Letter: UN mission to Iraq

UN mission to Iraq

A $5.3bn oil-for-food programme to Iraq sounds impressive but would do little to alleviate suffering ("Annan offers oil-for-food deal worth billions", 20 February).

Deducted from the previous $2bn deal under UN Resolution 986 were war reparations (30 per cent), UN operations (5 to 10 per cent), costs of pipeline (5 to 10 per cent), and humanitarian aid earmarked for the Kurds of northern Iraq (15 per cent). If a similar pattern is followed this time, about $2.2bn would be available over six months. This amounts to about 58 cents' worth of food and medicine per person per day in Central and Southern Iraq.

Adequate technology and chemicals for sanitation and medical infrastructure will, of course, continue to be disallowed. One would anticipate a small reduction in the death rate, but it will continue to be of tragic proportions.

MARK WALMSLEY

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire