On Thursday 6 September 2018, Mr Ramanathan Balakrishnan, UNFPA Representative to Iraq, called upon H.E. Dr Mahdi Al Alak, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

During the meeting, Mr Balakrishnan sought the support of the Secretary-General in expediting the endorsement of Standard Operating Procedures for the establishment of shelters for women in Iraq.

UNFPA Representative also informed Dr Al Alak of his end of assignment in Iraq and expressed his gratitude towards the Government of Iraq, and especially Dr Al Alak, for supporting UNFPA country programme in Iraq and thus enabling it to become the largest UNFPA programme, globally. He expressed his confidence that the government and in particular, Dr Al Alak will continue to support the UNFPA programme in Iraq under the leadership of the incoming Representative. 

In return, Dr Al Alak praised Mr Balakrishnan for the leadership and commitment he demonstrated and acknowledged the important contributions and achievements of the UNFPA programme in 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.