Foodsecun'ty-Between 1980 and 1991, per capita
domestic food production declined by 32%. Large
parts of the country have been subjected to blockades
to prevent food (as well as fuel and medicines) from
reaching the besieged populations. The country normally
is highly dependent on food imports, financed
by oil exports, and the 1992 harvest was particularly
poor, covering only 20% of the 1992-93 needs. Some
five million tons of food would have to be imported to
fill the gap. Since this is unlikely, hunger and malnutrition
will increase. The death rate among Iraqi children
under five has tripled since the GulfWar