Efforts to rebuild Iraq hampered

A lack of security and the absence of a functioning government are hampering efforts to rebuild Iraq, the UN warned, as it appealed for an additional $259m (€360m) to meet humanitarian needs through the end of 2003.

But the UN aid chiefs said yesterday that a large scale refugee crisis that had been feared before the war never happened and food rations – which 60% of Iraq’s 27 million depend on – have resumed nationwide.

Ramiro Lopez da Silva, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Iraq, said the country remains in an emergency situation due to major problems such as increasing attacks on US troops, looting, unemployment and lack of electricity.

Mr Silva also said the oil infrastructure in Iraq, which has the world’s second-largest proven reserves, was hit as hard as other parts of the Iraqi economy by years of UN sanctions, the US-led war and looting.

“The bottom line is you do not have today even the capacity to pump and export the same levels that Iraq was pumping and exporting prior to the conflict,” he told reporters.

“It’s going to take awhile for that sector to be rehabilitated.”

Despite “determined steps” by the US-led coalition to address the lack of law and order, he said criminals are increasingly organised and the movement of aid workers in some areas outside of Baghdad is severely limited.

In addition, the rate of acute malnutrition has climbed to 7.7% from 4% before the war broke out on March 20, he said.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette made the appeal for dollars to potential donors from about 50 countries and a delegation of 12 Iraqis working with the Coalition Provisional Administration.

Representatives from the 50 countries return to the UN today for an informal meeting to discuss the reconstruction of Iraq and lay the groundwork for a conference on rebuilding the country later this year.

Fakhridin Rashan, acting officer in charge of the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, told a news conference that the country could start functioning on its own soon.

“Iraq is a relatively rich country with the second-largest proven oil reserves in the world,” he said, predicting that the country would soon discover more oil and have the world’s largest oil reserves.

The $259m (€360m) will take care of the country’s needs until the end of the year when, Ms Frechette said, the UN hopes its humanitarian aid will come to an end.