Americas

US Aid to Iraq

United States committed financial aid to Iraq in its crisis and encourages other possible donors to follow their example

September 19th, 2016
Vojtech Jirasek, CD News
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The United States of America announced aid of millions of Dollars to help Iraq and Iraqi people in need with the humanitarian crisis in the country. USA also urges other possible donors to follow their example.

United States provide more than $181 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Iraq to help them address the basic humanitarian needs. With the currently planned military offensive against ISIS in the northern part of Iraq, the numbers in such a need will probably rise. USA has already paid $1.1 billion since 2014 on Iraqi humanitarian assistance. This money is also used to support operations of the United Nations, other international organizations and NGOs to help them respond to one of the biggest displacement crises in the world. The money from USA also goes to the Iraqi government and Kurdish Regional Government.

There are 10 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Iraq, making it almost one third of the country’s population. Out of this 3.3 million people are displaced in their own country due to ISIS’ brutality. The upcoming offensive, aiming to destroy ISIS in Iraq, could displace even more people. Therefore, the US urges other governments, NGOs and international organizations to financially help the Iraqi people in need, as well as committing to help themselves.

The funding enables the provision of basic food and relief items, emergency relief, shelters, basic health care including maternal and child health care services, education, camp coordination and camp management services, psychosocial support, gender-based violence prevention and mitigation programs, essential water, safe drinking water, clean latrines, shower facilities, sanitation and other hygiene services to critical regions and to people in need. The money the US is providing will also go to the Iraqi refugees abroad, especially to the 230 000 refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

The United States made this commitment before next week’s United Nations General Assembly, focusing on Iraq together with other global humanitarian crises. US President Barack Obama will also host a summit on refugees. The United States encourage other possible donors to follow their recent commitments of assistance for the Iraqis as well as for other global crises.

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