Summary: As the crisis in Iraq continues to evolve and the humanitarian situation worsens, it is imperative the IFRC scales up its support to the Iraq Red Crescent Society (IRCS) in the current response. In light of the impending threat of an escalation in hostilities, coupled with the deterioration of key infrastructure, increased humanitarian needs are foreseen and the IFRC will continue to support the IRCS in scaling up its response to new crises. The original Iraq Population Displacement Emergency Appeal launched in January 2015 sought CHF 19,160,853 to meet the needs of 500,000 people. The Emergency Appeal was revised in November 2015 to reflect a slower implementation rate, mainly due to low appeal coverage with a funding request of CHF 8,130,652 targeting 200,000 beneficiaries. The appeal sought to support IRCS with food, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, as well as capacity-building activities.
It is now planned that the current Emergency Appeal will be revised by the end of April 2016, in order to enable IRCS to meet growing humanitarian needs. Iraqi Red Crescent Society is holding a Partnership Meeting 11-12 April in Beirut to discuss future needs and plans.
The current appeal coverage is 57 per cent. Funds are very urgently needed in order to support IRCS in providing more humanitarian assistance to those affected by the current crisis. Annexed to this update are the latest interim financial report for this Appeal, as well as the updated Mobilization Table that lists details of the outstanding relief requirements: 149,888 mattresses, 139,950 blankets, 60,200 jerry cans, 27,472 hygiene kits, 23,672 kitchen sets, 23,325 heaters, 21,494 tarpaulins, 4,600 food parcels, 3,800 lanterns, 1,750 first aid kits, 200 rapid latrines, 2 x Watsan Kit 5, and 1 mobile health unit van are very urgently needed.
As the Iraq complex emergency enters its second year, it is estimated that 10 million1 people now require some level of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 3.2 million are IDPs. 50 per cent of the 3.2 million currently displaced, are mainly concentrated in three governorates: Anbar, Baghdad and Dahuk.
Providing humanitarian assistance in such a complex and dynamic environment is increasingly challenging due to ongoing fighting in Ninewah, and around the Anbar and Mosul corridor, which has been put in place to allow the safe movement of people away from the area of fighting. Should the area affected by fighting continue to grow, up to 660,000 people could be severely affected. Displaced populations from this region are expected to seek refuge in nearby Dohuk.
The structural integrity of the Mosul Dam is an ever present concern which requires in-depth planning and strategic prepositioning of resources. Recent budget crises faced by the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government due to sharp decline in the global price of oil, also make day-to-day life difficult for both displaced families and the broader community.