UN agencies provide humanitarian assistance to some 2.5 million Iraqis in 2008

(Baghdad/New York, 24 June 2009): The United Nations and partner aid organisations provided humanitarian assistance to more than 2.5 million Iraqis in 2008 through the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP). Emergency needs of nearly one in every 10 Iraqis were met with assistance worth $207 million provided by donors, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Iraq.

"United Nations humanitarian programmes focused on protection of the most vulnerable people in Iraq, utilizing the donors" said Dr. Naeema Al-Gasseer, acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. "Although the general situation in Iraq has improved, many Iraqis remain in need of assistance," she added, stressing that the United Nations will continue to deliver humanitarian assistance to Iraqis.

The UN and partner aid agencies provided food assistance to more than 600,000 people in 2008 in support to the Government of Iraq, while some 450,000 Iraqis, including conflict-affected communities, were assisted with water trucking. An estimated 55,000 internally displaced people benefited from improved or new housing, while 650,000 others received household items. The humanitarian aid helped to bridge the gap in access to essential services following decades of conflict during which basic social services and livelihood were destroyed. Many Iraqis are also in need of strengthened protection.

"There are, for example, still many challenges ahead in handling the Iraqi displacement crisis," said Dr. Al-Gasseer. "The United Nations also supports the Government of Iraq in helping internally displaced persons who have lost their property to regain it, or to get new housing. We are also supporting efforts to strengthen the general human rights situation in Iraq. The situation of many vulnerable women and children in Iraq needs to be addressed, and through our programs, we aim at strengthening women's and girl's rights and opportunities," she said. In response to the problem of high levels of mental trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Iraqi children, over 2,000 teachers were trained to provide psychosocial care in schools. Children in over 100 schools are now receiving psychosocial care services provided by the trained teachers.

The UN and partner agencies also helped contain last year's cholera outbreak in Iraq through the distribution of water purification tablets to 134,000 persons, in cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Health. More than 900.000 people benefited from emergency health care supported by the United Nations and non-governmental organisations working with Ministry of Health.

Some 100,000 students benefited from support to over 160 schools across Iraq, while 36,000 children and adolescents, whose schooling was halted by the conflict, are enrolled in the Accelerated Learning Programme classes that allow them to complete their basic education. Through the Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies each year appeal for support to people in need of humanitarian help as a result of conflict and natural disasters around the world.

In 2009, humanitarian agencies have requested $192 million for projects in Iraq and some $349 million to support the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries. More than 20 donor countries contributed to the Iraq CAP in 2008. The main donors to the CAP 2008 were the United States, which contributed over $68 million, the Iraqi Government, which donated $40 million and Sweden and the United Kingdom, which provided $11.9 million each.

Another $280 million in humanitarian aid for Iraqi was provided through bilateral channels to aid agencies, non-governmental organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

For further information, please call:

Eli Smette, OCHA Iraq,
+ /962 7972 02511,
smette@un.org,

Juliette Touma, RC/HC Office,
+ 776729707,
touma@un.org,

Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York,
+1 917 367 5126, mobile +1917 892 1679,
bunker@un.org;

Nicholas Reader
+1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117,
reader@un.org;

Elisabeth Byrs OCHA-Geneva,
+41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570,
byrs@un.org.

OCHA press releases are available at: http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

For more information about CERF, please see http://cerf.un.org