Britain steps up support for Iraq
International Development Secretary Justine Greening has announced British support for charities operating in Iraq.
Yazidi families fleeing Sinjar in northern Iraq and heading to Dohuk tell IRC staff that their most immediate needs are for food, water and safe shelter. Picture: Juan Saed/IRC
Britain will give £3 million to help Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger provide food, medical supplies, water and sanitation to over 100,000 people across northern Iraq. The funding will be fast-tracked so the 4 charities can start using it immediately.
Justine Greening said:
British planes are dropping much-needed aid to help thousands of families stranded on the Sinjar Mountains. DFID is stepping up its work with charities across northern Iraq where nearly 1.5 million people have fled their homes in recent months.
Our support is helping hundreds of thousands of Iraqis get the food, water and sanitation they desperately need.
The £3 million will be fast-tracked through the Department for International Development’s Rapid Response Facility (RRF), which provides emergency funding for charities in the event of a humanitarian crisis.
The 4 charities will:
- provide around 80,000 people with clean water, improved sanitation facilities and hygiene kits
- provide food, shelter and other support to over 10,000 families who have fled their homes
- provide medical supplies and assistance to 8,000 people
- help raise awareness of key child protection issues and refer children at risk to specialist support services
Britain released £8 million of emergency humanitarian assistance for Iraq, including £3 million for the RRF, on Thursday 8 August. This includes:
- £2 million of emergency humanitarian supplies for 75,000 people, including aid that can be air dropped to help those trapped in the Sinjar Mountains as quickly as possible. Supplies will include reusable filtration containers filled with clean water, tarpaulins to provide basic shelter, and solar lights that can also recharge mobile phones to enable communication.
- £2.5 million of support for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to provide immediate medical and humanitarian assistance; and
- a further £500,000 that will ensure Kurdish and UN systems are able to coordinate and respond to humanitarian needs in the region
Infographic: How the UK is supporting those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Iraq
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