Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
Records pertain to the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
285792147
label
International - Iraq [1991]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
285792147
contentType
document
title
International - Iraq [1991]
description
Records pertain to the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
citationUrl
identifierLocal
62065-014
collections
Records of the White House Office of Science and Technology (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Allan D. Bromley Files
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
285792147
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
9b19f32e4119e3f4
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
1998-0099-F; 2005-0336-F
2005-0336-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Science and Technology Policy, Office of (OSTP)
Series:
Bromley, D. Allan, Files
Subseries:
International Files - Country Files
OA/ID Number:
62065
Folder ID Number:
62065-014
Folder Title:
International - Iraq [1991]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
0
0
0
0
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 5, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR BRENT SCOWCROFT
FROM:
D. ALLAN BROMLEY
Ana
SUBJECT:
FOOD FOR IRAQI CHILDREN
My Associate Director for Life Sciences--D.A. Henderson--has sent me the enclosed
memo on the above mentioned topic.
With whom in NSC should we make contact to discuss this matter further? We are
prepared to be helpful where such help might be useful but do not want to meddle if
someone is already taking care of the situation.
Would welcome your comments and/or advice.
Enclosure
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506
July 1, 1991
MEMORANDUM FOR ALLAN BROMLEY
FROM:
D.A. HENDERSON DERSON
SUBJECT:
FOOD FOR CHILDREN -- IRAQ
Regarding the issue of food for Iraq, I talked with Dr. Carl Taylor, a long-time friend
and now special consultant to Mr. Jim Grant, Director of UNICEF. He is meeting
daily with the senior UNICEF staff.
Bottom line: Taylor presents a persuasive case for utilization of Iraq's funds in some
manner to provide for food and medicine appropriate for children under
5 years. He informs me that the Sanctions Committee has this under
advisement and is awaiting a lead from the U.S.
Problem:
Two groups have recently travelled throughout Iraq to obtain, to the
extent possible, an independent assessment of the problem. The Harvard
Study Group, just returned, will soon present their findings to the U.N.
Sanctions Committee. They project 170,000 deaths in children under 5
years over the next 12 months absent intervention (this is 2 to 3 times
the normal level). Malnutrition was prevalent in early spring, has
abated with the harvest and is expected to reappear and become much
more severe in September. The Kurds and Shiites are most affected as
are those in more rural areas (this surprises me and surprises UNICEF
as well). In the Shiite areas, "Mozambique-like" levels of malnutrition
were seen in late spring.
An Arab-American Physicians Group headed by Dr. Al Hani (said to be
a good friend of Governor Sununu) basically confirmed these
observations during a trip in late May.
2
Solution:
There is a need for early action given anticipated malnutrition problems
in September, the inevitable lag time to set activities in motion and need
now for vaccines/drugs.
UNICEF has the lead role in the U.N. for food/drug assistance for
children and has 61 staff in place in Iraq, a distribution network, and
confidence that they can monitor distribution. UNICEF estimates a
need for $500 million over a 6 month period to provide foodstuffs and
drugs for children under 5 years. (This works out to about $200-250 per
child, a figure which seems somewhat high to me.) Both the drugs and
food proposed to be provided would be most suitable for young children
and unlikely to be substantially diverted to adults.
Actions:
Jim Grant met two weeks ago with a group of principal ambassadors,
convened by the Sanctions Committee, to present his proposals. No
action has been taken. They are said to be awaiting a signal from the
U.S.
The Arab American Physicians arranged for a joint resolution to be
introduced into Congress a week ago whose substance relates to the
provision of food/medicines for young children utilizing frozen Iraqi
funds or revenues from sale of Iraqi oil.
There is an apparent general consensus that Iraqi funds should be
utilized in some manner for this purpose and not donor-type funds,
given the great needs in other parts of the world.
Rationale for Response: Were foods and medicine to be made available using
Iraqi's resources, Sadam Hussein could, of course, forbid
shipment but at enormous political cost internationally.
Moreover, publicity would inevitably mount forcing some
sort of response. An early decision would permit UNICEF
to do necessary planning and development work for food
distribution network and could facilitate the early
distribution of drugs.