‘production-sharing agree-ments [between Baghdad and foreign oil companies] for the discovered but undeveloped oilfields’ because of ‘US opposition’. This would allow only minimal increases in oil production, by ruling out the development of new oil fields. This constraint would severely limit increased oil revenues; and therefore limits reconstruction and the import of essential goods.

Conditionality

Secondly, the Anglo-Dutch proposals are conditional. The opportunities offered to Iraq in the resolution (apart from removing the cap on oil-for-food, which is effective as soon as the resolution is passed) only come after a long period of inspections by a replacement for UNSCOM, to be called UNCIM (UN Commission on Investigation and Monitoring). Foreign investment in Iraq’s oil industry would only be permitted after four months of operations by UNCIM inside Iraq (according to one version of the draft). The suspension of the embargo on Iraqi exports (mis-reported as the ‘lifting of sanctions’) would come after another four months of inspections. (The export embargo would be suspended for 120 days, renewed at 120 day intervals.) In all cases, there must be a finding that Iraq has complied. There is no conditionality in the Panel report.

To repeat, the Panel found that ‘The gravity of the humanitarian situation is indisputable and cannot be overstated.’ In such circumstances, there is an absolute need for unconditional measures to deal with the humanitarian crisis without delay.

Not By Increments

The most crucial point is that the Panel acknowledged frankly that its recommendations could lead only to ‘incremental improvements’. The British government is not even offering this inadequate response.

4) BRITISH OFFICIALS LIE ABOUT SANCTIONS Return to top

Milan Rai writes: British government propaganda regarding Iraq seems to have shifted somewhat, from demonizing Iraq as a unique threat to world peace, to blaming the Iraqi government for the suffering that the comprehensive economic sanctions are causing. Replies from government ministers and officials tend not to concentrate on how to improve the humanitarian situation in Iraq, but focus instead on blaming Baghdad for the continuing suffering of the Iraqi people.

The central concern of British propaganda recently has been the build-up of medicines in Iraqi warehouses (deliberate, says the Foreign Office). It is perfectly true that very large amounts of medicines have built up in the warehouses of ‘Kimadia’, the Iraqi state medical agency. In his most recent report on oil-for-food (18 May 1999), Kofi Annan states that ‘the amount of drugs, supplies and equipment remaining in warehouses has risen to almost $300 million’. This is over half of all medicines so far brought into Iraq under oil-for-food.

The question is what has caused this build-up in the warehouses.

Apologist For Sanctions

A Mr Simon Wren of the Ministry of Defence wrote recently (19 May): ‘Apologist[s] for the regime have stated that this situation is primarily due to a lack of transport and that sanctions are making this worse...’

In fact, this point has been made by critics of the sanctions, not by apologists, and they have not ‘stated’ anything. We have merely turned to the one source of independent evidence that we have: the reports of the UN Secretary-General.

Kofi Annan says, unambiguously, in his 18 May report: ‘WHO [the World Health Organisation] has reported that the Kimadia warehouses currently operate at 20 to 35 per cent of their pre-sanction capacity. The warehouses have no proper handling equipment, and lack transport to move the supplies to end-user facilities.’ (Emphasis added.) The issue is troubling, and complex. Producing distortions and insinuations does little to help solve the humanitarian crisis.

High Protein Biscuits

The British government has also made much of the failure of the Iraqi authorities to purchase therapeutic milk and high protein biscuits for infants, and pregnant and lactating mothers. We don’t know why there has been such a delay in ordering these items, which could have such an impact on acute malnutrition among children. As of 31 March 1999, however, Baghdad had signed four contracts for 1,500 tons of therapeutic milk, and three contracts for the biscuits (the first contract was worth $1.69m).

Reduced Rations?

The British government also likes to claim that the daily food ration has been reduced by the Iraqis. Mr Wren writes, for example, that the ration is ‘down to only 2,002 kilocalories - almost 20% below the level recommended by the UN.’ He does not point out that the UN recommendation was made in February 1998, long before the sharp drop in oil prices which has gutted the oil-for-food deal. Mr Wren also does not point out that the figure of 2,002 kcal was actually a 2.5 per cent increase over the previous ration of 1,955kcal.

