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CHAPTER 32
Section VII Impact of Sanctions
[Synopsis and Recommendation(s)]
1. Synopsis:
U.S. Department of State
Executive Summary on Siraj
A. In last week’s statement to the United Nations Security Council, Siraji
President Abdul al-Rahiim accused the UN of playing politics with
hunger. “My people are starving,” he said. “The sanctions against my
country are squeezing the life out of my citizens. You sit in judgment over
what you refer to as my excesses, and yet you ignore the fact that it is your
resolution and your sanctions that condemn the Siraji people to slow
death.”
When reminded that food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies are
exempted from standing UN sanctions, Abdul al-Rahiim had no comment.
(See Appendix-B, Tab-C for a full transcript of President Abdul al-
Rahiim’s remarks.) [Cross-index 737465616c7468626f6f6b732e636f6d]
B. Even as Abdul al-Rahiim claims that his people are suffering, he
persists in obstructing humanitarian supplies intended for the citizens of
Siraj. Despite Abdul al-Rahiim’s protests, his regime continues to export
food in exchange for hard currency. In many cases, the exported
foodstuffs are diverted directly from humanitarian shipments. Less than a
week ago, ships charged with enforcing the UN blockade against Siraj
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