Iraq: State food aid package slashed

The Iraqi government has decided to cut by half the number of items in state food aid parcels - something that could affect roughly half the population, according to the Trade Ministry. In future, parcels would contain only flour, rice, sugar, cooking oil and milk. "The food rationing system has become a burden on the budget," Deputy Trade Minister Waleed al-Hilo told IRIN. About US$3 million has been allocated to the Trade Ministry for state food aid - half the sum requested, he said. "These allocations are not enough to keep the system running until the end of the year because of an increase in prices… So we decided to focus our attention on the most important items," he said, adding that they would continue to distribute some of the soon-to-be omitted items for several months while stocks lasted. The move comes just a few weeks after a decision to exclude from state food aid distribution lists those considered to be better off.