THE GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY SUPPORTS THE EXPANSION OF RESILIENCE ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ

With this contribution, WFP will be able to scale up resilience building and livelihoods activities, supporting 70,000 vulnerable Iraqis through the rehabilitation of damaged water canals, agriculture infrastructures, productive assets and markets along the food value chain, creating the conditions to restart production at household level.

This contribution will directly benefit 6,300 individuals who will participate in cash-for-work labour intensive schemes, supporting nearly 37,800 families in areas of return.

“The war against Islamic State has resulted in unprecedented displacement of people and the destruction of infrastructure in many regions of the country,” said Germany’s Ambassador in Iraq, Dr. Cyrill Nunn. “But now that Islamic State has been driven out, more and more people are returning to their places of origin. Immediate income generation opportunities are needed to stabilize these regions,” he stressed. “Our contribution to WFP will directly address those needs and I am happy that we can continue and expand our collaboration with WFP in this field,” the Ambassador highlighted.

In collaboration with the Government of Iraq, WFP supports vulnerable households at risk of becoming food insecure due to increasing pressures on livelihoods and unsustainable coping strategies.

“As the situation in Iraq remains fragile, we need to continue providing assistance to the most vulnerable families, while supporting people’s efforts to rebuild their economic independence,” stated WFP Iraq Country Director Sally Haydock “WFP has always been able to count on Germany for support in Iraq, and this latest contribution demonstrates Germany’s continued commitment to helping the country to move forward.”

The funds stem from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Since 2014, Germany has supported WFP activities in Iraq by contributing €89.5 million (US$104 million). These funds have enabled WFP to provide a significant increase in food assistance for the most vulnerable Iraqis, and to engage in resilience-building activities of local communities.