UN reparations panel for Kuwait invasion pays out almost $900 million

The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), which settles the damage claims of those who suffered losses because of Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, today announced that it will make $889 million available to 16 successful claimants.

The most recent round of payments brings the total compensations made to date by the UNCC to individuals, corporations, governments and international organizations to $26 billion.

Since 1991, the Commission has received nearly 3 million claims, including from close to 100 governments for themselves, their nationals or their corporations. Over one dozen offices of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) also submitted claims on behalf of individuals not in a position to have their petitions filed by governments.

The Geneva-based UNCC’s Governing Council has identified six categories of claims: four are for individuals’ claims, one for corporations and one for governments and international organizations, which also includes claims for environmental damage.

The vast majority of funds for compensation payments have come from the sale of Iraqi petroleum under the so-called Oil-for-Food programme, which came to an end in 2003, and later within the scope of arrangements made under Security Council resolutions.