Written question asked by Hilton Dawson (Labour) on Thursday, 12 March 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 March 1998. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 1998 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimates she has made of the impact of sanctions on (a) child mortality and (b) child malnourishment in Iraq since 1990.

Answer: Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates she has made of the impact of sanctions on (a) child mortality and (b) child malnourishment in Iraq since 1990. [34958] Clare Short: The UK Government are not in a position to make reliable estimates of the impact of sanctions on Iraq. However, we take seriously disturbing reports from international humanitarian organisations suggesting that the people of Iraq are suffering deprivation and hardship. The issue is complex, given the many influences that bear upon the well-being of the population, of which sanctions are one. Numerous attempts have been made, e.g., under the auspices of the UN, to estimate the impact of sanctions on Iraq, but the findings are open to differences of interpretation. In addition, there are practical difficulties. UK missions to Iraq attempt to monitor the situation, but are currently restricted to the north of the country. We do not have independent access to Baghdad-controlled Iraq.

Secondary information