Office of the Iraq Programme Oil for Food

17 December 1998

Oil-for-Food Background Information

Briefing by the Acting Spokesman
noon on 17 December, UN HQ

It's about eight o'clock in the evening in Baghdad. The 134 United Nations international staff in Baghdad are getting ready to spend their second night in the main United Nations office, a converted hotel, in a suburb of Baghdad.

The Executive Director of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan who is also the United Nations Security Coordinator has been in contact with the humanitarian coordinator Hans von Sponeck through the night and this morning.

When the bombing started last night, staff moved into the corridor on the ground floor of the building where it was judged they would be safest. For the first few hours the explosions were in other parts of town but about three o'clock there were three very loud, explosions apparently close to the UN building.

After a cold and obviously restless night, staff woke this morning to find that their local colleagues, including the people who run the cafeteria in the building had come to work despite their own problems. Relations continue to be warm and Mr von Sponeck has thanked them for their support and extraordinary resilience in these difficult circumstances.

So far as the oil for food programme is concerned:

Oil exports are continuing normally. A ship berthed at the Mina Al Bakr platform in the south of Iraq this morning and is loading oil, and operations are continuing at the port of Ceyhan on Turkey's mediterranean coast. The Saybolt's oil monitors remain in place.

With the withdrawal of the independent inspection agents (Lloyds) it's likely there are humanitarian supplies being held up. The inspection agents authenticate and certify arrival - they left the port of Umm Qasr and the border crossings with Syria and Jordan. There are seven still on duty at Zakho at the border with Turkey.

However there are stocks of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in Iraq. In the 15 governorates in the Centre and South of Iraq, the distribution of supplies is carried out by the Government with the United Nations carrying out a detailed observation process. Those observations have been suspended.

In the three northern governorates the international and national staff are working as usual - in these governorates the United Nations is responsible for the implementation of the humanitarian programme, on behalf of the Government.

Shortly after the bombing began last night, Mr Sevan sent his international and national colleagues in Iraq a message - saying on behalf of the Secretary-General and all the staff here that they were in our thoughts and prayers … and expressing pride in their courage.

Mr Sevan is keeping the Secretary-General informed of all developments and the situation is under continuous review.

* *** *

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Oil-for-Food Background Information		Briefing by the Acting Spokesman noon on 17 December, UN HQ It's about eight o'clock in the evening in Baghdad. The 134 United Nations international staff in Baghdad are getting ready to spend their second night in the main United Nations office, a converted hotel, in a suburb of Baghdad. The Executive Director of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan who is also the United Nations Security Coordinator has been in contact with the humanitarian coordinator Hans von Sponeck through the night and this morning. When the bombing started last night, staff moved into the corridor on the ground floor of the building where it was judged they would be safest. For the first few hours the explosions were in other parts of town but about three o'clock there were three very loud, explosions apparently close to the UN building. After a cold and obviously restless night, staff woke this morning to find that their local colleagues, including the people who run the cafeteria in the building had come to work despite their own problems. Relations continue to be warm and Mr von Sponeck has thanked them for their support and extraordinary resilience in these difficult circumstances. So far as the oil for food programme is concerned: Oil exports are continuing normally. A ship berthed at the Mina Al Bakr platform in the south of Iraq this morning and is loading oil, and operations are continuing at the port of Ceyhan on Turkey's mediterranean coast. The Saybolt's oil monitors remain in place. With the withdrawal of the independent inspection agents (Lloyds) it's likely there are humanitarian supplies being held up. The inspection agents authenticate and certify arrival - they left the port of Umm Qasr and the border crossings with Syria and Jordan. There are seven still on duty at Zakho at the border with Turkey. However there are stocks of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in Iraq. In the 15 governorates in the Centre and South of Iraq, the distribution of supplies is carried out by the Government with the United Nations carrying out a detailed observation process. Those observations have been suspended. In the three northern governorates the international and national staff are working as usual - in these governorates the United Nations is responsible for the implementation of the humanitarian programme, on behalf of the Government. Shortly after the bombing began last night, Mr Sevan sent his international and national colleagues in Iraq a message - saying on behalf of the Secretary-General and all the staff here that they were in our thoughts and prayers … and expressing pride in their courage. Mr Sevan is keeping the Secretary-General informed of all developments and the situation is under continuous review. * *** *
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