Iraq Sanctions Challenge Delegation Returns to Home With No Governmental Interference
New Phase in the Struggle to End Sanctions is Opened
May 19th, 1998
May 13: "We must force the U.S. government to end the sanctions policies," said Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, from Baghdad
From May 6 to 13, 100 Iraq Sanctions Challenge delegates visited Iraq in defiance of the U.S.-led United Nations sanctions. The delegates brought more than $4 million worth of medicines for the Iraqi people. They visited hospitals, schools, water sanitation facilities, and other areas hard-hit by sanctions. More than 1.5 million people have died as a result of the sanctions, mostly children and the elderly.
"This Sanctions Challenge opened a new phase in the struggle against sanctions," said Brian Becker of the International Action Center and one of the Co-coordinators of the Iraq Sanctions Challenge. "We signed a joint declaration with French and Belgian delegates to work together on the international level against sanctions. We are also collaborating with Italian, Spanish and Russian organizations dedicated to collecting medical aid and political support for a world wide offensive to end this mass murder against the Iraqi people."
"The sanctions equal genocide for the Iraqi people," said Sharon Elois, registered nurse one of the delegates on the Challenge. "The conditions in the hospitals are appalling and it's all caused by the sanctions. Conditions are terrible because of the lack of equipment and medicine. The most basic human needs are not met. There is no clean water or linens. There are rampant epidemics of childhood diseases like whooping cough and measles. These diseases could be prevented with vaccines that are no longer available. The situation will only improve when all of the sanctions are ended."
The Iraq Sanctions Challenge delegation included religious leaders, community activists, health care workers, trade unionists and students.
Other delegates scheduled to speak include: Rev. Lucius Walker, IFCO/Pastors for Peace; Christoph Arnold, Elder of the Bruderhof Community; Nabil Magilli, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Kathy Kelly, Voices in the Wilderness; Berta Joubert, National Peoples Campaign; Clayton Ramey, Fellowship of Reconcilliation; Gloria La Riva, Sara Flounders and Brian Becker, International Action Center, Sonya Ostrum of Metro New York Peace Action; Al Kaysi of the Committee in Support of the Iraqi People; Dr. Barbara Nimri Aziz (anthropologist); Mike Alewitz of Labor Art and Mural Project; Hillel Cohen of 1199 Health and Hospital Workers Union/SEIU and Manzoor Ghori of the American Muslims for Global Peace and Justice.
Iraq Sanctions Challenge
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