UNITED NATIONS: A United Nations official warned on Thursday Iraq was on the brink of humanitarian disaster unless funds are made available immediately to contain the crisis.

With escalating conflict, the United Nations and its NGO partners are asking donors for $497 million to cover the cost of providing shelter, food, water and other life-saving services over the coming six months.

The appeal will target communities across broad swathes of the country displaced or affected by the violence between government forces and the self-styled Islamic State.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, the United Nation Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Ms Lise Grande said the aid operation was hanging by a thread.

“The crisis in Iraq is one of the most complex and volatile anywhere in the world,” she said. “Humanitarian partners have been doing everything they can to help. But more than 50 per cent of the operation will be shut down or cut back if money is not received immediately.” The implications of this, Ms Grande added, would be “catastrophic”.

Published in Dawn June 5th, 2015

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