Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 December 1996. It was answered by Liam Fox (Conservative) on Friday, 6 December 1996 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: What is his current estimate of the number of children dying of hunger and disease each week in Iraq.

Answer: Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current estimate of the number of children dying of hunger and disease each week in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [7522] Dr. Liam Fox: We do not have reliable estimates. Figures produced by the Government of Iraq cannot be relied upon, given their history of deceit. This year we have spent some £6 million on emergency assistance for Iraq through non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies. Of this, some £1.6 million was targeted on children's needs--£0.5 million in Northern Iraq and £1.1 million in Baghdad-controlled Iraq. The Government are pleased that Iraq has now finally agreed to the implementation of Security Council resolution 986, as we have urged them to do, since its adoption in April 1995. Saddam Hussein's refusal to implement it for so long has caused much unnecessary suffering to the Iraqi people.

Secondary information