IHF allocates $34 million to support work of aid agencies in Iraq

The Iraq Humanitarian Fund (IHF) has allocated $34 million to support the humanitarian work of NGOs, UN Agencies and Red Cross/Red Crescent organisations.

The IHF was established in June 2015 with the purpose of supporting humanitarian organisations with their response to the complex and dynamic humanitarian crisis in Iraq. The allocation of $34 million will strengthen the capacity of humanitarian agencies in Iraq and increase partnerships between different actors.

The new funding will support 82 different projects through 53 international and national partners, with a focus on high priority activities. The funds will support assistance to vulnerable populations and will have a geographic focus on the most severely affected regions of Ninewa, Anbar and Kirkuk.

$5.1 million of the funds will be allocated to health projects with the aim of reaching 1.6 million people. Health partners in the country require a total of $54 million under the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan to guarantee the continuation of health services in conflict affected areas.

Currently, the Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan has received just 54% of the required funding; food security, gender based violence and health remain severely underfunded sectors.

The severe funding shortage 38% of healthcare facilities are at risk of closing by the end of July 2018. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned that this will effect over 900,000 people who are in need of medical treatment for severe and common diseases, vaccinations, nutrition and gynaecology.

WHO have also warned that support and funding for health services has declined dramatically since the end of the Mosul campaign last year. To date, 22 healthcare facilities have closed due to funding issues which has left critical gaps in the care humanitarian agencies are able to provide.

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Image credit: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett