The United Nations envoy for Iraq is set to lead the UN delegation at a meeting Tuesday of donors seeking to rebuild the war-torn country.
– This second meeting…will enable the Iraqi authorities and their international partners to address the pressing challenge of reconstruction confronting Iraq, Ross Mountain, Secretary General Kofi Annans Special Representative ad interim for Iraq, said of the two-day meeting of the Donor Committee of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI), which begins Tuesday in the Qatari capital, Doha.
The IRFFI was established last October in Madrid as a channel for providing assistance to rebuild Iraq.
The Facility so far has received commitments totalling 1 billion US dollar; Japan is the major donor and chair of the Donor Committee. The Facility has two windows managed by the UN and the World Bank, respectively, and works in close cooperation with the Iraqi authorities and donors. Already 230 million dollar worth of programmes have been processed by the UN window alone.
– Despite the continuing insecurity, the UN is pursuing activities in collaboration with Iraqi authorities, local communities and civil society to provide support to millions of Iraqis. Much, however, remains to be done. With the return of sovereignty on 30 June, the UN is committed to intensifying its efforts in mobilizing international support for the Iraqi authorities and people, Mr. Mountain added.
Kilde: FNs nyhedstjeneste
