The Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq

September 25, 1998

Issue:

The U.N. Security Council has suspended its anticipated October review of the economic sanctions on Iraq, dashing hopes that Iraqi civilians could soon begin rebuilding their economy and their lives. The climate of confrontation, threat and diplomatic maneuvering over Iraq's incomplete compliance with U.N. requirements continues with no end in sight. The compassion central to religious values compels us to stand with the suffering people of Iraq who are caught in this deadly standoff.

Action:

Write to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and to the permanent deputy U.S. representative to the United Nations, Mr. A. Peter Burleigh, making these points:

1. The eight-year-old economic sanctions on Iraq have had a devastating effect on the lives of many Iraqis and can no longer be supported. U.S. church leaders who have delivered humanitarian supplies to Iraq report malnutrition and disease caused by the deteriorating infrastructure. The oil-for-food program may alleviate the food shortage, but it is not a solution. Compassion for the innocent civilians of Iraq who are suffering must be our top priority.
   
   
2. The United States should work within the Security Council to end, or at least ease, the economic sanctions against Iraq. Instead of suspending review of the sanctions, the United States and the Security Council should seek a solution to resolve this humanitarian crisis. The Clinton Administration should support the efforts of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to find a compromise that eases economic sanctions in exchange for the Iraqi government's cooperation with weapons inspections. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has called for an end to economic sanctions together with continued safeguards to prevent the government of Iraq from developing or acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Furthermore, these efforts with regard to Iraq should be part of a worldwide effort to eliminate such weapons and end their development by all nations.
   
   
3. The United States must not again take or threaten military action against Iraq. That would be a terrible example for the international community and the American people of how a great power exercises leadership.

Write or Phone:

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: (202) 647-1533

Mr. A. Peter Burleigh
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017

Background:

Iraq announced on Aug. 3 that it would no longer cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors. In response, at the U.S. government's urging, the U.N. Security Council voted on Sept. 9 to suspend its practice of periodically reviewing the U.N. sanctions against Iraq. The U.S. was placed in an embarrassing situation in late August when Secretary Albright was publicly accused by a former U.N. arms inspector of actually undermining the inspection of suspected weapons sites. The American, who was chief inspector of the team, had been "relieved" of duties for a period in March for being too aggressive. He charged that Secretary Albright had "surrender[ed] to Iraqi leadership" in order to avoid new confrontations with Iraq and to improve relations with other Security Council members.

Some observers predict a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq in October. Others think this unlikely, but expect an escalating humanitarian crisis caused by the sanctions while Washington works in other ways to destabilize Saddam Hussein's regime.

U.N. Secretary General Annan has drawn up a proposal for comprehensive review of the sanctions and the possibility of easing them in exchange for Iraqi cooperation and "less than 100 percent" disarmament. U.S. diplomats strongly oppose Annan's proposal and insist that a number of other outstanding issues from the 1991 war with Kuwait must also be resolved before sanctions can be lifted.

There is considerable domestic pressure on the Administration to be tough and to maintain sanctions as long as Saddam Hussein remains in power. Additionally, the U.S. Congress ratcheted up tensions by beginning to broadcast "Radio Free Iraq" into the country, voting $10 million for the Iraqi opposition, and bringing competing Kurdish leaders to a unity session in Washington.

The program that allows the purchase of goods for Iraqi civilians by allowing Iraq to sell up to $5.2 billion in oil every six months is failing to meet the need. Low oil prices and the run-down condition of the country's oil industry has prevented Iraq from being able to pump all the oil permitted. Moreover, the requirement that the Security Council's sanctions committee approve the importation of goods has created unnecessary delays.

General Assembly Guidance:

1. the ending of all economic sanctions against Iraq that make it difficult or impossible for essential items to reach the people of Iraq, such as food, medicine, medical and hospital supplies, including ambulances and bed sheets; school books and other supplies, including building supplies that are necessary for the educational system; materials needed to provide drinkable water and sanitation; and to develop the allowable level of oil-production capacity needed to generate the income to purchase humanitarian and infrastructure supplies;
2. the maintaining of safeguards, such as military sanctions, that are designed to prevent the government of Iraq from acquiring or developing the means of mass destruction, in such a manner as not to prevent the delivery of items above;
3. comprehensive efforts by the United Nations, the United States, and the governments of the Middle East to remove all weapons of mass destruction from that region, as part of a worldwide effort to eliminate such weapons and end their development.