A chara, - Sunday, August 6th is the 10th anniversary of the imposition of sanctions against Iraq. Under sanctions, items such as chalk, pencil sharpeners and sanitary towels have been banned, because the UN sanctions committee considers they could have a dual use and a potential for inclusion in weapons of mass destruction.
The most devastating sanction is the ban on chlorine, which means that clean water is not available as a result, at least half-a-million children under the age of five have died.
Throughout Europe, churches and mosques will participate in a national day of prayer and I would ask that churches of all the denominations in Ireland should join in praying for the beleaguered people of Iraq. - Yours, etc.,
Niall Andrews MEP, Member of the Development Committee, European Parliament, Dublin 2.