UN votes in bid to avoid humanitarian disaster

The United Nations Security Council today voted to revive Iraq’s oil-for-food programme in a bid to avoid a humanitarian disaster in the war-ravaged state.

The draft resolution was tabled by Germany and co-sponsored by Britain and France, among others.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who discussed the resolution with Mr Annan in New York last night, said he hoped that agreement on restarting the oil-for-food programme would be “a way that people can come back round together” following the deep divisions within Europe over military action.

The resolution is sensitive because it shifts responsibility for the suspended relief programme from the Iraqi authorities to Mr Annan’s office, and could be seen as tacit recognition by the international community that Saddam’s regime is doomed.

The programme, which began in December 1996, allows Iraq to sell oil to purchase food, medicine and other civilian supplies under UN supervision.

Some 60% of Iraq’s 26 million people are solely dependent on rations from the programme.

It was suspended, and more than 300 relief workers evacuated, shortly before coalition forces invaded Iraq.

When the programme was in operation, the Iraqi authorities prepared a list of goods they claimed they required to meet the country’s humanitarian needs every 180 days, which was assessed by the UN sanctions committee.

However Saddam is said to have abused the programme, buying luxury goods for members of his regime.

Downing Street said the resolution would “flick the switch” and reactivate the programme, freeing up $2.3bn which was unspent by Saddam when it was under his influence.

No 10 said: “We need this resolution to be adopted swiftly so that we can get the necessary aid flown into Iraq.

“It will give Kofi Annan a central role in ensuring that the right humanitarian aid flows quickly into Iraq. He will take over the functions that were previously allocated to Saddam’s regime.”

Tabled by Germany last night, the draft resolution has been co-sponsored by Britain and France, in an apparent sign of a thawing of cross-Channel relations badly strained by the UK’s participation in the US-led military action.

Asked about the significance of Britain joining with France and Germany in the draft resolution, Mr Blair’s spokesman said: “Whatever the differences of perspective in relation to the military conflict and the diplomatic efforts leading up to it, I think the international community sees the importance of the continuation of a humanitarian programme ...”

Potentially even more controversial will be a new resolution on the reconstruction of a post-war Iraq.