relief

Iraq: UN food programme gears up for restarting distribution system

29 May 2003
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade and the United States-run Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, is finalizing the reactivation of the public distribution system that provides services to 27 million Iraqis, the agency said today.
UNICEF-contracted bulldozer clearing garbage

Iraq: UN relief agencies focus on garbage collection, vaccination campaigns

28 May 2003
United Nations relief agencies continued their rehabilitation efforts in Iraq today, ranging from garbage collection to vaccination campaigns to the possible revival of marshlands drained by the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Sergio Vieira de Mello

Annan names UN human rights chief as Special Representative for Iraq

27 May 2003
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has chosen Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s top human rights official, to serve as his Special Representative in Iraq for a four-month period, according to a letter released today at UN Headquarters in New York.

UN relief agencies step up protection efforts in Iraq

27 May 2003
In an effort to step up relief operations in Iraq despite the ongoing lack of security resulting from random looting, shooting and robberies, the United Nations top relief official in the country today organized the first meeting of the national working group on protection.
Kofi Annan introduces new envoy for Iraq

Working with Iraqi people top priority for UN mission, Annan and envoy say

27 May 2003
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his newly appointed Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, both stressed today that the top priority for the United Nations in the war-shattered country would be to work with the Iraqi people in establishing a sovereign state with full respect for human rights.

UN aid agencies step up Iraq air service, help Iranian refugees go home

23 May 2003
United Nations relief agencies have launched a full-scale humanitarian air service for the Iraq crisis and engineered the first repatriation of Iranian refugees from the country in nearly a year.

Iraq: UN agencies face challenges brought on by looters and shot-up water pipes

22 May 2003
From so-called "Ali Babas" who steal the vehicles of repairmen while they are working atop power lines to trigger-happy citizens shooting up water pipes to steal fresh water, United Nations relief agencies in Iraq today described some of the problems they face on the ground.
Louise Fréchette addresses Security Council

Top UN officials warn lawlessness in Iraq hindering relief efforts

22 May 2003
Top United Nations officials went before the Security Council today to deplore the breakdown of law and order in Iraq, which they said was severely undercutting the world body's ability to bring humanitarian aid to a needy civilian population.

Iraq: UN relief official visits looted facilities in Baghdad, warns of risk of illness

21 May 2003
The top United Nations relief official in Iraq today drew attention to the looting that had been occurring at a number of public facilities around Baghdad, and warned of the risk of illness and malnutrition resulting from untreated sewage.
UNHCR Ruud Lubbers (c) in Darshia, Iran

UN agencies push on with relief work in Iraq

20 May 2003
United Nations relief agencies continued to step up their activities in Iraq today, both from the overall standpoint of general coordination and from the more specific focus of settling special issues.