|
|
|
|
| |
24 July 2003
Weekly
Update
Oil-for-Food
Supplies Stranded by War
Confirmed
as Safely Delivered
The
Oil-for-Food Programme has confirmed that some $57 million worth of
goods and supplies stranded at Iraq’s borders by the onset of war
on 17 March have been safely received and delivered into the
country. Official confirmation of the arrivals has freed up payments
to contractors in more than 20 countries.
The
stranded goods had reached Iraq when UN Secretary-General, Kofi
Annan ordered the withdrawal of all UN international staff for their
safety. Without the UN’s independent inspection agents to inspect
and authenticate arriving goods, the suppliers could not be paid by
the Programme. The contracted items ranged from table salt and
medicines to irrigation systems, lumber and electrical transformers,
that were delivered to the port of Umm Qasr and to land-based entry
points bordering Turkey, Syria and Jordan. This week’s
confirmation means that some 86 per cent of the total reported cases
of stranded goods have been resolved. Other cases are awaiting
appropriate documentation.
Prioritized
goods for delivery
The
total value of goods and supplies prioritized
for
delivery to Iraq following consultations with the Coalition
Provisional Authority (CPA), Iraqi representatives and UN agencies
reached $2.1 billion this week with the addition of 64 food and
three oil sector contracts.
Approvals
for agriculture sector
The
Security Council’s 661 Committee has agreed to a proposal
submitted by the Office of the Iraq Programme to cover the cost of
two urgent agricultural projects prepared by FAO with the approval
of the Coalition Provision Authority and the Iraqi agricultural
officials. The projects
will provide “cold chain” and other facilities for the safe
storage of animal vaccines ($5.35 million) and some 40,000 tons of
fertilizer ($14.1 million) for the winter planting season.
Additional information is available from the website
of the Office of the Iraq Programme. For further information
please contact Ian Steele email: steelei@un.org
|
|
