UN humanitarian chief calls for greater assistance to Iraqi people

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O'Brien, on Wednesday called for greater assistance for millions of people across Iraq following a two-day visit to the country, a UN spokesman said here.

Since January 2014, more than 3 million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes and more than 8 million people are in need of assistance, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric at a daily briefing.

"Mr. O'Brien said that all the families he spoke with had heart- breaking stories of fear, flight, loss and grief. International humanitarian law obliges all those engaged in fighting to protect civilians during hostilities, including by refraining from targeting them," said Dujarric.

On June 8, O'Brien visited Baghdad, where he met people recently displaced from Ramadi. On June 9, exactly one year to the day after Mosul fell, causing mass displacement, he visited a camp for internally displaced people in Erbil.

"He said that it is imperative at this critical time that we do more to mitigate the suffering of the Iraqi people," said Dujarric.

O'Brien said that the United Nations is working to ensure emergency assistance is provided wherever it is needed in Iraq but the UN urgently needs 497 million U.S. dollars to provide shelter, food, water and other life-saving services over the coming six months, according to Dujarric.

Islamic State militants conquered Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, in June 2014. The Iraqi army is currently fighting the terrorists to win back militant-held regions. Endite