Iraq receives US team to evaluate consequences of UN sanctions

A delegation of US congressional staff members has started its activities in the Iraqi capital in order to evaluate the consequences of economic sanctions on Iraq. It met with a high-ranking UN official and inspected a children's hospital.

The committee, which includes five assistant parliamentarians and the representatives of two establishments in Washington, met with the humanitarian activities coordinator in Iraq, Hans Von Shbonique, who is in charge of monitoring the oil-for-food program.

The US team visited al-Mansour hospital, one of the children's hospital in the Iraqi capital, and inspected its various departments, especially that which treats leukemia-affected children. It met many patients and took notes on the meetings.

The team listened to explanations made by one doctor of the drastic shortage in medicines and medical equipment as a result of the embargo imposed on Iraq for nine years.

This is the first US team to visit Iraq since 1990.