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Erbil, Iraq, 10 February 2018 – The Government of Japan announced a US$ 2 million contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Iraq in support of the Fund’s reproductive health (RH) and gender-based violence (GBV) programmes across the country.

Within the humanitarian context in Iraq, even as people are returning to their homes, strengthening reproductive health facilities and gender-based violence response services becomes paramount. The Government of Japan’s contribution comes at a time where women and girls still face considerable challenges in accessing GBV and RH services. The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan estimates that 8.7 million people would be in need of humanitarian assistance in the course of the year, of whom approximately 2 million would be women of reproductive age in need of reproductive health and gender-based violence response services. 

Announcing the aid, Mr. Fumio Iwai, Ambassador of Japan to Iraq said, “It is the fourth year in a row since Japan started the assistance for vulnerable Iraqi/Syrian people affected by ISIL through its Supplementary Budget. This assistance shows Japan’s strong and faithful commitment to addressing the basic needs in the camps and the areas of return in Iraq”.

He added, “The assistance to UNFPA comes as part of the new package of humanitarian and stabilization efforts to Iraq amounting to approximately US$100 million. Japan is determined to serve displaced/returning people, refugees and host communities in Iraq, while supporting Iraq’s efforts for its development”.

On his part, Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan, UNFPA Representative to Iraq, said: “As families return to their homes, providing psychosocial support to GBV survivors and health services to women and girls is crucial. With the support from the Government of Japan, UNFPA will target 50,000 internally displaced people, residents, returnees and Syrian refugees. The US$ 2 million contribution will enable continuous operations of women centres and reproductive health facilities in the governorates of Ninewa, Salahudin, Anbar, Diyala, Duhok, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.”

The Government of Japan has been a key partner to UNFPA, contributing a total of US$ 9,212,800 million over the last three years in support of the Fund’s interventions and services to women and girls across Iraq.

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries please contact: Salwa Moussa, Communications Analyst, smoussa@unfpa.org