Over 16,000 died in Jan due to sanctions -- Iraq

Over 16,000 died in Jan due to sanctions -- Iraq
ASSOCIATED FREE PRESS

BAGHDAD, MARCH 12: More than 16,000 Iraqis died in January, almost half of whom were children, as a result of the UN trade sanctions imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the official INA news agency said citing a health ministry report.

The report said that 7,813 children and 8,212 adults died in January from ailments including diarrhoea, heart and respiratory problems and malnutrition.

Baghdad blames the sanctions for devastating the quality of life in Iraq. Despite the UN's oil-for-food program, which allows Iraq to purchase items for its civilian population, Baghdad complains it is unable to purchase goods necessary to improve living conditions in Iraq.