May 9, 1998
Iraq Sanctions Challenge Turns Over Medical Aid to Iraqi
Health Ministry in Baghdad

Delegates visit bomb shelter, site of 1991 U.S. bombing
that massacred civilians

May 9--The Iraq Sanctions Challenge, a group of 100 women
and men from the U.S., turned over $4 million worth of
medical aid to the Iraqi Health Ministry in Baghdad today.
The delegates, led by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey
Clark and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, openly defied U.S.-led
United Nations sanctions to bring the medical aid.

Health Ministry undersecretary Shawqi Murqos received the
medical supplies and thanked the Iraq Sanctions Challenge.
Medicines were collected in cities and towns across the
U.S.

At a press conference today in Baghdad, Ramsey Clark said,
"We are deeply angered by the policies of [the U.S.]
government, by the genocide of sanctions." UN and
independent sources have confirmed that over 1.5 million
people have died in Iraq since 1990 as a result of the
sanctions. Iraq charges that 5,000 people continue to die
every month, mostly children and elderly people.

"Our commitment is to stimulate the flow of medicine from
the United States and from other countries, in defiance of
our government," said Clark. "We do not feel any people
can be forced to ask permission of a genocidal power."

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton added that the Iraq Sanctions
Challenge is committed to building a movement in the
United States to "force our government to end the
sanctions policy."

A team of delegates today visited the Al-Monsour School in
Baghdad, where they spoke with children and teachers. The
delegates reported seeing terrible sanitation conditions
there due to the sanctions' ban on disinfectant chemicals
and spare parts. They also traveled to the Ameriyah bomb
shelter, site of an infamous 1991 U.S. bombing raid that
targeted civilians. They met a woman who lost nine
children in the bombing.

The Iraq Sanctions Challenge delegates are religious
leaders, health care professionals, trade unionists,
students and anti-war activists. Other leading delegates
include: Rev. Lucius Walker, IFCO/Pastors for Peace; Nabil
Magilli, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee;
Christoph Arnold, elder of the Bruderhof Community; Dr.
Berta Jobert of the National Peoples Campaign; Kathy Kelly
of Voices in the Wilderness; and Gloria La Riva, Sara
Flounders and Brian Becker of the International Action
Center; Fellowship of Reconciliation; Catholic Worker;
1199 Health & Human Service Union; and others.