UN reparations panel pays out nearly $200 million for Iraq invasion of Kuwait

The United Nations Compensation Commission paying damages to those who suffered during Iraq's 1990 invasion and occupation of Kuwait today announced the disbursement of nearly $200 million, bringing the total paid out to date to about $19.4 billion.

Last month the Commission announced the conclusion of its claims-processing work and at that time it noted that total awards granted to that date had amounted to about $52.5 billion.

With the claims processing stage now concluded, the Commission will focus its work on payments of awards to claimants and a number of residual tasks.

The vast majority of payments made had been provided from the sale of Iraqi petroleum pursuant to the "Oil-for-Food" programme, which came to an end in 2003 and subsequently, and later within the scope of arrangements made under Security Council resolutions.