Sanctions do not prohibit humanitarian contributions, Saddam does. Since June 1998, Saddam has publicly refused a number of humanitarian contributions while claiming that his people are suffering. Sanctions prohibit the import of pencils, books and journals, and desks for schools. In fact, Saddam launched a series of terrorist attacks against NGO and UN workers in northern Iraq in the early 1990s. Sanctions prevent Iraqis from going on the Hajj.
Sanctions prevent travel to the Muslim holy sites in southern Iraq.
The UN Sanctions Committee approved a ferry service allowing pilgrims in the region to travel to An Najaf and Karbala. Sanctions have crippled Iraq's ability to export oil. Prior to the Gulf War, Iraq was exporting about 2.6 million barrels per day of crude oil. Its current crude oil exports have averaged about 2.2 million barrels per day in recent months, and the regime said it plans to increase exports to about 2.7 million barrels per day by yearend, which is higher than pre-war exports. In addition, Iraq is smuggling 2.8 million barrels of oil per month through the Persian Gulf.