The United States is providing more than $181 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people to address critical humanitarian needs, including those expected to occur with Iraq’s planned military offensive to liberate Mosul from Da’esh occupation.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this new funding September 14th, bringing U.S. humanitarian assistance for Iraqis to nearly $1.1 billion since FY 2014.
The United States remains committed to supporting the Government of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Regional Government, in their response to the humanitarian crisis, as well as supporting the Iraqi people during their time of need.
The United Nations anticipates the upcoming offensive could result in the displacement of more than one million people from Mosul and surrounding areas, exacerbating an already dire crisis that has left an estimated 10 million people – nearly a third of the country’s population – in need of humanitarian assistance and more than 3.3 million Iraqis displaced inside their own country as a consequence of Da’esh’s brutality.
With this additional funding to international and non-governmental humanitarian organizations, the U.S. government reaffirms its commitment to support Iraq and provide assistance to displaced and conflict-affected Iraqis.
The new funding enables the prepositioning of emergency food assistance and basic relief items to displaced Iraqis in preparation for the Mosul campaign. This money funds essential water, sanitation, and hygiene services that will provide displaced Iraqis with safe drinking water, clean latrines, and shower facilities.
In addition to the funding to support Mosul preparedness, U.S. funding will support UNHCR and other agencies’ efforts to provide assistance to the estimated 230,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, including shelter, cash assistance, protection, and other forms of assistance.
It will also support ongoing operations in Iraq to provide for the humanitarian needs of those already displaced by the conflict with Da’esh, including livelihoods support and social cohesion efforts, education, cash assistance, and protection monitoring services.
The U.S. encourages other donors to follow our recent announcements with their own commitments to provide timely additional assistance for Iraqis, including for the forthcoming needs for Mosul, as well as for other global crises.
