Korea supports Iraq’s stability with new contribution
Former Korean Ambassador to Iraq Song Woong-Yeob and a UN official. Photo: UNDP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – South Korea made a new contribution of 450 thousand USD to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Iraq’s Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), which supports stabilization, durable solutions, and the safe return of internally displaced Iraqis in the five governorates liberated from ISIS, according to a press statement issued by the UNDP.
The new contribution brings Korea’s total support to the FFS to over 26.9 million USD. Korea’s previous contributions supported the implementation of 91 critical projects in the liberated areas, benefiting more than 1.14 million people, the statement mentioned.
“We are grateful to Korea for this timely contribution. With the FFS transitioning in 2023, the remaining stabilization needs are estimated at around 200 million USD across the five governorates of Anbar, Diyala, Nineveh, Kirkuk, and Salah Al-Din,” UNDP representative in Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad, explained.
“Korea and Iraq share many similar historical trajectories such as civil war, dictatorship, and under-development. Therefore, the Korean government and the Korean people have always been making the best efforts to share their development experience with Iraq,” South Korean Ambassador to Iraq, Sungsoo Choi, elaborated.
“The Korean government has been proud of being a part of such global solidarity. We will continue to engage with all relevant partners, most importantly the government of Iraq,” Choi added.
In mid-2015, UNDP established the FFS to assist 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 successfully reintegrating displaced populations into the community in areas liberated from ISIS, the UNDP statement added.