Iraq got only half of medicines it needs in the frame of oil-for-food program

Iraq announced on Friday it only got half of the medicines and medical items it asked foreign companies for in the framework of the oil-for-food program.

The Iraqi minister of health Omid Midhat Mubarak said during his meeting with the executive director of the Iraqi program at the UN Beinoun Seifan that Iraq only received during the 10 phases of the oil-for-food program 45% and that 15% of these items are no more valid especially advanced medical instruments because they do not have matching equipment.

He added that the health situation in Iraq has been greatly damaged because of the continued sanctions on Iraq and the measures taken by the American and British representatives in obstructing the arrival of medicines and medical needs contracted for with world companies and the pressures on these companies to prevent the arrival of the medicines to Iraq.

Worthy mentioning that more than 31,000 Iraqis including more than 21,000 children under five year old died during September, October and November 2001 because of various diseases resulted from malnutrition and medicines shortage.