More than 20,000 human beings have died since the Security Council reviewed the sanctions this January. Added injuries affected millions and four million remain at risk of death from malnutrition. A continuation of sanctions for another sixty days will cost as much in life, justice, and respect for Security Council members that continue the sanctions. During last week, which I spent in Iraq, my fifth annual inspection since the sanctions were imposed, I visited ten hospitals in four governates which have nearly 15 percent of all hospital beds in the country. Conditions are tragic.
Lighting is dim, even in operating theaters, for lack of bulbs.
Wards are cold. Pharmacies are nearly empty with only a minor fraction of needed medicines and medical supplies. Simple needs like sheets, pillows, pillow cases, towels, bandages, cotton balls, adhesive tape, antiseptic cleaning liquids are unavailable or scarce. Surgery is at levels below 10 percent of the 1989 numbers in all ten hospitals. Occupancy is below 50 percent in all the hospitals, despite the far greater need, because only a few can be helped.