10 Jun 2015, 08:55 am Print
“It’s imperative at this critical time we do more to mitigate the suffering of the Iraqi people. Much has been done, but the needs continue to increase and more is needed,” stated O’Brien, who assumed his post as UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the beginning of June.
The humanitarian situation in Iraq is dire. Since January 2014, more than three million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes and over eight million people are in need of assistance that aid agencies cannot always provide them with, due to lack of access or because of funding challenges.
On his first mission in his capacity as Emergency Relief Coordinator, O’Brien on Monday visited Baghdad, where he met people recently displaced from Ramadi.
"All the families I spoke with had heart-breaking stories of fear, flight, loss and grief. International humanitarian law obliges all those engaged in fighting to protect civilians during hostilities, including by refraining from targeting them,” urged the Under Secretary-General.
During his meetings, he discussed progress and challenges in delivering aid with governmental representatives in Baghdad, including the Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jafaari, among other senior officials.
“I emphasized the commitment of the United Nations and partners to work closely with the authorities in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. We are committed to meet the most urgent needs, wherever they arise,” noted Stephen O’Brien.
Despite the very challenging security conditions, the United Nations and partners are delivering essential aid to people who depend on it for survival.
“We urgently need $497 million to provide shelter, food, water and other life-saving services over the coming six months.
“It is my job to remind the international community that behind every statistic stands a child, woman or a man. We must not let the people of Iraq down,” he declared.
To this end, just last Thursday, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) joined international partners and agencies in Belgium to launch the 2015 Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan in response to critical funding shortages as the conflict in Iraq escalates, with the number of people in need of life-saving assistance over the past year having increased by some 400 per cent.
Photo: UNAMI PIO/Fabienne Vinet
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