Hunger and poverty in Iraq, 1991

This paper examines the impact of economic sanctions, war and internal conflicts on the well-being of the civilian population of Iraq during and after the Gulf war. Particular attention is paid to the issue of food entitlements and nutritional deprivation. The paper is based primarily on data collected by the authors in August/September 1991 through household surveys and related investigations carried out in different parts of Iraq. Economic reasoning and empirical analysis both point to very high levels of poverty, mortality and nutritional deprivation in 1991. Further, the sharp decline in living standards in this period clearly relates to the collapse of economic activity as a result of the war and economic sanctions.