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22 August 2003
Weekly
Update
Value
of Goods and Supplies Prioritized
for
Iraq Approaches $4.5 billion
With
some 13 weeks to the closure of the United Nations Iraq Programme
(21 November), almost half the goods and supplies in the
Oil-for-Food pipeline have been prioritized for delivery, as
required under Security Council resolution 1483 (22 May).
Consultations
between the Coalition Provisional Authority, Iraqi experts and the
United Nations, have so far resulted in the prioritization of 2,422
contracts valued at more than $4.45 billion. UN agencies and
programmes are negotiating with suppliers to expedite delivery to
locations where they are most needed. The cost of the contracted
items from suppliers in dozens of countries are covered by funds
from the sale of Iraqi oil under the Oil-for-Food Programme prior to
the onset of hostilities in late March. At that time, the
Oil-for-Food Programme had some 5,000 contracts worth about $10
billion for food and other items approved and funded, awaiting
delivery.
The
value of food items prioritized for delivery under resolution 1483
totals $606.7 million. These items, ranging from wheat to milk
powder and cooking oil are included in the monthly rations which
most families rely on. Other sectors covered by prioritizations so
far include: oil industry spare parts and supplies ($1 billion);
electricity ($844.5 million); agriculture ($530.4 million); water
and sanitation ($481.4 million); medicine and health ($271.2
million); transport and telecommunications ($212.1 million).
Chickens
and eggs
The
Security Council 661 Committee this week approved a $31 million
project for the purchase of poultry feed and hatching eggs to boost
Iraq’s domestic poultry production in the second half of 2003.
Under the Oil-for-Food Programme, the national poultry industry
trebled in size from 1,112 to 3,368 commercial operations,
increasing white meat production between 1998 and 2002 from 19,300
metric tonnes to 110,200 metric tonnes. Over the same period, egg
production increased from 473 to 902 million units. Seventy per cent
of the commercial farms operated in the central governorates, but
war brought their production to a standstill.
The
project aims to lift the production of broiler chickens to 55 per
cent of the pre-war level and restore egg production to 28 per cent
of pre-conflict levels. The project will be administered by FAO with
the active involvement of local Iraqi institutions and authorities.
It will be funded from the Oil-for-Food escrow account.
Transport
and telecommunications
In
the past week, an additional 27 contracts totaling about $20 million
have been prioritized in the telecommunications sector. Among the
items are microwave radio equipment, cables, excavators and mobile
workshops. Also on the priority list are 50 transportation contracts
valued at some $146 million. They include railway equipment, various
types of wagons and spare parts, diesel locomotives and spare parts,
and a variety of vehicles including buses, water tankers and tug
boats, and associated spare parts.
Additional information is available from the website
of the Office of the Iraq Programme. For further information
please contact Ian Steele email: steelei@un.org
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