NEW YORK -- Even before the war against Iraq has reached its climax, the U.S.-British invasion of that country had already provoked a humanitarian crisis that is proving to be a nightmare for international relief agencies. Although much has been done by relief agencies in preparation for this emergency, it is crucial to have the U.N. Oil for Food Program working at full speed to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq.
In a timely and unanimous vote, the United Nations Security Council on March 28 approved the resumption of this program, which allows Iraq to sell oil and use the proceeds to buy food and civilian goods despite economic sanctions imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The oil-for-food program was interrupted after U.N. international staff left Iraq on March 17.
The Bush administration has decided that food aid will be delivered by U.S. and British forces. To put the military in charge of humanitarian aid, however, has already provoked a political crisis, since many governments willing to help do not want to be associated with the American-led invasion of Iraq.