Iraq: EU increases humanitarian assistance

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 22 October 2014

Iraq: EU increases humanitarian assistance

The European Commission is increasing its humanitarian assistance for the Iraq crisis by an additional €3 million as winter approaches and the number of civilians forced to abandon their homes continues to rise as a result of the fighting.

This additional funding will deliver vital assistance to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people in Iraq, including those who are trapped in areas of intense fighting as well as to Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries. The European Commission will support communities to prepare for harsh weather conditions with the distribution of blankets and thermal mats as well as emergency shelters.

" Faced with so much instability and violence many families in Iraq have had to flee their homes in search of safety and basic services," said Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. " As the fighting increases, most of the people who have abandoned their homes have already had to move several times and will likely be forced to continue moving around. I am deeply concerned by the plight of these families, particularly with the onset of winter. We will not let them suffer in silence - we must and will do more to help."

This is the third increase in funding since June, bringing the total humanitarian support to Iraq in 2014 to €20 million. The European Commission is actively working with humanitarian partner organisations to bring vital assistance to populations in need. Assistance is being distributed through UN agencies, International Organisations and international NGO's.

Background

The humanitarian situation in Iraq has been deteriorating rapidly in the last months with the escalation of the armed conflict. The UN estimates that at least 23 million people are affected by the conflict with 5.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Amongst them, 1.8 million persons Internally Displaced (IDPs) since January 2014 and 3.6 million living in active conflict areas, of which, at least 2.2 million are in immediate need of humanitarian aid.

Access in many parts of western and central Iraq is severely constrained, affecting the ability to deliver humanitarian assistance. The protection and assistance of people on the move in high-risk locations, staying at and around checkpoint areas, as well as the conditions of most vulnerable population groups such as children, elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities remain a priority.

The European Commission's total humanitarian support to Iraq since 2007 amounts to almost €150 million, including support to Syrian refugees in Iraq. Its humanitarian programme responds to the needs of internally displaced Iraqis in the country and Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Lebanon with €7 million in 2013 and €20 million in 2014.

For more information

The European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection:

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Factsheet on Iraq

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/iraq_en.pdf

Emergency Response Coordination Centre:

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/thematic/ERC_en.pdf

Commissioner Georgieva's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/georgieva/index_en.htm

Contacts :

David Sharrock (+32 2 296 89 09)

Irina Novakova (+32 2 295 75 17)

For the public: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by e-mail