UN Official Voices Concern About Western Sanctions Targeting Iranians

Tehran, Sept 16, IRNA -- The United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, Valerie Amos, said on Sunday that she was concerned about medinces shortage in Iran as a result of the sanctions imposed on the country. Speaking in an exclusive interview with IRNA, Amos said there are humanitarian exemptions to sanctions which should be properly recognized. Expressing satisfaction with her talks with Iranian officials and the NGOs, the UN official said she is in Iran to have first hand account of the humanitarian exemptions to the sanctions. She noted that during her stays a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Iran’s Foreign Ministry for sharing information and experience. She noted that scale of the problem should be known and the NGOs should be asked what they can do in this regard. She also promised support of the World Health Organization and the UNICEF for government and the NGOs in this respect, especially in the field of vaccination. She also referred to her talks with the disaster management officials, including Irans Red Crescent Society (IRCS), on mutual cooperation. To another question she praised Iran’s warm hospitality to Afghan refugees. Asked about Syria, she said that she had visited the country five times during her tenure in the past 18 months. She said a number of UN agencies are operating in Syria, working with government and the NGO partners in life-saving food assistance. She said Syrians have fled to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. She added that the UN has 1000 staff working in Syria, focusing on food aid and health, providing shelter for Syrians. She said 3,500 more UN staff are working to provide educational and health support to Palestinian refugees. The WFP offers food aid to three million people there, according to Amos./end