Reducing food quantities for Iraqi individuals

Iraq's Ministry of Commerce said it will reduce quantities of food specified for Iraqis due to US and British delays in approving purchasing agreements within the U.N. oil-for-food program.

The official spokesman for the Iraqi ministry stated that Iraq had decided to reduce the number of the milk packets from 6 to 4, also ghee, tea and grain allotments will be reduced, starting in May.

The oil-for-food agreement between Iraq and the UN, in place since 1996, has met with obstacles from the sanctions committee affiliated to the U.N and many contracts signed by Iraq in the three phases of the agreements were canceled.

Meanwhile, Egypt intends to send a cargo of medicine valued at $25 million to Iraq, within the oil-for-food agreement Iraq signed with the United Nations.

Dr. Galal Ghorab, the head of the holding company for Egyptian medicines, said the company is waiting for the arrival of approval from the UN to send this cargo to Iraq.