UN Sanctions $15 Million For People Fleeing Fallujah

The United Nations has allocated $15 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the people fleeing Fallujah.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, said people fleeing Fallujah are in desperate need of assistance and they should be helped before the situation becomes a humanitarian catastrophe.

He further said in an issued statement by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “I call on donors to immediately support our humanitarian response and leverage this CERF allocation with additional resources.”

A report released earlier by the US revealed at least 85,000 people have been forced to flee Falluja and those who are still in the city to face shortages of food, electricity, medicine and safe drinking water too.

Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said those who are fleeing the city are escaping with nothing and they need everything. Partners are working to provide them everything including health care, safe water, shelter, household kits and support for victims of gender and sexual-based violence. Efforts will also be scaled up soon.

Most of the displaced have been provided shelter to Ameriyat al Falluja town which is 30 kilometers south of Falluja and the camps here are now full. The government is working to set up other camps in nearby twons of Khalidiyah and Habbaniyah Tourist City.