Telecommunications

Mr Wren makes much of the Iraqi government’s request for $100m worth of telecommunications, a request that was turned down by the UN - a frivolous request, he implies. Interesting then that after an independent review, the (rejigged) request was approved on 13 May - and $126m granted for this purpose. More details on all these issues are in our new briefing - see tear-off slip.

5) DROUGHT A 'CATASTROPHE' SAYS UN Return to top

Andrea Needham writes: Hans von Sponeck, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, has declared Iraq’s current drought, and its effect on the country’s harvest, ‘a catastrophe’. The worst drought in 100 years has led, according to von Sponeck, to more than 90% of the wheat and barley fields in Iraq’s breadbasket area failing to germinate. Production is further constrained by serious shortages of quality seeds, fertiliser and agricultural machinery. The lack of water and high temperatures have also had an adverse affect on livestock. A UN report in May stated that the drought will lead to an increase in consumer prices of dairy/meat products as well as affecting the income-generating capacity of the population.

Iraq currently relies on imports through the oil-for-food programme for nearly 70% of its wheat needs. According to von Sponeck, the predicted crop failure may mean that the government will be unable to sustain the monthly food ration given to each citizen at current levels. Millions of Iraqis are totally dependent on the food ration, which, as it is, rarely contains the full rations envisaged under oil-for-food. In the first two years of operation of the programme, the full monthly ration was available on only six occasions. Market prices of grain are likely to rise, putting further pressure on a population already struggling to survive under current conditions.

Stating that the revenue for oil-for-food is ‘inadequate’, von Sponeck is reportedly planning to ask the UN Security Council for immediate additional funding to meet Iraq’s food needs.

6) VOICES US FASTERS ARRESTED Return to top

Since the beginning of the year, Voices in the Wilderness US delegations have traveled from Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Kansas City, MO, and Ithaca, NY. Bert Sacks, who coordinates Voices efforts in Seattle, WA, helped organize and lead a delegation sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility, and George Capaccio traveled with teachers representing the American Friends Service Committee. The most recent delegation was comprised of nine Dominican religious women representing communities across the United States.

Fasting

A major focus recently has been the impending visits to Chicago of President Clinton (to give the commencement address to graduates of the University of Chicago) on 12 June, and of US Secretary of State Madeline Albright on 18 June (to speak at Northwestern University commencement exercises and receive an honorary doctorate of law degree). Voices in the Wilderness US members from across the country gathered in Chicago to fast, to demonstrate, and to hold teach-ins during the period from 10 - 18 June.

Trespass

On 15 June, six members of the Commence with Compassion fast and vigil entered Northwestern University President Henry Bienen’s office to express their concern over the award of an honorary doctorate of law to Ms. Albright, given her active support of a foreign policy that has violated international law and directly caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians.

VitW members said they wouldn’t leave the office until University officials could explain, to their satisfaction, how they could justify selecting Ms. Albright for this honor. Within fifteen minutes, Northwestern University Police arrested the six VitW members and charged them with criminal trespass. A court date was set for July 9, 1999. In the US, criminal trespass can lead to a six-month prison sentence. Among those arrested was Kathy Kelly, Voices US co-ordinator.

Funeral Procession

On 16 June, fasters led a funeral procession (featuring walking death masks made by the Bread and Puppets theatre company) to the ceremony where Albright was granted the honorary doctorate. Ms. Albright did not attend (other engagements...). Voices US also presented evidence of Albright’s systematic violation of international law.

Challenge To The Courts

On 17 June, Voices US demonstrated outside the Federal Building in Chicago. A delegation was sent in to the US Attorney’s office, to ask him to transmit a message to US Attorney General Janet Reno. They asked Ms. Reno to choose either to bring Voices in the Wilderness US to court for the alleged crime of bringing medicine to Iraq or to bring Secretary of State Ms. Albright to court for crimes against humanity.

$163,000 Fine

The US government has taken no steps to carry out the threatened imposition of $163,000 worth of fines on Voices US and on four named individuals. A petition in solidarity with Voices US will be handed into the US Embassy in London on 9 July.

