Iraq: providing for poor families during Ramadan

Iraq: providing for poor families during Ramadan

Baghdad (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is helping more than 64,000 destitute Iraqis through the holy month of Ramadan by providing them with food and hygiene items.
The aid distribution, which started yesterday in Basra, is due to conclude on 30 August in Baghdad.

"Many Iraqi families find themselves in dire straits and can't afford to share the traditional meal during the holy month of Ramadan," said Dusan Vukotic, the ICRC delegate in charge of the distribution. "Together with the local authorities and some non-governmental organizations, we are distributing aid to those who need it most – in particular, to households headed by women, disabled people, orphans and elderly people."

Food parcels with beans, lentils, chickpeas, rice, oil, sugar, salt, tea and tomato paste are being distributed to families in the governorates of Anbar, Ninewa, Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Kirkuk, Missan, Dohuk, Thiqar and Salah Al-Din to cover their needs for more than three weeks. The families are also being given hygiene kits.

In Iraq, in addition to providing food and other essentials to those most in need, the ICRC provides support for hospitals and physical rehabilitation centres and repairs and upgrades water facilities. It also visits people in places of detention to monitor the conditions in which they are being held and the treatment they receive, and to help them maintain contact with their families.

ENDS