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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Discussion with WHO Iraq Director
Aired March 31, 2003 - 12:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Two decades of war and economic sanctions have taken their toll on Iraq. The people of Iraq were suffering before the heavy bombardment even started, already desperate and in need of aid and health care. The situation is now deteriorating, and quickly spiraling into what could become a major humanitarian disaster.
According to the World Health Organization, Iraq needs at least $325 million for immediate health care. Dr. G. Popal is World Health Organization's director for Iraq. He's worked inside Iraq since 1999, and coordinated the U.N.'s oil for food program in northern Iraq. He only left Iraq some 12 days ago, joins us live from Amman, Jordan.
Thanks very much, Dr. Popal, for joining us.
The U.N. Security Council has authorized the resumption of this food for oil program. Practically speaking, what does that mean for those who are in need right now in Iraq?
DR. G. POPAL, WHO COUNTRY DIR., IRAQ: Exactly the majority of population of Iraq dependent on the oil-for-food materials and supplies. More than 80 percent of the population of Iraq extensively dependent on the food supplies coming under the oil-for-food program. Almost 60 percent of the people of Iraq 100 percent dependent to their food supplies coming under the oil-for-food program, and in addition to that, medicine supplies and equipment, more than 80 percent of the needs of the Iraqi population is coming in the oil-for-food program.
Resumption of this oil-for-food program, of course, will benefit the people of Iraq.
BLITZER: So, but is it happening? Has that been resumed yet? Is food coming in? I don't believe Iraq is exporting any oil right now.
POPAL: For the time being, just the resolution has passed and other modalities could be worked out before we start resumption of the program.
BLITZER: Now, the export of oil is supposed to pay for the food; the Iraqi export of oil is supposed to go directly for these humanitarian needs. Is there a reservoir of cash, of money, that's been built up to pay for the food now, assuming the food is going to come through the port of Umm Qasr in the south and get to various needy people?
POPAL: There is some amount of food still in the Iraqi account with the United Nations can be used for that, but still the actual operation of this program, according to the new resolution, has been not started.
BLITZER: Is the -- what would you describe the immediate needs as being? How significant of a problem is this right now, 11 or 12 days into this war?
POPAL: Actually, reports received from inside Iraq suggest that the hospitals are overwhelmed and overloaded by a high number of wounded cases. Water and sanitation in some provinces like Basra and some other southern provinces are affected. Many population of Iraq, particularly the children, women. They are in a very bad situation, particularly children who have nightmares during the nighttime, cannot sleep. The pregnant women, they suffer because of insecurity that they go to the health facilities.
Also, due to the water and sanitation situation, the risk of outbreaks of diseases are very imminent. Urgent needs of Iraqi this time is to resume the water, clean water, sanitation, medical supplies and equipment, and also to take actions in order to prevent any outbreaks of communicable diseases, which is very common during this complex situation.
BLITZER: Dr. Popal, as you know, there's a war going on. It's obviously very dangerous to be in Iraq right now. Do you have any staff people working inside Iraq? You obviously have left. I assume because you thought it was too dangerous for you and your staff to remain where you had been since 1999.
POPAL: We have our offices in Baghdad, and also offices that's in other areas of Iraq. We have more than 300 national staff now active inside Iraq. We have stockpile of medicine. So although the international staff has been evacuated, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) still functions inside Iraq, and we have staff and supplies there to assist the health sector.
BLITZER: What kind of cooperation, Dr. Popal, are you and your people getting from the U.S. military and the British military, which now control 30 to 40 percent of the territory of Iraq?
POPAL: We the WHO part of United Nations, we go according to the rule and regulation of the United Nations, and we respect the sovereignty of the national, and until now, we don't have any active cooperation with the military.
BLITZER: Dr. Popal of the World Health Organization, thanks very much for joining us. Good luck to you and all your staff for your efforts.
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