Dahr Jamail: The lack of security in Iraq is leading now to a collapse in food supplies

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0219-01.htm

Now It Is Lack of Food Security
by Dahr Jamail and Ali al-Fadhily


The lack of security in Iraq is leading now to a collapse in food supplies.

"Look at us begging for food despite the fortunes we have," 60-year-old Um Muthanna from Baghdad told IPS. Standing at a vegetable market in central Baghdad where vegetable supplies are not what they used to be, Um Mahmood despaired for Iraq.

"A country with two great rivers should have been the biggest exporter in the world, but now we beg for food from those who participated in killing us." Iraq is rich in oil and agricultural resources.


snip//

A report released Jan. 30 by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) showed that 1.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq lack basic necessities such as adequate food, drinking water, sanitation, and health and education facilities.

Entitled 'Iraq Displacement 2006 Year in Review', the report puts food at the top of the list of the most urgent needs for IDPs in Iraq.

"I was so happy when my salary was increased to around 300 dollars, but I now wish for the times when it was 30 dollars as it used to be before this occupation," engineer Kamil Fattah from the Ministry of Industry told IPS. "Inflation in the Iraqi market has made it impossible for us to eat decently while earlier we used to get every basic need for almost free of charge."

The World Food Programme is sending aid to Iraq but its officials say this is running into difficulties.

"The food is either stolen on the way or cannot be inspected on arrival by third party inspectors," a retired staff member of the Food and Agriculture Organisation which runs the World Food Programme told IPS. "Each shipment needs to be checked by a third party inspector, but the company is facing difficulties in conducting such inspections due to the security situation."

[rodeodance]

1. $$, guns get "LOST"------now its food that is "lost"

[Double T]

2. Bungled mismanagement and complete chaos continues in IRAQ.....

and 'WE' didn't think the IRAQI people could hate 'US' anymore than THEY already do. When THEY are starving, guess again. Will someone in CONGRESS please take control of this total disaster; bushco is NOT competent to continue holding office.

[lonestarnot]

3. They will be eating IEDs before it's over.

[babylonsister]

4. Kick. nt

[bobthedrummer]

5. kick