One is reminded of Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright's statement, when confronted with the fact that some 500,000 children had been affected by sanctions then imposed on Iran, as being of no concern.
Now, the West is back into the sanction-game against Iran. But, who is supposed to be affected by it? Are the populace supposed to rise up against their rulers by way of protest at what Government policies are leading to? - sanctions in all manner of ways. One thing is clear, as this report from AlJazeera highlights, "ordinary" men, women and children are caught by and suffering from the sanctions.
"A leading medical charity in Iran has said Western sanctions are having an adverse effect on the health of up to six million patients.
Though the Western-backed sanctions are not meant to target the nation's healthcare industry, the Foundation for Special Diseases says the restrictions have made it more difficult to import medicine and equipment into the country.
The difficulties are due to the targets of the sanctions, Foad Izadi, a professor at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera.
The banking system and oil industries have both been targeted, meaning "there is less foreign currency coming in" with which to import goods, Izadi said.
Though Iran's imports and exports of medicine are said to be equal to roughly $400m each, Izadi said the country is now "trying to produce as much medicine internally as possible".
The sanctions are in reaction to Western accusations that the nuclear technology being utilised in Tehran is for weapons, not medicinal, use."
Now, the West is back into the sanction-game against Iran. But, who is supposed to be affected by it? Are the populace supposed to rise up against their rulers by way of protest at what Government policies are leading to? - sanctions in all manner of ways. One thing is clear, as this report from AlJazeera highlights, "ordinary" men, women and children are caught by and suffering from the sanctions.
"A leading medical charity in Iran has said Western sanctions are having an adverse effect on the health of up to six million patients.
Though the Western-backed sanctions are not meant to target the nation's healthcare industry, the Foundation for Special Diseases says the restrictions have made it more difficult to import medicine and equipment into the country.
The difficulties are due to the targets of the sanctions, Foad Izadi, a professor at Tehran University, told Al Jazeera.
The banking system and oil industries have both been targeted, meaning "there is less foreign currency coming in" with which to import goods, Izadi said.
Though Iran's imports and exports of medicine are said to be equal to roughly $400m each, Izadi said the country is now "trying to produce as much medicine internally as possible".
The sanctions are in reaction to Western accusations that the nuclear technology being utilised in Tehran is for weapons, not medicinal, use."
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