Attachments
BAGHDAD, 20 February 2017 – The crisis in Iraq continues to drive people from their homes resulting in waves of displacement.
In parts of the country held by armed groups, access to health care service is severely disrupted and children coming out of these areas missed routine immunization against preventable diseases such as polio and measles.
“These children face a serious health threat and urgently need immunization,” said Hamida Ramadhani, Deputy Representative for UNICEF in Iraq.
With the generous funding of around $2.5M USD from the Government of Japan, UNICEF and its partners will start vaccination activities targeting 1.3 million vulnerable children under 5 across the country.
“This assistance shows Japan’s strong and faithful commitment to addressing the displacement crisis in Iraq amounting to around $100M USD as part of the Supplementary Budget package to respond to humanitarian crises,” said Mr. Fumio Iwai, Ambassador of Japan to Iraq.
“Japan is keen on reaching out to people in need, especially for children and their families through this project,” he added.
The emergency vaccination activities and the mother and child health services will focus on displaced children, child refugees from Syria as well as the children from host communities and those who have returned to their areas of origins, as soon as these areas become accessible to humanitarian actors.
The strong and consistent support by the Government of Japan has been essential in supporting UNICEF’s efforts to respond to the increased needs of vulnerable children and their families in Iraq. Continued support will consolidate and build upon earlier investment gains.
For further information, please contact:
Laila Ali, UNCEF Iraq, +964 780 925 8542, laali@unicef.org Tamara Kummer, UNICEF MENA Regional Office, +962 797 588 550, tkummar@unicef.org