Much of the money pledged for Iraq at a Donors Conference this week will be wasted unless reconstruction and development work is co-ordinated through the UN, and the people of Iraq are given a greater say in their own destiny, Save the Children said today.

At the conference in Madrid starting tomorrow (23/10), pledges of $US55 billion are being sought from international donors but there are concerns that much of the funding will by-pass the UN and Iraqi bodies and ignore the views of the Iraqi people.

The situation for many children and families in Iraq remains desperate with infant death rates still extremely high, a continuing lack of access to basic health services and the majority of breadwinners unemployed.

Save the Children UK Emergencies Director Lewis Sida said today:

"The Conference is a step in the right direction and there is no doubt that more money is required to meet even the most immediate needs of Iraqi children and families."

"However, 12 years experience in Iraq - and especially during the recent months of reconstruction - has convinced us that any attempt to get the country back on its feet through an unaccountable, top-down approach will be an expensive failure."

"What is urgently required is not only more money but concrete steps to give the UN a leading role in the reconstruction and development of Iraq and to give the Iraqi people a greater say in their own destiny."

Other measures Save the Children will suggest to delegates at the donor conference include:

* forgiveness of debt and outstanding war reparations
* a commitment to help rebuild Iraqi infrastructure
* a focus on the needs of all people of Iraq and their livelihoods
* the creation of an independent Civil Society Fund supporting projects by Iraqi professional groups, community organisations and religious welfare providers
* ensuring that pledges to assist Iraq must not come at the expense of development or emergency relief in other parts of the world
* support for the creation of a multi-national force with a mandate to protect civilians that will be responsible to the UN and the Iraqi people
* entrusting a lead role in political matters to the UN and greater decision making powers to the Iraqi Governing Authority.

New Zealander Brendan Paddy, Senior Media Officer of Save the Children UK, is in Madrid and available for interviews. To arrange an interview contact Save the Children New Zealand on 04 385 6847.