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EU warns of major humanitarian crisis in Iraq

BRUSSELS, June 13 (KUNA) -- A major humanitarian crisis is underway in Iraq as a result of fierce fighting between the Iraqi Security Forces and armed opposition groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Kristalina Georgieva, has warned.
In a statement, she noted that in a matter of days Mosul, the country's second largest city, and other towns have fallen to insurgent forces. As many as half a million people have fled their homes as a result, most of them leaving everything behind in their haste to escape.
"The situation in Iraq was already of great concern to me when I visited Baghdad and the Kurdish Region of Iraq in March. As well as announcing the opening of an (EU humanitarian aid office) ECHO in Irbil the European Commission increased its humanitarian aid funding by 3 million euro to help some 400,000 people on the move as a result of fighting in Al Anbar Province," she said.
"Tragically all our worst fears have now been realised. The roots of this latest crisis are complex and include the alienation of the beleaguered Sunni Arab population, a state of generalized violence, opportunistic armed opposition groups and a spill over effect from the terrible war raging in Syria," stated the EU official.
In the coming days the full extent of this new humanitarian crisis will become clearer and the European Commission stands ready to offer further assistance, she noted "I would like to encou rage the Government of Iraq to work with all political parties together with the international community to do all in their power to make sure that the affected people of Iraq, who have already suffered so much, are provided with the aid they so desperately need," said Georgeiva.
She commended those "good neighbours who have in the past taken in and provided shelter to displaced Iraqis and who continue to show their solidarity by helping again in another hour of need." The EU Commissioner called upon all those involved in the fighting to respect International Humanitarian Law, to protect civilians and humanitarian aid workers giving emergency assistance and to ensure access to humanitarian assistance or safe passage for those leaving areas directly affected by insecurity and conflict. (end) nk.rk