Iraq: UN sanctions panel approves 4 contracts for human vaccines

The Security Council's Iraq sanctions committee has approved new contracts for vaccines under the United Nations humanitarian "oil-for-food" programme, according to the office running the relief effort.

Welcoming this development, the Office of the Iraq Programme reported that the Security Council's sanctions panel - known as the "661 committee" for the resolution which created it - last week approved four contracts worth $10.48 million for several types of human vaccines on the condition that UN observers in Iraq closely monitor the use of those supplies, which are expected to meet the country's reported shortages of human vaccines.

Also last week, the committee approved contracts for steel, generator sets and pesticides on condition of close monitoring by the UN observers in Iraq. "This welcome development is also indicative of an increasing confidence by the 661 Committee in the ability of the United Nations observation mechanism to verify that supplies and materials delivered to Iraq under the programme are indeed being utilized for approved purposes," said the Office in a statement released in New York.

As of 14 June, approximately $2.2 billion and €1.85 billion (euros) in unencumbered funds were available in the UN escrow account for the issuance of additional letters of credit for the purchase of humanitarian supplies and oil spare parts and equipment by the Government of Iraq, the Office reported. (In November 2000, the euro replaced the United States dollar for Iraqi oil purchases, at Baghdad's request and with the authorization of the sanctions committee.)

Meanwhile, Iraq's suspension of its petroleum exports under the oil-for-food programme continued into the second week. According to the Office of the Iraq Programme, in current extended phase IX, which ends on 3 July, Iraq has exported 293 million barrels of oil for an estimated €6.7 billion (euros) or $5.8 billion in revenue, at current prices.