NEWS RELEASES
CANADA ANNOUNCES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ
April 17, 2000 (4:10 p.m. EDT) No. 77
CANADA ANNOUNCES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation
Maria Minna today announced $1 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq.
The humanitarian assistance, funded through the Canadian International Development
Agency, will be directed toward the upgrading of primary schools, hospitals and primary
health care centres in the south and centre of the country, as well as the repair and
maintenance of water treatment plants. The funds announced today will go to UNICEF
and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The assistance is aimed at providing
help of particular relevance to children.
"Canada's decision to provide direct assistance to Iraq is consistent with our
determination to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the people of Iraq continue to be
addressed while sanctions remain in place," said Minister Axworthy.
Mr. Axworthy noted that while the objectives of the Iraq sanctions regime remain clear --
to maintain pressure on the Iraqi leadership to meet all of its obligations to the UN,
including the return of weapons inspectors, and to block Iraq's pursuit of weapons of
mass destruction programs -- it is the people of Iraq who have borne the brunt of the
burdens of the sanctions period. He called on the Council to do its utmost to help the
Iraqi people by ensuring the full implementation of the humanitarian provisions of the
resolution on Iraq adopted in December 1999.
"We remain concerned by the situation the people of Iraq face on a daily basis," said
Minister Minna. "This humanitarian aid will help to ease their suffering and to ensure
that the most vulnerable in society, namely women and children, have access to much-needed supplies."
A Canadian mission, sent to Iraq last November by Minister Axworthy, identified key
areas where Canadian assistance could have a direct, meaningful and immediate
impact. Today's funding announcement targets two of these areas.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2000 federal budget and is
therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Robin Walsh
Office of the Minister for International Co-operation
(613) 953-3160
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
(819) 953-6534
E-Mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca (electronic version of the document)
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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