{
  "id": "RL31814",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31814",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 101553,
      "date": "2003-03-18",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:50:30.126544",
      "title": "Potential Humanitarian Issues in Post-War Iraq: An Overview for Congress",
      "summary": "Since 1996, the Oil For Food Program (OFFP) has alleviated some of the worst effects of the\n1991\nGulf-War international sanctions regime, but the humanitarian situation in Iraq (defined as an urgent\nneed for food, shelter and basic health care) remains serious. While some improvements have been\nseen in nutrition, health services, water supply and sanitation, there is greater dependence on\ngovernment services, and observers of the Iraq situation have identified disturbing health and\nnutrition problems affecting the civilian population. These have been tied to the consequences of\nwar, sanctions, shortcomings of assistance, and the deliberate policies of the Iraqi regime. \n  There seems to be a consensus that the current poor humanitarian situation inside Iraq could\nworsen during a conflict, though this would likely depend on the nature and duration of the conflict\nand the extent and quality of humanitarian assistance. Problems could arise from the following:\nmalnutrition and disruption of food supplies, inadequate sanitation and clean water, and reduced\nhealth and medical care. The consequences of war in Iraq could also include a potential\nhumanitarian emergency with population movements across borders or within Iraq itself. \n  Given the challenge of current conditions in Iraq, U.N. agencies indicate that a conflict in Iraq\nwould disrupt critical infrastructure, delivery of basic services, and food distribution with the\npotential of severe humanitarian consequences. Relief agencies are having to plan for humanitarian\nneeds amid great uncertainty about conditions in the aftermath of conflict. In recent months many\nhave continued to reiterate that contingency planning does not mean they assumed war was\ninevitable.\n  The Department of Defense (DOD) has set up an Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian\nAssistance as a central point for those involved in humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. The\ngroup has developed an operational concept for the delivery of aid, relief coordination, and a\ntransitional distribution system. This office is coordinating efforts with other U.S. agencies,\nincluding USAID and the State Department. U.S. forces are pre-positioning food and relief aid near\nIraq and making plans to deal with a possible humanitarian crisis. \n  Several issues are of critical interest to Congress, including food security, implementation and\ncoordination of assistance, humanitarian relief activities during war, the impact of population\nmovements, and humanitarian and reconstruction efforts after war. The information in this report\nreflects the situation prior to the start of the war in Iraq and is current as of March 18, 2003. This\nreport will not be updated. For further information, please see  CRS Report RL31833 ,  Iraq:\nRecent\nDevelopments in Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance .",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
      "formats": [
        {
          "format": "PDF",
          "encoding": null,
          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL31814",
          "sha1": "18a7ebbc6f4664f26d267327f357e65a6df319f8",
          "filename": "files/20030318_RL31814_18a7ebbc6f4664f26d267327f357e65a6df319f8.pdf",
          "images": null
        },
        {
          "format": "HTML",
          "filename": "files/20030318_RL31814_18a7ebbc6f4664f26d267327f357e65a6df319f8.html"
        }
      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs"
  ]
}