Two questions:

1. Before the Iraq war, I recall hearing, one group or another–the Red Cross? Amnesty International?–estimated that some 5,000 Iraqis were dying each month for want of food or medicine. Is there a reader of this Corner who can provide a source for this statistic (and, as goes without saying, correct me if my memory is mistaken)?

2. How many Iraqi civilians have died unnatural deaths since the war began? That is, how many have died for want of food or medicine or as a result of the fighting? I’m unaware of any official statistics on this, but it’s my impression that a fair estimate would lie in the range of 5,000 to 10,000. Again, is there a reader of those Corner who can provide a source (and, again, correct me if I’m mistaken)?