UN declares a ‘Level 3 Emergency’ for Iraq to ensure Effective Humanitarian aid

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The United Nations have declared a ‘Level 3 Emergency’ for Iraq. “Given the scale and complexity of the current humanitarian catastrophe, this measure will facilitate mobilization of additional resources in goods, funds and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements”, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov said in a statement recieved by IraqiNews.com.

“The situation of displaced people on Sinjar Mountain remains of critical concern, where tens of thousands of people are reportedly still trapped, with health conditions quickly deteriorating”, said UNICEF Representative to Iraq, Marzio Babille, who also confirmed that UNICEF and other humanitarian actors are stepping up efforts to meet the growing needs of those who are being extracted from Sinjar Mountain, in addition to helping meet the needs of a further 12,000 displaced Christians who are now sheltering in the Kurdish capital, Erbil.

The situation in Dahuk is also of a grave concern. Meeting with the Governor, Farhad Atrushi, whose Governorate has seen an influx of more than 200,000 people since ‘ISIL’ overran swathes of northern Iraq, and a total of 400,000 displaced since June, WFP Iraq Country Director Jane Pearce and UNHCR Iraq Country Representative Shoko Shimozawa pledged to support the Dahuk Governorate in its considerable efforts to meet the needs of those tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis.

“Declaring the crisis in Iraq a ‘Level 3 Emergency’, which represents the highest level of humanitarian crisis, will help trigger more resources and expedite administrative procedures for the response”, Mr. Mladenov underlined. Three other crises in the world are currently sharing the same emergency status: Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. /End/