NEWS RELEASES

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.

- 30 -

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