Italy supports Iraq’s stability with 2 million euros
Representatives of Italy and the UNDP. Photo: UNDP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), renewed its commitment to Iraq’s stability with an additional two million euros (around 1.9 million USD) contribution, according to a press statement issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The contribution will be channeled through UNDP’s flagship program, the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), the statement mentioned.
Italy has generously provided over 20 million USD since the FFS was set up in 2015. The funding will be used to focus on rehabilitating public infrastructure and providing essential services to vulnerable communities living in areas affected by the ISIS conflict, the statement explained.
“The impact of our stabilization efforts with continuous support from the international partners such as Italy are visible across Iraq. Hospitals are reopening, clean water is reaching people’s homes, and universities are welcoming students back,” the UNDP representative, Zena Ali Ahmad, elaborated.
“With this additional funding, the UNDP will be able to continue to support the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in sectors such as electricity, water, education and health,” Ahmad added.
In mid-2015, the UNDP established the FFS to assist the government in rebuilding Iraq after the ISIS conflict. The FFS works with the Iraqi government and local actors to ensure safe, dignified and voluntary returns and to lay the foundation for reintegrating displaced populations into the community, the statement clarified.
With the generous support of international partners, the FFS mobilized over 1.55 billion USD from 29 donors and the Iraqi government. This collective effort demonstrates the international community’s solidarity with Iraq, the statement added.