Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his comments on humanitarian aid, which is an issue we have discussed both at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and in this House.

For some time I have been concerned about the UN Oil for Food Programme. The Minister of State referred to the fact that the UN, which had suspended this programme, has announced its recommencement. Having met people from the NGO, CARE, when I was in Baghdad at the end of January, I know the Oil for Food Programme was operated very efficiently. Some 16 million Iraqis, or 66% of a population of 27 million, depended on the programme.

Much depended on people being able to get to the depots from their houses to collect the food. Since the war started, I have been wondering how people have been able to collect the food rations available and bring them home. Earlier today, I spoke to a girl from Iraq who has been studying and working in Ireland for 12 years. I met her parents when I visited Iraq. She confirmed there was a difficulty with people collecting their rations. She also mentioned that refugees have always had huge difficulty getting to the borders with Jordan, Turkey and Syria because of the huge cost of transport. Unfortunately, the borders have been closed in recent times and it is very difficult for people to reach those countries. That is one of the practical issues that has arisen.