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Disastrous Situation of Children in Iraq

                                    PR/GVA/96/035
                                    4 October 1996

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today expressed serious 
concern for the welfare of Iraqi children and issued a plea for funds 
to enable the organization to continue a programme of humanitarian 
assistance throughout Iraq.

"Around 4,500 children under the age of five are dying here every month 
from hunger and disease," said Philippe Heffinck, UNICEF Representative 
for Iraq.

UNICEF says its hands are tied by lack of funding for programmes to assist 
children in Iraq.  Under the ongoing interagency humanitarian appeal for 
Iraq, which was issued in April/May 1996, UNICEF sought US$39 million of 
which only US$3.1 million was received.

Last week, UNICEF requested for an additional US$10.5 million under the 
consolidated inter- Agency appeal launched by the Department of 
Humanitarian Affairs. The new appeal is made in response to the impact 
that the recent armed hostilities in Northern Iraq and postponement of 
Security Council Resolution 986 implementation. Resolution 986 (commonly 
known as oil-for-food) had offered some hope to those affected by the
humanitarian crisis in Iraq.  Under the terms of the resolution Iraq 
would be allowed to sell limited quantities of oil in exchange for food 
and humanitarian supplies which would be distributed under close UN 
supervision to those civilians most in need. 

The war against Iran (1980-88), the Gulf war with UN-coalition forces in 
1991 and the ensuing economic hardship have created acute poverty and 
suffering among Iraq's 10 million children.

"The situation is  disastrous for children," claims Heffinck.  "Many are 
living on the very margin of survival." 

According to Iraqi Government figures, cases of severe malnutrition 
increased substantially and the percentage of underweight children in 
Baghdad alone has risen from 7 per cent in 1991 to 29 per cent in 1995 - 
an increase of 400 per cent. The decline leaves the children of a once 
prosperous nation suffering from malnutrition on a level with those
in Mali and Northern Sudan - two of the poorest countries in Africa.

The causes are extreme shortages of food and grossly depleted health 
services as well as a breakdown in the provision of clean drinking water 
and treatment/disposal of sewage.  The annual health budget dropped by 90 
to 95 per cent between 1987 and 1995. For example the budget of US$450 
million per year for the purchase of medicines was reduced to a mere 
US$22 million and the price of wheat flour in 1995 was 11,667 times more 
than in 1989.


In addition, UNICEF staff are reporting a rise in new hardships for 
children with sharp increases in the numbers of street children and child 
labourers.

Since the end of the Gulf war in 1991, UNICEF has been present throughout 
Iraq providing over US$167 million worth of lifesaving  assistance to 
children in the areas of basic health care, nutrition, water and 
sanitation, education and services to children with special needs.  At 
present UNICEF has over 80 international and national staff in Iraq with
half of these in the North.  A network of warehouses, communications and 
transport is maintained by UNICEF in the North to support the efforts of 
other UN agencies, Non Governmental Agencies and local government 
departments, while it continues to play a major role in assistance to 
children in South and Central Iraq. 

In December 1995 UNICEF adopted an Anti-War Agenda which insists on the 
rights of children to protection from the impact of wars and demands that 
every effort be made to minimize the impact of conflict on the young.

"It is the singular characteristic of warfare in our time that children 
suffer most" says Philippe Heffinck. "It is essential that we find donors 
willing to support our work. Otherwise, Iraq's children will continue to 
suffer and this we cannot accept."

                                  * * * *

                   For further information, please contact:
                       Marie Heuze, Chief, Communication
                    UNICEF Geneva, Tel. (41 22)  909 55 23
                                    or
                     Margherita Amodeo, Information Officer
                     UNICEF Geneva, Tel. (41 22)  909 55 11
                                    or
                     Philippe Heffinck, UNICEF Representative,
                    UNICEF Baghdad  Tel 873 1611377 (INMARSAT)


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