Half of the Iraqis in need of food aid
Iraq, Economics, 9/24/2003

The United Nations Food and Agriculture organization FAO said that almost half of the Iraqis estimated at 26 million are in need of humanitarian aid in order to avoid hunger despite the improvement of agricultural crops in the country since the end of military operations which were led by the American and British forces who invaded Iraq in March.

A report by the organization on nutrition and food supplies in Iraq said that "despite avoidance of deaths because of hunger, however there is a critical malnutrition among millions of devastated Iraqis" noting that the situation of mothers and children in the center and south of Iraq is distressing. The report, in particular indicated that some 100,000 refugees and 200,000 displaced are the most vulnerable of foodstuffs. Cereal production in Iraq for this year is estimated at 4 millions tons representing an increase of 22% over the figures of 2002.

War and sanctions on Iraq resulted in deterioration in living standards gravely especially as 60% of the Iraqis are considered unemployed and basically depend on food shares distributed on them, according to oil-for-food program.

Both FAO and the WFP said "that a tangible violation in the system of circulating aid on the population will be of great negative impact." The World Food program WFP said that there are 3.5 million Iraqis who are in need of food aid estimated at a cost of 51 million dollars in 2004.

Previous Stories:
  New fire in Karkouk pipeline   (9/19/2003)
  Al-Thawra: Syrian facilitation for trade with Iraq   (9/11/2003)
  Al Ayam: War in Iraq entailed $80 billion in losses for Arab region   (9/3/2003)

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