relief

UN relief agencies move humanitarian supplies over Iraq's borders

31 March 2003
United Nations relief agencies along Iraq's borders are looking at ways to bring in humanitarian aid, and the first UN food consignment to enter the country since the outbreak of hostilities has already crossed over from Turkey into northern Iraq.
Louise Fréchette

UN launches massive $2.2 billion appeal for humanitarian relief in Iraq

28 March 2003
The United Nations today launched a $2.2 billion emergency appeal for immediate humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq over the next six months, with $1.3 billion devoted to a massive food aid operation.
Kofi Annan

Annan welcomes Security Council vote on aid to Iraq, urges speedy action

28 March 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today the UN must move speedily to bring humanitarian aid to Iraq and welcomed the unanimous Security Council approval of adjustments to the suspended Oil-for-Food programme giving him more authority to administer the operation for the next 45 days.

Voicing concerns, UN relief agencies plea for urgent access to Iraqi civilians

28 March 2003
Expressing increasing concern over the health and safety of the civilian population in Iraq, particularly in the southern city of Basra, United Nations aid agencies today appealed to all sides for access to bring in humanitarian relief.

Iraq: Security Council adopts adjustments to UN's Oil-for-Food programme

28 March 2003
The Security Council today unanimously approved a resolution adjusting the suspended Oil-for-Food programme to give United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan more authority to administer the operation for the next 45 days.

Local UN staff still working in Iraq to bring relief to civilian population

27 March 2003
United Nations relief agencies reported today that their 3,400 local staff in Iraq were doing all they could to bring relief to the civilian population and perform their functions despite the withdrawal of international personnel on the eve of hostilities.
Kofi Annan

Annan ‘increasingly concerned’ by civilian casualties in Iraq

26 March 2003
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today voiced increasing concern over civilian casualties of the conflict in Iraq, and met with his top humanitarian officials to discuss contingency plans for United Nations relief agencies to return to the country as soon as the military action permits.

UN relief agencies express deep concern at reported bombing of Baghdad market

26 March 2003
United Nations humanitarian organizations expressed deep concern today over reports that an air strike on Baghdad resulted in heavy casualties at a civilian market.

Heads of UN agencies to discuss aid to Iraq amid growing concern over Basra

25 March 2003
As Secretary-General Kofi Annan prepared to chair a top-level meeting of United Nations relief agencies in New York tomorrow on the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, UN spokesmen for the organizations in the region expressed growing alarm today for the southern city of Basra, where the 1.7 million residents have been without full water supplies for four days.
Security Council Presideent Traoré speaks to the press

Security Council to hold first open debate on Iraq since outbreak of hostilities

25 March 2003
The United Nations Security Council will hold on Wednesday its first open debate on Iraq since hostilities broke out and will also seek to reach a consensus on providing humanitarian assistance to the country since the suspension of the UN Oil-for-Food Programme, which allows Baghdad to use part of its petroleum sales to buy relief supplies.