7) THE SCENE OF A CRIME Return to top

Chris Allen-Doucot, a Voices US delegate from Connecticut, writes about his recent visit to the Al Jummuriyah area of Basra: ‘On January 25 of this year this neighborhood was hit by one or more American missiles. Thirty-six houses were destroyed, seven people were killed and many were wounded. ‘I met seven year old Hasham Ali. The large scar on his diminutive calf was an incongruous marking on his innocent body. The grim, solemn expression on his face didn’t fit well with his youthful features. ‘His look pierced me as he lifted his garment to reveal his wound. Next he handed me the chunk of contorted metal that had torn his flesh asunder. This evil American export was stained with Hasham’s blood...

‘As we returned to our hotel a photo exhibit was just being put on display. I came upon images that shouldn’t exist. The first was of a 6 year old girl, her hair tied back by a still visible bow. ‘The girl is dead, her body partially covered in debris. Her name was Non. ‘She and her little sisters, Daha (3 1/2 years old) and Zeanah (2 years old) were killed in the attack that had wounded Hasham.

‘Seeing these photos of dead children, their ashen faces coated with the concrete dust of their shattered homes, their limbs buried underneath the rubble that was built to protect them from the world; I realized that I had just left the scene of a crime.’

The whole of Chris’s article (‘Saddam Battered?’) is available on request from us, or from the Voices US website: http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw

8) HALLIDAY'S SUCCESSOR Return to top

The recent delegation from Physicians for Social Responsibility interviewed Denis Halliday’s successor as UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Hans von Sponeck:

‘For the six month period we are in now, we think - with good luck, depending on the oil prices, we may have about $2 billion for six months... $4bn a year for 22 million people. ‘Then you are getting a per capita figure per year of $180... That’s not a per capita income figure, that is the figure out of which everything has to be financed: fom electrical services to water and sewerage, to food, to health, the lot.

‘Now if you have $180 and then the press ask me; do you consider that adequate for survival, I can say at the very best, that the nose is just above the water, so that you are not drowning, but over the course of years, the nose is increasingly touching that water, and many people are already drowning. So it is not a figure that we can really take lightly or accept as adequate... ‘... the real conclusion one can only draw - I’ve only been here just under six months - is that the way that this country has deteriorated in terms of its social fabric is a way that any one of us who has any kind of moral fabric in him or her can certainly not accept... ‘... we are setting the stage for depriving another generation of the opportunity to become responsible national and international citizens of tomorrow, and that might be the most serious aspect of it all, apart from the nutritional deficiency...’

9) NGO CRITICISES SANCTIONS Return to top

On 25 May, Save the Children (UK) submitted evidence on the harmful impact on children of sanctions to the House of Commons International Development Committee’s ‘Inquiry on the Future of Sanctions’. Policy Analyst for Save the Children, Rita Bhatia, explained, ‘Children are the victims of sanctions. They are more vulnerable to the shortages and hardship that sanctions often lead to. Save the Children believes it is unacceptable and unjustifiable for children to be harmed in this way.’

Save the Children works in Northern Iraq. Chris Saunders, Programme Officer for the Middle East, states, ‘The Oil for Food Programme, instead of preventing problems, has unintentionally set back development that was happening in Northern Iraq. The universal food ration has led to a dramatic collapse of prices for local produce, thereby weaking the economy. The long-term negative impact of this system must not be underestimated.’

Rita Bhatia added, ‘Humanitarian exemptions to sanctions do not always make up for the detrimental effects of sanctions on children.’ Save the Children is urging that comprehensive economic sanctions be avoided wherever possible...

10) BISHOP ATTACKS SANCTIONS Return to top

‘International sanctions are inflicting "grievous harm" on the Iraqi people, and are "ethically untenable", the [Anglican] bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Colin Bennetts, said this week. He was speaking on his return from a visit to Baghdad at the invitation of Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq... "If the international community continues to pursue a policy of sanctions, humanitarian concerns must be central rather than peripheral to that policy." The current political impasse demanded "bold and creative dialogue" to move the situation forward. Bishop Bennetts, accompanied by the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Revd Peter Price, Canon Andrew White, the director of International Ministry at Coventry Cathedral, Dr Charles Reed, from the Board for Social Responsibility, and the Bishop in Cyprus & the Gulf, the Rt Revd Clive Handford, met religious leaders, government ministers, UN officials, doctors and Iraqi citizens.’ (Church Times, 14 May 1999)

‘... the talk of dire consequences of the UN sanctions is not just propaganda, but a reality. It is as if a whole nation is being strangled whilst the world looks on. I was totally confident that what I witnessed was a direct result of a nation no longer having the infrastructure or financial ability to survive in a humane environment.’ (Initial Report on his visit by Canon Andrew White of Coventry Cathedral). As a result of Canon White’s visit, doctors from the ‘Flying Hospital’ have been granted permission to enter Iraq to carry out operations and to share their skills with Iraqi doctors.

