Statement by the Spokesman of the Secretary-General

This afternoon and evening (Baghdad time) 73 United Nations personnel left Baghdad, seven by the scheduled United Nations flight to Larnaca and 66 by road for Amman, Jordan. Of this number, 15 were dependents and four were leaving at the conclusion of a mission to Iraq. The Iraq-based staff who left today are taking planned vacations, a number advanced their leave plans.

There are 133 international and 578 national staff remaining on duty in Baghdad and another 232 international and 880 national staff in the three northern governorates of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.

All the United Nations international staff in Baghdad have been instructed to move immediately to the United Nations offices at the Canal Hotel.

This morning (New York time) Lloyds Register, a UK company under contract to the United Nations, advised that it was withdrawing its staff from the port of Umm Qasr, Al Walid at the border with Syria and from Trebil at the border with Jordan. Lloyds Register is continuing to provide independent inspection services at Zakho at the border with Turkey. Lloyds Register authenticates and certifies the arrival of humanitarian supplies under the oil for food programme.

The Office of the Iraq Programme is examining various options with a view to restoring full inspection services with the least possible delay in order to maintain the flow of food, medicine and other essential humanitarian supplies into Iraq.