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9.17.1.1 “Comfort Pack” Instead of Canteen and Advance of Pay. Beforecanteens can be established, the need for a canteen may be mitigated if POWs are provided a free“comfort pack.” The “comfort pack” was developed during Operation DESERT STORM for U.S.military personnel during the period before opening of exchanges in which such items wereavailable for purchase. Comfort packs were provided to enemy POWs for similar reasons. 3129.17.2 Canteen Stock and Prices. Canteens are like a base or post exchange for POWs.The canteen stock should include foodstuffs, soap, tobacco, and other ordinary articles for dailyuse, but need not include luxury items. Ordinary articles for daily use may include, but are notlimited to, items such as correspondence materials (e.g., stationary, pencils, pens, ink, stamps),supplies for repairing personal effects (e.g., buttons, thread, shoe laces), personal hygienearticles, tobacco, water, soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, and reading materials. 313The canteen need not stock alcoholic beverages. 314The prices at canteens shall never be in excess of local market prices. 3159.17.3 Camp Canteen Management and Profits. Canteen profits shall be used for thebenefit of the POWs, and a special fund shall be created for this purpose. 316 The POWRepresentative shall have the right to collaborate in the management of the canteen and of thisfund. 317 The wishes expressed by the POWs should be considered to the extent consistent withcamp regulations, and the profits should be used whenever needed to improve the conditions forPOWs. 318312 For example, W. Hays Parks, Special Assistant for Law of War Matters, Office of the Judge Advocate General ofthe Army, Enemy Prisoner of War Health and Comfort Pack (Oct. 28, 1994) (“In the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. Armyissued Iraqi EPW health and comfort packs provided by the ICRC or from U.S. stocks (that is, sundry packs for U.S.soldiers), but did not establish canteens within the EPW camps due to the short duration of the conflict and EPWtransfer to Saudi Arabian authorities. Tobacco was provided separately, gratis.”).313 GPW COMMENTARY 203 (“The term ‘ordinary articles in daily use’ means, in addition to soap and tobacco,which are specifically mentioned: (a) all necessary supplies for correspondence (paper, pencils, pens, ink, stamps,etc.); (b) all necessary toilet articles (towels, brushes, razors, combs, nail scissors, etc.); (c) all necessary supplies forrepairing personal effects (buttons, thread, needles, shoe-laces, etc.); (d) miscellaneous articles (pocket torches andbatteries, string, pen-knives, handkerchiefs, etc.).”).314 GPW COMMENTARY 203 (“The camp authorities may prohibit the sale of alcoholic drinks, but must permit thesale of all other health-giving, refreshing or fortifying beverages, hot or cold, and, if possible, milk.”).315 GPW art. 28 (“The tariff shall never be in excess of local market prices.”).316 GPW art. 28 (“The profits made by camp canteens shall be used for the benefit of the prisoners; a special fundshall be created for this purpose.”).317 GPW art. 28 (“The prisoners’ representative shall have the right to collaborate in the management of the canteenand of this fund.”).318 GPW COMMENTARY 204 (“It must be emphasized that, in accordance with the present paragraph, the fund mustbe used for the benefit of the prisoners. The wishes expressed by the prisoners must therefore be taken intoconsideration, to the extent that they do not run contrary to the regulations ensuring good administration anddiscipline in the camp. The Detaining Power may not utilize canteen profits to make up any shortcomings for whichit is responsible. On the other hand, it is also recommended that canteen profits should not be hoarded, but shouldbe utilized whenever needed in order to improve the lot of the prisoners.”).554