U.N., Iraq Sign Accord to Resume Aid Projects

The United Nations and Iraq on Thursday signed a controversial agreement on resuming relief aid projects after months of negotiations and last-minute objections from the United States.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Jan Eliasson, undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, and Nizar Hamdoun, Iraq’s U.N. ambassador. It will provide Iraq with $200 million in relief aid, including $90 million for Kurds in the north.

The accord also provides for the United Nations to send 300 guards to Kurd-controlled northern Iraq and other regions. Washington said more guards were needed and charged that Iraq has too much control over U.N. staff movements outside the north.

Eliasson has organized a donor’s conference to raise the money, meant to offset the effects of economic sanctions against Iraq, but the United States hopes the funds will eventually come from Iraq’s frozen assets overseas.

The agreement, negotiated in Baghdad last weekend, would deliver medical supplies, 33,000 tons of food and 1 million gallons of fuel to the Kurds during the critical winter months. An inoculation program for children throughout the country would be included.