WORLD IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON : U.S. Pays Families of Mideast Hostages

The U.S. government has given families of Americans held hostage in Iraq, Kuwait and Lebanon more than $2.5 million in cash payments and life and health insurance under a little-known benefits program. None of the names of the recipients were released by the State Department, which cited the Privacy Act. A total of 381 families received $1,721,9l8 in salary compensation, 258 families were given $36,923 for life insurance payments and 290 received $766,933 for health insurance. Most of the money went to families of the “human shields” held by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in Kuwait and Iraq.