UN food program asks for money to feed malnourished Iraqis
Iraq-UN, Economics, 2/4/1999

The United Nations World Food Program yesterday launched an appeal for financial aid to help Iraqi citizens who are suffering from shortages of food and water.

The WFP said that $21 million is needed for aid to over one million Iraqis, including 200,000 "acutely malnourished" children. The money would fund a program that would last until January 31, 2000, distributing a blend of wheat, soya and milk to supply nutrition to 50,000 children for three months, then move to another group of children. The children's relatives will also be included in the program.

Meanwhile, the United Nations announced on Tuesday the completion of a $3.28 million UN project in northern Iraq to repair a 249 megawatt hydroelectric dam.

The UN said the Derbendikan Dam on the Diyala river, a tributary to the Tigris river, presented a danger of flooding because of non-functional and leaking spillway gates. The gates had been removed during the early stages of the Iraq - Iran war to prevent deliberate flooding and later repairs were not finished due to the Gulf War and subsequent economic sanctions.

The repair work was carried out by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the United Nations Development Program, the UN said.

Further repair work is necessary for the structure to function fully, providing it's capacity of electricity and providing water for irrigation downstream.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq to reduce program of petroleum exports in February   (1/30/1999)
  A delegation from the international monetary fund is visiting Baghdad   (1/30/1999)
  EU projects initiative to improve Iraq's humanitarian situation   (1/26/1999)

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