REPORT FINDS DETERIORATION IN IRAQ'S HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, PROMPTING AGENCIES TO REQUEST INCREASED DONOR SUPPORT
Press Release
IHA/586
IK/189
REPORT FINDS DETERIORATION IN IRAQ'S HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, PROMPTING AGENCIES TO REQUEST INCREASED DONOR SUPPORT
19960201 A situation-update report describing deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Iraq, particularly in the central and southern parts of the country, was reviewed by representatives of the United Nations relief and development agencies during consultations held in Geneva on 25 January. Participants expressed serious concern over the rapidly widening gap between the increasing humanitarian needs and shrinking international contributions to the humanitarian programme in Iraq. They appealed urgently to donor governments to provide funding for continued humanitarian activities in Iraq.Representatives at the consultations were concerned at the fact that the response to the current humanitarian appeal had been limited, with only $72 million pledged or received against a revised appeal requirement of $169.3 million. A substantial portion of humanitarian assistance up to the end of last year had been funded by Iraqi frozen assets deposited to the United Nations Escrow Account. Additional funds are unlikely to be available through that account, thus affecting many ongoing humanitarian programmes.
The report, which covers the period from November 1995 to January 1996, also welcomes visits of French and Dutch delegations last month to assess the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Participating in the informal meeting, which was organized by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, were representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Programme (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Organization for Migration.
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