11) POSTAL REPORT Return to top

Paul Abbey writes: voices uk co-ordinated ‘postal sanctions-breaking’ actions across the country as part of the National Day of Action Against Sanctions on Saturday 29 May.

The protest involved the posting of packages of medicines and toys to the Iraqi Red Crescent (sister organisation to the Red Cross) without applying for export licences. Posting medicines in this way is an act of civil disobedience against the sanctions regime maintained by the British government against the people of Iraq, as well as an act of solidarity with the Iraqi people.

In Central London, two voices uk sanctions-breaking delegates, Andrea Needham and Simon Endim, who had returned from Iraq only the day before, were part of a group that posted vitamins to the Red Crescent. The letter of intent on the London packet was signed by Gabriel Carlyle, at the time serving a 45 day sentence (see article to right). The letter was also signed by three Swedes recently released from prison, after a jury failed to convict them of criminal damage against a British Trident submarine.

In Wales, Dave Rolstone got coverage of his action in local papers and the national Western Mail as well as being interviewed twice on local radio. He was supported by his MEP, David Morris, who accompanied him to the post office.

Publicity was also raised in Exeter where Nicola Pratt, an Exeter University student, got local coverage as well as being granted an interview on BBC Radio Five Live, and in Ilford where Richard Byrne was interviewed on GLR Talk Radio and BBC Essex Radio.

Latest News

Though all packets were received at the counters of the post offices, the packet sent by Nicola Pratt has since been returned by the Royal Mail claiming that they have a directive not to post any item to Iraq. Packets sent by voices and by Dave Rolstone have been seized by Customs.

12) GABRIEL AND ANDREA IN PRISON Return to top

voices co-coordinator Gabriel Carlyle was recently released after spending over three weeks in prison for an anti-sanctions/anti-bombing protest.

On the first full day of the December bombardment last year, voices members Andrea Needham and Gabriel Carlyle threw buckets of fake blood on the front wall of the Foreign Office in Whitehall, and wrote ‘Stop the Killing’ and ‘Lift the Sanctions’ on the building. They were immediately arrested in front of supporters and journalists. (Two other voices supporters, Richard Crump and Emily Johns, were also arrested for ‘obstruction’, but were released without charge.)

Trial

At their trial on 15 March, the pair tried to present evidence about the effects of sanctions, but were prevented by the magistrate. They were found guilty of criminal damage and Andrea was immediately sent to Holloway prison where she served 14 days.

Gabriel was summoned to Barnet Magistrates Court on 10 May to explain why he had not paid £1300 in compensation to the Foreign Office for the cleaning of the building. He stood by his action, and refused to pay, and was sentenced to the maximum 45 day sentence - serving 22 days in Wormwood Scrubs prison. Gabriel’s first letter out started with these words: ‘Many thanks for the cards and (as I usually write in response to voices requests) apologies for the delay in responding.’

Andrea In Again?

Both Andrea and Gabriel are well and unscathed after their prison experiences. Andrea may shortly be sent to prison for non-payment of her share of the compensation order. This means she may receive two separate jail sentences for a single act of civil disobedience. Please contact the office if you would like to support her while she is inside.

(PS Wormwood Scrubs may be about to be demolished. Gabriel claims it’s nothing to do with him.)

13) ROSY Return to top

On 5 May, Portsmouth University librarian Rosy Bremer was convicted of criminal damage for spraying ‘Don’t Bomb Iraq’ on the wall around the naval base in Portsmouth. Rosy wrote her message on 19 December last year, during the bombing campaign. She told the court that her action was justified because the air-strikes violated international law, and that she had painted her message in a ‘careful, considered, and compassionate way.’

