ReliefWeb

Highlights

• Humanitarian partners prepare summer response plans to distribute seasonal assistance packages.

• Preventing sexual exploitation and abuse is a joint responsibility of all humanitarian partners.

• First Governorate Returns Committees established to facilitate a consultative and principled returns process.

• The Iraq Humanitarian Fund launched its 2017 Annual Report.

Ms. Marta Ruedas, the new Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, arrived in Iraq

Ms. Ruedas brings to this position more than 27 years of experience coordinating United Nations development and humanitarian work in conflict and post-conflict countries, as well as extensive experience supporting peacebuilding transitions. Since 2015, she has served as the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan.

Ms. Ruedas will also serve as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator, and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq.

Humanitarian partners prepare summer response plans to distribute seasonal assistance packages

Humanitarian partners started with summer programming that will address season-specific needs of highly vulnerable people who are at present inadequately covered by government’s support systems.

During summer, temperatures throughout Iraq reach over 50° C which makes displaced people living in tents and in makeshift shelter even more vulnerable. To support government response efforts, the humanitarian community is preparing seasonal assistance measures, including the distribution of extra water storage capacity, cool boxes, additional water, protection from sun, mechanical cooling as well assistance in the form of cash distribution allowing families to prioritize their needs in the most flexible way.

At an Inter-Cluster Coordination Group meeting in April, the Shelter and Non-Food Items (SNFI) Cluster, together with other humanitarian partners, presented the summarization plans underway to distribute seasonal assistance packages and services as the summer approaches. These plans are complementary to authorities' efforts already underway but which inadequately cover some peope under the social protection floors.