Brussels, 09/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has just adopted a humanitarian aid decision for EUR 9.5 million in emergency aid to Iraq (part of the EUR 21 million in immediate assistance to Iraq in 2003). The financing decision was announced last week (see EUROPE of 1 April). Funds will come from the budget of ECHO (European Community Humanitarian Aid Office). It will allow ECHO partner organisations on the spot to pursue their assistance to war victims, mainly in the southern part of the country. "Conditions are so insecure that the most worrying problem is gaining access to those in need", Michael Curtis, spokesperson for Commissioner Poul Nielson told the press.
Funds will go to:
the International Committee of the Red Cross: EUR 5 million for food, non-food items, medical kits and rehabilitation of water/sanitation facilities. The support will mainly go to the conflict-affected areas (Baghdad, northern front, centre and south) targeting up to 3 million beneficiaries.
Unicef: EUR 2 million for water tankering, sanitation, emergency rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres and hospitals in the centre and south. Approximately 500,000 people are expected to benefit from these actions.
Care: EUR 1.5 million for emergency water supply actions in the Baghdad region as well as Al Anbar governorate where 30,000 people currently have no access to water and IDP (internally displaced persons) arrivals are reported. Some 200,000 people in total should benefit.
Première Urgence: EUR 0.5 million for basic repairs to health institutions, tents to boost hospital capacity, back-up generators and water supplies in the Baghdad area, in support of up to 20,000 victims of the fighting.
Ocha: EUR 0.5 million for coordination activities - to help OCHA establish offices in Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran.