ReliefWeb

Baghdad, 11 May 2014 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov remains concerned at reports of increased armed activities in Fallujah and particularly its effects on civilians.

“The people of Anbar have suffered from terrorism and violence for too long. All efforts must be made to ensure that fighting ends, people return to their homes, and reconstruction can begin. It is vital that those affected by the fighting are able to receive humanitarian support”, Mr. Mladenov said. “As the Iraqi Security Forces continue their efforts to restore law and order in Anbar, they should ensure that the fight against terrorism is conducted in accordance with Iraq’s international and constitutional human rights obligations”, he added.

“I am particularly concerned about the impact of violence on civilians and the deteriorating conditions in Fallujah. The UN humanitarian team will continue working with the Government and local authorities to ensure that, despite the difficulties, aid reaches those in need. Continued fighting, including shelling, often hampers the delivery of badly needed emergency aid”, the SRSG added.

Since the outbreak of violence, the United Nations delivered a total of 15,186 food parcels, blankets, and tents; 37,943 Water and Sanitation Supplies (WASH) and hygiene kits that have reached a total of 233,958 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by fights in Anbar and floods in Abu Ghraib. During the past week:

UNICEF reached 3,000 families with the distribution of hygiene and household kits in Rawa, Anah, Haditha and Sitak in Anbar. Another 1,500 affected families were reached with hygiene kits in Abu-Ghraib (Baghdad) and 5,000 more hygiene kits were distributed in Samarra and Jazeera (Salah-al-Din). UNICEF also distributed 81 water tanks, installed 6 water storage tanks (of 250,000 litres capacity each) in Rutba, Al-Qaim, Heet, Khalidiayh, Obaidi and Amiryat al-Fallujah, (benefiting 15,360 individuals), and two water storage tanks (of 10,000 litres capacity each) in Samarra. UNICEF also continued with the water truck delivery of 300,000 litres per week in Rutba, Heet and Al-Qaim (benefiting 15,126 individuals).

UNHCR continued with the distribution of Core Relief Item (CRIs) kits including 175 tents in Amiriyat al-Fallujah and Al-Habaniya areas, as well as in Mansour area in Baghdad, bringing its total distributed Core Relief Item kits to date to 6,519. UNHCR is also planning to assist 400 displaced families from Abu-Ghraib with cash money.

IOM distributed to date a total of 7,507 Non-Food Items to Anbar population and delivered on behalf of WFP 930 new food parcels to Saqlawiya, Heet, Amiriyat al-Fallujah, Al-Madina al-Siyahiya, Al-Karma, Al-Habaniya, Al-N'emiyeh, Al-Qaim, Ramadi and Abu-Ghraib, bringing the total number of food parcels distributed to date in Anbar to 15,186.

WHO in coordination with the Ministry of Heath delivered 2 Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits (each kit can meet the needs of 10,000 persons) and 1 Trauma Kit (sufficient to carry out 100 major surgeries) to Abu-Ghraib flood victims as well as 3 Emergency Kits of medical and surgical supplies to hospitals in Ramadi and Fallujah, as well as additional medical supplies to Al-Qaim