The economic sanctions imposed on Iraq during the Iraq War were a series of restrictions and penalties placed on Iraq by the United Nations Security Council. These sanctions were imposed in response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and aimed to prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction and to pressure the Iraqi government to comply with UN resolutions.
The sanctions were enforced by a UN committee known as the 661 Committee, which was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the sanctions. This committee was assisted by organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization. The sanctions were monitored through a variety of means, including inspections, satellite imagery, and financial audits.
The sanctions had a devastating impact on Iraq's economy. The country's GDP declined significantly and its infrastructure, including its oil industry, was severely damaged. The sanctions also led to widespread poverty, malnutrition, and a decline in the standard of living for the Iraqi people.
Under the sanctions, all of Iraq's oil sales had to be deposited into a UN-controlled escrow account. These funds were then used to purchase humanitarian goods for the Iraqi people, pay war reparations to Kuwait, and cover the costs of the UN weapons inspections. The remaining funds were held in reserve for post-sanctions reconstruction efforts.
One of the main criticisms of the sanctions was that they disproportionately affected the Iraqi people, who were already suffering under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. The sanctions were also accused of hindering the delivery of essential goods and services, such as food and medicine, to the Iraqi people. Additionally, there were reports of corruption and misuse of funds within the UN oil-for-food program, which was established to ease the impact of the sanctions on the Iraqi people.