#Iraq: Commissioner Christos Stylianides announces new humanitarian aid projects

The European Commission has announced new humanitarian aid projects worth €104 million to help those affected by the rapidly intensifying conflict in Iraq.

The announcement came as Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides was on his third visit to the country, where he met the Iraqi prime minister and visited EU-funded aid projects helping people with lifesaving aid.

"I've always said Iraq can become another Syria, another major humanitarian emergency of global scale. So we have to act and the EU is doing just that by leading the international humanitarian efforts. We did this recently in Fallujah and we will continue our solidarity with the Iraqi people. What's crucial is that civilians in need can have access to these lifesaving supplies and are protected, wherever they are with full respect of International Humanitarian law," said Stylianides.

The funding is part of an overall EU aid package of €194m announced by Commissioner Stylianides at the International Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq, held earlier this week (20 July) in Washington D.C. The new projects will help the most vulnerable by providing food, health care, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as protection and shelter. It will be provided to humanitarian organisations such as UN agencies, NGOs and international organizations.

The European Union is providing emergency aid across the country, for example to respond to current needs in Anbar. With the conflict moving towards Mosul in Northern Iraq, the EU's renewed support will be important to cover the immense needs to comein that region too.

Background

Since January 2014, more than 3.4 million people, over half of whom are children, have been displaced in Iraq.

Advertisement

Nearly a third of Iraq’s population, in excess of ten million people, currently rely on humanitarian assistance.

All humanitarian aid is impartial and independent, in full respect of humanitarian principles and based only on needs.

Since January 2014, EU humanitarian aid alone amounts to almost € 238 million and enabled life-saving operations throughout the country, especially in hard-to-reach areas and conflict affected locations.

Recently the EU was at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in Fallujah. Supported humanitarian partners have recently provided shelter, water and sanitation, essential items and emergency health services to more than 90,000 people.