Starve 'em

Saddam Hussein Provided More Food Than the U.S. does to Iraqis

The Iraqi government announcement that monthly food rations will be cut by half has left many Iraqis asking how they can survive.The government also wants to reduce the number of people depending on the rationing system by five million by June 2008.

The imminent move will affect nearly 10 million people who depend on the rationing system. According to an Oxfam International report released in July this year 43 percent of Iraqis suffer from absolute poverty . Child malnutrition rates have risen from 19 percent before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to 28 percent now . 60 percent of Iraqis currently have access to rations through the government-run Public Distribution System .

The trade ministry is now preparing to slash the list of subsidised items by half to five basic food items, flour, sugar, rice, oil, and infant milk . The previous food ration consisted of two kilos of rice, sugar, soap, tea, detergent, wheat flour, lentils, chick-peas, and other items for every individual