A latter from High Comm

ON PAKISTAN’S INITIATIVE, AN ARRIA FORMULA MEETING OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN IRAQ

Press Release, Islamabad 10 April, 2003

On Pakistan's initiative, an Arria formula meeting of the Security Council was held yesterday, 9th April 2003 on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Under the informal arrangement of the Arria formula, the Security Council invites experts to present their views on matters of concern to the Council.

The meeting was convened in order for the Security Council to have a fuller understanding and a better appreciation of the situation on the ground in general and to evaluate the damage and losses to the Iraqi people on account of the ongoing conflict with a view to finding credible solutions to address the situation. The representatives of a number of leading NGOs working in Iraq such as Medicins Sans Frontiers, Amnesty International, OXFAM, Save the Children and the Care International, shared their experience and insight into the humanitarian relief activities in Iraq with Security Council members. The NGOs asked the concerned parties to facilitate early and safe access of humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people.

Members of the Security Council thanked Pakistan for this initiative and agreed to have further interaction with the concerned NGOs on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. It may be recalled that Pakistan, which has been deeply concerned about the effects of the sanctions on the Iraqi people, was the first country during the present crisis to call for early lifting of the sanctions by the Security Council on Iraq.