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Baghdad, 29 November 2020 -The German Government, through its Development Bank, the Kreditanstalt fr Wiederaufbau (KfW), has contributed 26 million Euros to UNICEF in order to help the agency in its ongoing efforts to assist the Government of Iraq in strengthening its systems and improve access to quality basic services and social protection for children and their families. This latest amount brings the German Governments total contributions to UNICEF Iraq to a total of 159 million Euros since 2015.

Vulnerable children and their families in Iraq are disproportionately affected by the lack of safe water, education, and social protection. The needs of the poorest have become even more acute as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its secondary impacts, such as disruption in schools and health services, and rights violations, as well as rising poverty, all diminish the chance of vulnerable children to realize their basic rights to survive, be protected, and continue learning.

In light of the scale of the pandemics effect particularly on children and their families, the German Government has reserved 6 million Euros exclusively for measures addressing COVID-19 related activities such as the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).

This funding has come in at a critical time, when we should be doing all that we can to limit the effects of the pandemic on all children, especially the most vulnerable. Thanks to our German partner, we are able to scale up our efforts to support the Government of Iraq to strengthen national systems ability to respond and provide better quality and coordination of the basic services that it provides, public social protection for children and their families, and help to train educators, counsellors and other professionals working with children, explained Hamida Lasseko, UNICEFs Representative in Iraq.

For his part, the German Ambassador to Iraq, His Excellency Dr Ole Diehl, emphasized that the international community can only win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic by working together.

Germany continues to support Iraq in its fight against COVID-19. This is why we have launched an extensive global COVID emergency program, under which also a sizeable COVID-19 response window is allocated for Iraq and our contribution assigned to this program respectively. Good health and sanitary infrastructure are paramount to contain the virus. More importantly, every one of us needs to take part in the fight against Corona by wearing masks, keeping up social distancing and observing rules of basic hygiene.

Since the pandemic broke, the number of children and adolescents who risk falling into poverty has doubled, from one out of five children and adolescents to over 2 out of every 5. Children and adolescents, who make-up more than half of the population in the country, are also the most at risk of experiencing poverty, service disruptions in critical basic services like primary health, water sanitation and hygiene, education and increase in rights violations.

Investing in ones children is the best investment any nation can make. The Iraqi government needs our support to further develop its technical capacities, strengthen its systems, and deliver for its children. We are especially appreciative of the support of our German partner at this critical time when we are working with the Government to enhance its ability and systems to deliver better education, health services, water, sanitation and protection for every boy and girl in Iraq, added Ms. Lasseko.

There are 1.77 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and another 1.5 million who remain displaced and therefore exposed to higher risks of deprivation, violence and exploitation. The project which will be rolled out over 18 months, will target such populations. The project focuses on long-term sustainability by strengthening national systems and capacities to provide integrated access to safe water, education and health services, protection, and social assistance, with the goal of enabling children to overcome poverty, practice their rights and fulfil their potential. It will be implemented at the Federal level and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in partnership with the Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs, the Education, the Directorates of Education at sub-national levels, and national and international Civil Society Organisations.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child; in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit https://www.unicef.org/iraq/

Media contacts:

Zeina Awad, Chief of Communication for Iraqzawad@unicef.org+964 782 782 0238

Innocent Kafembe, Communication Specialistikafembe@unicef.org+964 751 015 0949

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UNICEF receives 26 million from Germany to support national systems and ensure vulnerable children in Iraq receive quality basic and social protection...

1 December 2020; Baghdad, Iraq The Ministry of Planning and UNFPA organised yesterday a conference to reaffirm Iraqs commitment to the programme of action of the Nairobi Summit in 2019 which marked 25 years since the International Conference on Population & Development.

At the Nairobi summit last year, Iraq made 20 commitments addressing the rights of women and couples to have as many children as they want and when they want, to have healthy parenthood, be free of gender-based violence and harmful practices and have means to support themselves and their families through decent employment and education.

