 The U.N. panel overseeing compensation for victims of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait has approved its final claims, bringing the total award to $52.5 billion, the world body said Thursday.
| And here it's only been 15 years. Who sez the UN is torpid and sluglike? |
| What's the vig on $52.5 billion? |
The awards by the U.N. Compensation Commission wrap up 12 years of work in which over 2 million claims from individuals, governments and companies for $354 billion were processed. The commission "has completed one of its two major goals, which is dealing with claims processing," spokesman Joe Sills said. But the payments, which have been running well behind the claim approvals, will continue, he said. On Thursday, the panel awarded more than $366 million to successful claimants, including the governments of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which were compensated for damage caused by Iraq to their natural resources, the commission said. Jordan received the biggest award of $162 million. A further $25.9 million went to Palestinians who lived in Kuwait or owned small businesses there at the time of the invasion, while the remainder was awarded to individuals and governments from other countries.
| Jordan, if I recall — and I do — supported Iraq in its aggression. The Kuwaiti Paleostinians welcomed the Iraqis and collaborated with enthusiasm. |
The U.N. Security Council decided last year that the claims would be funded by 5 percent of Iraqi oil sales. |