Page "History of Iraq" Paragraph 33

During the latter part of the 1990s the UN considered relaxing the sanctions imposed because of the hardships suffered by ordinary Iraqis.

According to UN estimates, between 500, 000 and 1. 2 million children died during the years of the sanctions.

The United States used its veto in the UN Security Council to block the proposal to lift the sanctions because of the continued failure of Iraq to verify disarmament.

However, an oil for food program was established in 1996 to ease the effects of sanctions.