Japan grants UNHCR Iraq $4.5m emergency funding to assist Mosul-displaced families

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The Government of Japan has announced emergency funding of $4.5 million dollars to support UNHCR’s humanitarian assistance for families affected by the Mosul crisis.
The new funding will be targeted to help improve the daily living conditions of the most vulnerable displaced families for the coming winter. The grant will help provide winter shelter and emergency non-food items, including blankets, stoves and plastic sheeting. Newly-displaced families in camps will receive assistance to help insulate their tents.
Japanese funding will also allow UNHCR to provide sturdy Refugee Housing Units to help 700 families return to their original areas.
While thousands of displaced Iraqis have returned to their homes, according to government figures more than 717,000 people are still displaced – around half of whom are staying in camps. Most are from western Mosul, which was extensively damaged during the offensive to re-take the city.
“It is encouraging that more IDPs are returning to their original places following the liberation of Mosul and Telafar, but we should bear in mind that many of them, especially those of western Mosul, still remain in camps or host communities under harsh conditions”, said H.E. Mr. Fumio Iwai, Ambassador of Japan to Iraq.
“Even after the current conflict ends, the Government of Japan will continue to support the humanitarian and stabilization efforts in Iraq in close co-operation with UNHCR”, Ambassador Iwai added
“We are extremely grateful for this additional support from the Government of Japan”, said UNHCR Iraq’s Representative, Bruno Geddo. “The winter months are an especially difficult time for displaced families, many of whom have no choice but to stay under canvas tents. This assistance will go a long way to helping to improve daily life for them.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Caroline Gluck gluck@unhcr.org +964 7809207286 (Baghdad)
Amira Abd El-Khalek abdelkha@unhcr.org +964 772 616 3729 (Erbil)
Saif al-Tatooz altatooz@unhcr.org +964 780 195 8468 (Baghdad)

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