Yesterdays conference which was hosted by the Minister of Planning, Dr Khalid Al-Battal, was attended by the Minister of Displacement and Migration, Ms Ivan FaiekJabru, UNFPA Representative to Iraq, Dr Rita Columbia, Director Generals from different ministries, the Head of the Central Statistical Organization, Dr Diaa Awad and members of the Population Policies Committee, in addition to civil society and private sector representatives.

Minister Battal said in his speech: Iraq faces great challenges, especially amid Covid-19 and its repercussions on the different groups in society, especially women and girls. The pandemic has contributed to an increase in gender-based violence, mainly against women, and exacerbated poverty and unemployment rates across the country. Regardless of these challenges, Iraq is still committed to the ICPD commitments and we call on the international community to increase its support to enable the country to fulfil its commitments and obligations.

For her part, Dr Columbia emphasised the relevance of the Nairobi commitments to our present: Health and social protection systems are struggling to meet the needs of affected people those infected with COVID-19 including pregnant women; survivors of gender-based violence; women who are locked at homes and being at risk of domestic violence, unemployed, especially youth, and so many others.

The number of vulnerable populations has increased due to the pandemic. Considering the current situation, the commitments made in 2019 are even more urgent now, she concluded.

The event was followed by the meeting of the Population Policies National Committee to discuss the national framework and roadmap that will provide women and girls and young people protection, access to sexual and reproductive health services and livelihood opportunities.

Read more:
Ministry of Planning, UNFPA reaffirm commitment to the ICPD promises [EN/AR] - Iraq - ReliefWeb

The organization Save the Children said thousands of children are forced to live among unexploded bombs, dead bodies and rubble, after the closure of camps for displaced people in Iraq.

Thousands of children and their families are forced to live in badly damaged houses in abandoned areas with unexploded bombs, dead bodies and rubble, after the sudden closure of several camps for displaced people in Iraq, said Save the Children in a statement.

The organization said its teams spoke to parents who had been forced to leave the camps. They told harrowing accounts of finding unexploded bombs and corpses in buildings and under rubble in the areas they now reside in.

"Families are in urgent need of basic services such as electricity, clean and safe drinking water, food and transport," the organization said.

Save the Children shared the story of Ali (not his real name), 47, a father of four who returned to Mosul from Yahyawa camp in Kirkuk.

"When we came back here, the area wasn't cleared; there were explosives. I brought down an unexploded bomb from the rooftop of my house.

Children were holding bullets but didn't know what they were.

My son came to me with an unexploded grenade in his hand. He said, 'Father, what is this?'

People also found a corpse in one of the destroyed houses. This area was the last shelter for ISIS in Ninewa, so most of our houses were destroyed during the conflict. Our children are not safe here. They need safety, they need awareness about landmines and unexploded bombs, mental health support, toys, winter clothes and food," Ali said.

Save the Children said, "The camp closures are part of the return of around 250,000 people to their areas of origin, including 48,000 people who will be affected by camp closures before the end of November."

Some of the 303 families who were moved out of the Yahyawa camp arrived in Mosul, Eiyadiah and Tal Afar in Ninewa governorate, "only to discover there was no safe shelter".

Yahyawa camp used to shelter nearly 2,000 people, including around 1,000 children.

According to Save the Children's volunteers who were forced from the camps as well, families are particularly worried about girls getting kidnapped. With winter approaching, families face spending the harshest season without adequate shelter or heating.

"There are many risks to children's lives here, such as explosives, rubble, COVID-19, scarcity of food, dead bodies and skulls among the rubble, and the cold winter," said Shahad (not his real name), who volunteered with Save the Children in Yahyawa camp before it was closed.

"What's happening now is deeply concerning," said Save the Children's Country Director in Iraq, Ishtiaq Mannan.

"Up to 49% of the affected people are children who have lived in difficult camp conditions for over three years, and are now forced to live in places no child should live in: in the midst of debris and among dead bodies. This is a desperate situation for thousands of children in the middle of a pandemic, made worse by the looming start of winter. This is why we are calling on the government to provide alternative shelter for families who do not wish to return to their areas of origin," he said.

