Newsun humanitarian operations, un humanitarian operations iraq, ISIL iraq, un humanitarian supplies
Jun 02, 2015 12:48 PM EDT
The United Nations' humanitarian operations in Iraq may be coming to a close sooner than expected unless new funds are brought into the program.
Thus far, the lack of funding may either lead to half of the program being closed or the entire operation being shut down. News of the humanitarian operations potentially being shut down could not come at a worse time, with the country in the midst of turmoil coming courtesy of Islamic State insurgents.
Lise Grande, the United Nations' Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq has said the number of individuals in need of aid only continues to rise with each passing day. Conversely, the resources meant to help aid the people in need are now drying, and Grande says a tumultous summer could be on the horizon, according to Reuters.
Grande has indicated that the number one problem for the humanitarian program at the moment is money.
The particulars of the humanitarian operation crisis include emergency kits running dangerously low, an alarming fact, considering how many people who have recently fled violent areas require it. Food rations are also in short supply for the program, and local sources are not easily accessible with conflict popping up at different locations. More than 77 health clinics could also be shut down by the end of June, according to Yahoo News.
Grande has also estimated that the number of Iraqi people in need of humanitarian aid could climb to 10 million people by the end of 2015, which would be up by 2 million from what it is now.
Aside from the growing concerns Iraqis have over the dwindling humanitarian aid supplies, they are also growing wary over the widespread violence taking place in and around the country coming courtesy of ISIL, according to the UN News Centre.
The city of Ramadi and the Anbar Governorate in particular have been gravely affected by ISIL's actions, with over 237,000 individuals displaced from their homes, and thousands more killed and injured due to the fighting.