Statement on the humanitarian situation in Iraq

Jacqueline Badcock, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq

20 June 2014

I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of women, children and men in Iraq who have been forced from their homes by the recent upsurge in violent conflict.

The United Nations estimate that half a million people have fled Mosul and tens of thousands have fled the governorates of Diyala and Salah ad-Din, many with few or no resources of their own to sustain themselves in displacement for very long.

Some 25,000 people remain displaced within Mosul itself while 200,000 people have fled into Dohuk governorate and 100,000 people have crossed into the Erbil governorate under the Kurdish Regional Government. This comes on the heels of approximately half a million people already displaced from the ongoing conflict in Anbar.

Many are staying in the open and urgently need water, food, shelter and latrines. There are concerns for their protection and reports of an increase in gender-based violence among the displaced.

Humanitarian agencies are rapidly scaling up in the face of this unfortunate challenge. Food, water, tents and other essential supplies are reaching families in need, additional staff are being mobilized, and emergency funds are being released.

The ongoing conflict and the extremely volatile environment is likely to limit humanitarian access to thousands of displaced people in areas controlled by armed groups. I remind all parties to the conflict that they must allow unfettered and sustained humanitarian access to all people in need.