Corruption Eats Into Food Rations

[babylonsister]

Corruption Eats Into Food Rations
Submitted by davidswanson on Sun, 2008-05-04 19:48.

By Ali al-Fadhily and Dahr Jamail, Inter Press Service


FALLUJAH, May 2 (IPS) - Amidst unemployment and impoverishment, Iraqis now face a cutting down of their monthly food ration – much of it already eaten away by official corruption.

Iraqis survived the sanctions after the first Gulf War (1990) with the support of rations through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The aid was set up in 1995 as part of the UN's Oil-for-Food programme.

The sanctions were devastating nevertheless. Former UN programme head Hans von Sponeck said in 2001 that the sanctions amounted to "a tightening of the rope around the neck of the average Iraqi citizen." Von Sponeck said the sanctions were causing the death of 150 Iraqi children a day.

Denis Halliday, former UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq who quit his post in protest against the sanctions, told IPS they had proved "genocidal" for Iraqis.

During more than five years of U.S.-occupation, the situation has become even worse. The rationing system has been crumbling under poor management and corruption.

From the beginning of this year, the rations delivered were reduced from 10 items to five.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33215

[ponchilly]

1. I guess...

...they want to starve us all.

[NMDemDist2]

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[ponchilly]

7. Many thanks...

...for the welcome and the info.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

3. Freedom's On The Take. n/t

[Zhade]

4. k/r

there are no words for my shame

[Fireweed247]

5. When will this end??

:cry:
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[OhioChick]

6. K&R

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