Convicted of criminal damage, Rosy was ordered to pay £170 for fines, costs and compensation (which her mother paid against Rosy’s will). The penalty was curiously lenient, especially since the painting had cost the MOD £716.15 to remove.

14) QUOTES Return to top

There is ‘no question’ that the December bombings were unlawful: ‘It is illegal to attack with bombs targets in a sovereign country without direct authorisation from the Security Council.’
(Lord Healey, former Labour Defence Minister, Daily Telegraph, 21 Dec. 1998)

‘[They were] surely intended and understood to be a message of contempt for the Security Council... This action is in fact a call for a lawless world in which the powerful will rule. The powerful happen to be the United States and Britain, which is by now a pathetic puppy dog that has abandoned any pretence of being an independent state.’
(Noam Chomsky, Frontline [India], January 1999)

15) RESOURCES Return to top

Milan Rai writes: A number of books about Iraq have appeared recently. The most important is Sanctioning Saddam: The Politics of Intervention in Iraq, by Sarah Graham-Brown (380 pp published by I.B. Tauris, ISBN 1 86064 473 2). Sanctioning Saddam is not an anti-sanctions book. But it is full of detailed information, much of it previously unknown to me. The analysis of the origins of oil-for-food (though not quite complete) is very important in answering government distortions regarding Iraq’s refusal to take up oil-for-food between 1991 and 1995.

The book is also about all the forms of foreign intervention in Iraq, (no-fly zones, the development of Iraqi Kurdistan, etc.) not just sanctions. At £25, this is probably something to be ordered from your library, but it is a very important source of information.

One of the sources Graham-Brown relies on heavily is a recent study of child mortality in Iraq by US epidemiologist Richard Garfield. Garfield does not trust previously issued statistics regarding child mortality due to sanctions - for technical and logistical reasons, apart from anything else. Garfield is much more confident about statistics regarding child malnutrition rates in Iraq, and he employs a battery of statistical techniques to infer child mortality rates from the malnutrition rates.

He summarizes his report thus: ‘Information from 22 field studies, including data from 36 nutritional assessments were reviewed, along with demographic estimates from 9 sources, 3 Iraqi government reports, 10 UN-related reports, and 18 press and research reports.

‘For 1996, after five years of sanctions and prior to receipt of humanitarian foods via the oil for food program, [a logistic regression model] shows mortality among children under five to have reached a minimum of 80 per one thousand, a rate last experienced more than thirty years ago. This rise in the mortality rate accounted for between a minimum of 100,000 and a more likely estimate of 227,000 excess deaths among young children from August 1990 through March 1998. About one-quarter of these deaths were mainly associated with the Gulf war; most were primarily associated with sanctions. ‘Given the most likely estimate of 227,000, there were an average of about 60 excess deaths each day. These child deaths far outnumber all deaths on all sides, among combatants and civilians, during the Gulf war.’

The most solid information we have about the situation in Iraq comes from UN reports, and from the reports of the Secretary-General in particular. The Secretary-General issues a report about the progress of oil-for-food (its efficiency, effectiveness and adequacy) every 180 days (the latest one is dated 18 May 1999), and he has also recently issued a two-year review of the programme (dated 21 April 1999). All available from us, or from www.un.org/Depts/oip

One of the best sites on sanctions is CASI’s recently re-designed website at http://www.casi.org.uk

16) SPEAKERS Return to top

Five people from Britain have now broken the sanctions by taking medicines to Iraq without licences as delegates from voices in the wilderness uk. We are keen to give talks about the sanctions and the current situation in Iraq to groups large and small, anywhere! There is no charge apart from travel expenses.

If you would like to host a speaker meeting, please call 01865 243 232 for more details.

17) VIDEOS Return to top

The voices office has received several videos recently. One has been made by freelance video journalist Grant Wakefield, is 11 minutes long, and has been described by Colin Rowat, coordinator of CASI (Campaign against Sanctions on Iraq) as ‘excellent’. It relies mainly on interviews with Denis Halliday and his successor Hans von Sponeck. We can loan ‘Hearing Children’s Voices?’ (0181 444 1605), or we can put you in touch with Grant.