Iraq's children cling on for a grim life
Academics condemn the effect of sanctions on health and education
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The sanctions on Iraq are severely damaging its education system and cultural heritage, according to academics and researchers, writes Kim Sengupta. Among the items on the UN blacklist are pencils, science books and computer software. And, while the sanctions are hindering the educational prospects of the young, archaeological treasures are being smuggled to collectors in the West.
Academics from Cambridge and Oxford have written to the Independent expressing concern about the effect of sanctions on civilians, which, they say, are "counter-productive and indefensible".
"Allowing the people of Iraq to suffer malnutrition and poor health is like refusing food and medicine to the passengers in a hijacked plane."
The Labour MP George Galloway, who has been campaigning against non- military sanctions, yesterday hosted a press conference by experts who have first-hand experience of Iraq to "counter government propaganda". Haris Gazdar, a London School of Economics researcher, said the average income of an Iraqi had fallen from around pounds 150 a month before the Gulf war to around pounds 3 a month now. The country, whose national income was comparable with that of South Korea and Brazil before the war, is now on a lower level than Bangladesh.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments