The United Nations (UN) is ready to expand its role in Iraq when the security situation in the country improves, Secretary General Kofi Annan said December 10, 2003 in a new report to the Security Council.
The UN has had an important role to play in humanitarian relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The organization’s international staff was withdrawn from the Arab state after the attack on its Baghdad headquarters on August 19, 2003.
In the report, Annan presented a complex picture of the situation in the country and discussed key developments, UN relief and recovery activities, the deployment of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and humanitarian operations since his last report in July 2003.
He said the deadly attacks by resistance fighters have "inflicted serious damage" on the UN, the diplomatic community, international non-governmental organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the occupying forces and Iraqi civilians.
Annan reported that two billion dollars in aid had been delivered and that many of humanitarian activities have been carried out through national staff with the support of international staff deployed in neighboring countries. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
