News Release
European Commission President Prodi Beside Aircraft Loaded with Emergency Medical Aid for Iraq
No. 33/03
May 6, 2003
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AIRLIFTS URGENT MEDICAL AID TO IRAQ
A Belgian military aircraft loaded with essential medical and hygiene supplies destined
for Iraqis in need left Brussels for Baghdad this morning. President
Romano Prodi,
the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and the Belgian Minister of Defense
André Flahaut were present at the take-off. The airlift is funded (EUR 10 million)
by the latest package of urgent medical supplies approved by the Commission (see
IP/03/554). This shipment is part of a wider coordinated effort involving
EU member states and the Commission, launched by President Prodi at the recent
European
Council in Athens.
The
19 ton cargo, funded by the
Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) of the European Commission, is due to
stopover in Athens
where food parcels provided by Médécins du Monde (Greece) will be added. The flight
will then leave Athens
for Baghdad and is expected to arrive in the Iraqi capital tomorrow.
The
aircraft is loaded with medical supplies including surgical equipment, vaccines,
essential drugs such as anaesthetics, oxygen, syringes, operating tables and communication
equipment. It also includes support for pre-natal care and general equipment necessary
to run a hospital. NGO partners working with ECHO to deliver the aid include Médécins
du Monde (Canada, Spain and Greece), Aide Médicale Internationale (France) and
Première Urgence (France).
As
a whole (Commission contributions plus member states), the EU has already pledged
as many as EUR 730 million in emergency aid to Iraq, of which EUR 255 million
have already been made available (committed). The Commission alone has pledged
EUR 100 million of which EUR 22.5 million have already been made available through
ECHO's partner NGOs.
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Press Contacts:
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Willy Hélin
202-862-9530
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Wilfried Schneider
202-862-9523
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