UN agencies launch 85 mln dollar Iraqi refugee appeal
GENEVA (AFP) — The World Health Organization and other United Nations agencies on Tuesday launched an appeal for 84.8 million dollars to help more than two million Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries.
"The funds are required to support host governments in meeting the health and nutrition needs of the displaced populations until the end of next year," the WHO said in a statement.
The appeal has been jointly undertaken by the WHO, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN children's fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme and the UN Population Fund.
"The joint appeal aims to improve access to health care; address malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and strengthen information and surveillance systems and coordination," the statement said.
Faced with continued violence and instability, around 750,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan and an estimated 1.5 million are in neighbouring Syria.
"The burden on their (Syria and Jordan's) health systems has become overwhelming and requires immediate and urgent support from the international community," the UN agencies said.
Jordan has said that sheltering the Iraqis costs the kingdom around one billion dollars a year. Amman has repeatedly asked for more direct aid, especially for the health, water and education sectors.
Syria has said it will impose visa requirements for Iraqis in a bid to stem the flow of refugees, but that this will not apply during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres last month reiterated a call on the international community to do more to support both Iraqi refugees and the two host nations.
"The international community has a big debt of gratitude towards these two countries," he said.
