©UNHCR/Karlo Jeelo
The Government of France has announced a grant of EUR 1,000,000 to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Iraq. This funding will enable crucial work to strengthen Iraq’s legal frameworks related to displaced populations, ensuring access to asylum, preventing refoulement, and enhancing protection for refugees.
The funding will also enable UNHCR to continue its work to reduce the risk of Gender-Based Violence and ensure survivors receive the help they need, as well as to provide comprehensive support to refugee children.
Pauline Fresneau, UNHCR’s Acting Representative in Iraq, lauded France’s commitment and resolve to finding solutions for forcibly displaced individuals. “This funding comes at a critical time, supporting efforts of UNHCR and the Government of Iraq to implement vital policies and programmes that ensure the protection of forcibly displaced populations across the country. France has honored its commitment to not leave behind Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis”.
As many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and IDP returnees in Iraq may have lost or damaged their documents, or may never have had access to such documentation before, UNHCR will also use the funds to address the remaining needs of internally displaced Iraqis (IDPs) by supporting their access to civil identity documents. Having these documents is pivotal for Iraqis to access public services and participate in the public affairs of their country.
“France has consistently supported Iraq to face the consequences of the conflicts and crises it had to deal with”
stated His Excellency Patrick Durel, Ambassador to France in Iraq. “We continue to do so in close coordination with the Iraqi authorities and all relevant stakeholders, such as UNHCR. We deem it important to provide vulnerable people in Iraq with the assistance they need, so that they get better access to basic services and ultimately be better integrated into the society.”
France is one of the top ten contributors to UNHCR’s global operations, providing reliable and consistent funding. To date, France has contributed over USD 100 million to address the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, with a notable emphasis on the Middle East, including Iraq.
Currently, Iraq hosts over 300,000 refugees, mainly from Syria. The majority reside in urban areas alongside Iraqi communities, while about 28 per cent are in nine refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I). There are also over 1 million Iraqis who are internally displaced, with 115,000 living in 21 IDP camps in the KR-I. UNHCR continues to work with the authorities to find dignified and sustainable solutions for IDPs, including safe and voluntary return to areas of origin, relocation to other areas within the country and local inclusion.
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