Boost for UN relief operations in Iraq

Kuwait has donated $9.5 million to the United Nations humanitarian response plan in Iraq.

The UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos has welcomed the contribution saying it will help the humanitarian community in Iraq scale up relief efforts to provide aid to displaced families and host communities.

The latest upsurge in violence in Iraq has affected 1.5 million people with 1.2 million internally displaced since the beginning of the year.

The UN says the affected and displaced populations are in urgent need of water, food, shelter, healthcare, sanitation and protection from violence.

Last week, the UN humanitarian operations in Iraq received a donation of $500 million from Saudi Arabia.

SOURCE: Patrick Maigua, United Nations, Geneva.