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Life before and after sanctions

History may have never recorded a harsher and more inhuman regime of sanctions than those imposed on Iraq in the name of the UN. It obliterated people’s lives and crippled their economy. The following figures attest to that heart-breaking reality beyond any doubt.

Published On 11 Aug 2003

Health

Hospital beds:
Before sanctions: 1.9/100
After sanctions:  1.4/100
 
Life expectancy:
Before sanctions: 65 years
After sanctions:  59 years
 
Infant mortality:
Before sanctions: 80/1000
After sanctions:  104/1000
 
Major causes of death:
Before Sanctions: The leading causes were circulatory diseases, injury, poisoning, cancer, and congenital anomalies.
Hospitals were free and there were 9000 doctors.
After Sanctions:  Since 1990, increased mortality has been attributed to deprivation of medical care and malnutrition especially among children and other vulnerable population groups following the imposition of UN sanctions.

Education

Adult literacy rate:
Before sanctions: 89%
After sanctions:  58%
 
Student enrollment:
Before sanctions:
  Primary School: 99%
  Secondary School: 47%
  Number of School Buildings: 9460
After sanctions:
  Primary School: 80%
  Secondary School: 31%
  Number of School Buildings: 7572
 
Education status:
Before sanctions: Public education was free and compulsory at all levels.
After sanctions:  UNICEF estimated that only 10% of Iraq’s needs for education could be met by the Oil for Food Programme.
 

Food

Calory intake:
Before sanctions: 3400 calories per day (The highest in the region at that time)
Two thirds of Iraq’s food was imported.
After sanctions:  2268 calories per day
94% of the FAO recommended minimum requirement
 
Undernourishment:
Before sanctions: 4%
After sanctions: 27%
 

Water and Sanitation

Access to safe water:
Before sanctions:
  Urban: 100%
  Rural: 72%
After sanctions:
  Urban: 85%
  Rural: 48%
 
Access to sanitation:
Before sanctions:
  Urban: 96%
  Rural: 18%
After sanctions:
  Urban: 79%
  Rural: 31%
 

Electricity

Production:
Before sanctions: Unknown
After sanctions: KWh27.3 billion
 
Consumption
Before sanctions: Unknown
After sanctions: KWh25.389 billion
 

Communication

Telephone lines in use:
Before sanctions: 462,000
After sanctions: 675,000
 
Internet service provider
Before sanctions: Unknown
After sanctions: One ISP for 12,500 users
 
Television & radio
Before sanctions: Unknown
After sanctions: 13 TV broadcast stations, 3 radio stations
 

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Source: Al Jazeera