Hjælpearbejdet i den irakiske Anbar-provins risikerer at måtte indstilles, fordi pengekassen snart er tom. Regionen har i måneder været plaget af kampe mellem regeringsstyrker og militante grupper, der har sendt over 70.000 familier på flugt.
DUBAI, 9 April 2014 (IRIN) – Funding shortages are threatening relief operations in Iraq’s troubled Anbar Province, where violent clashes have led to the displacement of more than 400,000 people in three months, aid agencies warn.
“UN agencies are now warning that without substantial additional financial contributions, they may need to cease operations – some as early as within a month,” the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), wrote in a 3 April report.
Titon Mitra, who heads UNAMI’s Integrated Coordination Office for Development and Humanitarian Affairs, told IRIN it was “a very serious and real concern”.
At last count on 2 April, 71,184 families had fled their homes due to fighting that erupted in January between the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), Islamic insurgents and other militant groups. According to the Anbar Health Directorate, as of 30 March, 156 people have been killed and 741 injured.
In March, the UN launched an emergency appeal for US$103 million to pay for food, shelter, medical, water and sanitation supplies for a projected 240,000 internally displaced people (IDPs).
But while the number of IDPs has soared since the appeal was launched, only $9 million had been raised towards the Strategic Response Plan as of 3 April. If more money does not come soon, heads of aid agencies warn they may have to pull the plug on some of their operations.
“Extremely concerned”
“We are all extremely concerned about our funding situation especially because the needs are growing so rapidly,” explained Jane Pearce, representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Iraq.
Læs hele artiklen her: http://www.irinnews.org/report/99913/lack-of-funding-threatens-aid-response-in-iraq-s-anbar-province
