Greater assistance needed to help tackle Iraq’s humanitarian crisis – UN refugee agency
The United Nations refugee agency has reported that Iraq will continue to need greater humanitarian assistance as the country’s displacement crisis shows no sign of easing, with more than 3.4 million people displaced and ongoing conflict causing thousands more families to leave their homes in search of safety. The Director of the Middle East and […]The United Nations refugee agency has reported that Iraq will continue to need greater humanitarian assistance as the country’s displacement crisis shows no sign of easing, with more than 3.4 million people displaced and ongoing conflict causing thousands more families to leave their homes in search of safety.
The Director of the Middle East and North Africa Bureau (MENA) for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amin Awad, visited Debaga camp in Makhmour district in KR-I, where more than six thousand newly displaced people have sought shelter and are living in overcrowded conditions. UNHCR is going to provide additional shelter for 550 families at a new tented camp set up by the agency at the football stadium.
Meanwhile, families in Debaga have fled their villages as the Iraqi Security Forces continue their operations to re-take control of villages held by extremist groups.
"As the Iraqi security forces continue their advance towards the Tigris river, civilians continue to flee their homes to avoid being caught up in military clashes. We anticipate that there could be up to 30,000 newly-displaced arriving in Makhmour in the next few weeks,” warned Mr. Awad upon concluding a visit to Erbil and Basra .
