Iraq blames eye troubles on U.N. sanctions

Iraq blames eye troubles on U.N. sanctions

BAGHDAD (October 9, 1999 5:41 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Fahd Salem al-Shaqra, education minister of Iraq, on Saturday blamed an increase in eye diseases among children on nine years of international sanctions.

"Malnutrition and the lack of vitamins caused by the embargo have caused an increase in eye diseases, including short-sightedness and night blindness," he said, quoted by the official INA agency.

These difficulties, in turn, cause children to have problems fitting in at school, he said.

He also attacked Britain and the United States for "depriving 5 million schoolchildren of the chance to gain a modern education." Those two nations are the strongest supporters of the sanctions, which were imposed after Iraq conquered Kuwait in 1990.

Iraq has repeatedly accused London and Washington of making excuses to block aid Baghdad is allowed to buy under the 1996 United Nations oil-for-food program, which allows it to sell fixed amounts of crude oil to purchase essential goods.

The United Nations allowed Iraq to buy 1,000 computers for 200 schools for the first time in September 1998.