U.N.: Millions in Iraq Still Need Food

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030923/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_food&cid=540&ncid=1480

ROME - About half of the Iraqi population is in need of food assistance, two U.N. food agencies said Tuesday, blaming the war and years of economic sanctions and drought.

Of these, some 3.5 million Iraqis — vulnerable groups such as malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers — will need supplementary food rations next year, at an estimated cost of $51 million.

The figures were part of a joint report by two Rome-based agencies of the United Nations, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program. The agencies sent a mission to Iraq in June and July to assess the food situation.

The report said that starvation has been averted, but warned that chronic malnutrition persisted among the 25 million population, despite a better cereal harvest this year compared to 2002.

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[dArKeR]

1. Half of Iraqis need food aid: UN - TGM

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030923.wfood0923/BNStory/Front/

[MaineDem]

2. Didn't Condi say

that there was no humanitarian crisis in Iraq? I suppose just needing aid doesn't constitute a crisis but, man, these people give the impression everything is hunky-dory. How repulsive!