The organization is calling on the international community to work with the Iraqi government to come to a long-term plan for the closures of the camps in line with international standards to ensure the protection of vulnerable families and children.

More here:
Save the Children: Kids in Iraq live among unexploded bombs - InfoMigrants

Mosul 30 November 2020: Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, Representative of the Food and Agriculture (FAO) Organization of the United Nations in Iraq accompanied by FAO lead technical team, met on Monday with Mr. Najm Al-Jubouri Governor of Nineveh.

The discussion focused on FAO activities and programs in the Governorate, as well as the challenges faced by the agriculture sector and availability of water resources. Dr. Elhajj Hassan presented to the Governor FAOs EU funded projects to support the recovery of agricultural livelihoods through revitalization of food production, value chains, income generation and secure irrigation water through the rehabilitation of Al-Jazeera Irrigation system in Nineveh. Dr. El Hajj Hassan thanked the European Union for their support to the agriculture sector in Iraq and convey the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Ms. Irena Vojkova's greetings to Mr. Al-Jubouri; he also stated, Through these projects, FAO will provide the necessary support to improve the agriculture sector that will positively impact all of Iraq.

H.E. Mr. Al-Jubouri discussed ways of enhancing and strengthening cooperation and coordination with FAO. He praised FAO's role in advancing the agricultural sector in Nineveh Governorate and called on the organization to provide more support to the governorate. At the end of the meeting, the Governor thanked the EU for their generous support to develop the agriculture sector in Nineveh and FAO in Iraq. He expressed his willingness and readiness for full cooperation for the development of the agricultural sector in Nineveh Governorate.

The visit marks the distribution of wheat seeds in support of farmers in Nineveh under this EU funded project, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Governorate of Nineveh. This distribution is planned to empower the farming community in the governorate and increase availability of food staples, especially following the severe damage caused by the latest military operations.

"I am delighted to see that, thanks to the strong collaboration between FAO and the national and local authorities, distribution of inputs to farmers is starting in Nineveh under this EU funded intervention", said Mr. Martin Huth, the EU Ambassador to Iraq. "I strongly believe that the agriculture and the agri-food sectors have a great potential for the diversification of the economy in Iraq, and restoring the historical agricultural capacities of the Nineveh region is key to such development. In a time where the country has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, livelihoods have been affected and many families have seen increased needs in food security in a region already struggling from past years insecurity. I do hope that the roll out of these activities can quickly help farmers in the long-awaited recovery.

For more information, please contact:Mrs. Lubna AlTarabishi, +964 7740804002Email: Lubna.altarabishi@fao.org

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FAO and the European Union support the recovery of agricultural livelihoods in Northern Iraq [EN/AR] - Iraq - ReliefWeb

USAID is supporting the return of displaced populations from ethnic and religious minorities through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach that tailors services to the unique needs of the communities that call this region home.

Context

The occupation of the so-called Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) left the Ninewa governorate in a state of ruin, with significant destruction to housing, essential services and other infrastructure in many areas. The severe living conditions, as well as continued security concerns and loss of livelihood,, have impeded members from persecuted ethnic and religious minorities from safely returning, thereby contributing to a continuation of protracted displacement for these and other populations.

USAID RESPONSE

USAID is supporting the return of displaced populations from ethnic and religious minorities in Ninewa Plain and western Ninewa through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach that tailors services to the unique needs of historically Christian, Yazidi, and other minority communities that call this region home. The project includes activities to build livelihoods, community peacebuilding, education, and psychosocial services. USAID also is helping to rehabilitate destroyed or damaged homes for internally displaced persons (IDPs), including religious and ethnic minorities, and delivers competitive grants to small and medium enterprises through the Enterprise Development Fund to boost business recovery and create jobs.

Achievements to Date

Shelter rehabilitation:

Economic recovery:

Mental health and social cohesion:

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Supporting the return of displaced populations in Ninewa Plain and Western Ninewa - Iraq - ReliefWeb