UN Assists 'Sudden Influx' of Refugees in Kurdistan Region - East Idaho News
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UN Assists ‘Sudden Influx’ of Refugees in Kurdistan Region

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getty 081014 iraqmap?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1407700043638iStock/Thinkstock(BAGHDAD) — Thousands of displaced Iraqis are flooding into the Kurdistan region, prompting the assistance of international aid organizations who say more food and water is needed.

Supplies are running low for organizations in northern Iraq who are looking to help provide food and water for those fleeing ISIS militants. Great Britain and Australia are assisting the United States military in airdropping humanitarian aid to religious refugees, also reinforced by efforts from United Nations agencies.

“We are responding to the sudden influx of displaced into the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] and bordering areas,” a U.N. envoy said in a statement.

Hundreds of thousands have fled to the Dahuk Governorate in the Kurdistan region or to “disputed border areas” in the past days, where the World Food Programme has distributed more than 1,600,000 meals.

Meanwhile, Iraqis remained trapped on a desert mountain, surrounded by ISIS fighters. U.S. cargo jets have delivered more than 3,800 gallons of water, along with 1,600 meals.

“The U.N. will continue to do what it can to provide relief to those who have fled with little but the clothes they are wearing,” said U.N. Secretary-General for Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov said Sunday.

“The situation is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future and the U.N. will work with both the Central and Regional government to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands already displaced and make preparations to receive many more who will arrive over the next few days.”



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