The Office of the Iraq programme was established
in October 1997 to consolidate the management of United Nations
activities involved in the implementation of Security Council
resolutions 661 (1990) and 986 (1995)
and subsequent resolutions.
In August 1990, the Security Council imposed
comprehensive sanctions on Iraq. In August and September 1991, Iraq
refused the terms of resolutions authorising the sale of oil to
finance the purchase of humanitarian supplies.
Concerned about the suffering of the civilian
population as a result of the continuing sanctions the UN Security
Council passed resolution 986 in April 1995 with a revised "oil
for food" formula as "a temporary measure to provide
for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people".
In May 1996, after extended negotiations with the
UN Secretariat, Iraq signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) setting out detailed arrangements for
the implementation of SCR 986. The Government of Iraq is responsible
for implementation of the programme in the 15 governorates in the
centre and south. The United Nations implements on behalf of the
Government in the three northern governorates.
The first oil under the programme was exported in
December 1996 and the first shipments of food arrived in March 1997.
Since then more than 10 million tonnes of foodstuffs worth $3.7
billion and $691 million dollars of medicine and health supplies
have been delivered to Iraq under the oil-for-food programme. In
addition, more than $500 million dollars worth of supplies for
electrical, water/sanitation, agricultural, education, oil industry,
settlement rehabilitation and demining work have arrived in Iraq.
