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| FAQs: The
United Nations in Iraq |
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Where does the United Nations work in Iraq? |
| The United Nations (UN) works in all the 18 governorates of Iraq and operates at the community, governorate and national levels. National and international staff are deployed throughout the country in cooperation with their local, provincial and national counterparts. |
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Which UN organisations work in Iraq? |
| There are 16 UN organisations, programmes, agencies and funds working in Iraq. They are the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO). |
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How long has the UN been present in Iraq and why? |
| A number of UN programmes and organisations have been operating in Iraq since 1955. Others established their offices in the early 1990s and again after 2003. In August 2009, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1883,1 in which the Council stated that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, at the request of the Government of Iraq, continue to pursue their expanded mandate, as stipulated in resolutions 1770 and 1830. The UN continues to be present in Iraq to respond to the needs of the Iraqi people, who have suffered from years of sanctions, conflicts and wars and lack of access to essential services. |
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How does the UN implement its projects in Iraq? |
| The UN implements its different programmes and projects through a strong cooperation and partnership with the Government of Iraq, civil society organisations and a number of partners and counterparts including Iraqi and international non-governmental organisations. |
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Who does the UN assist in Iraq and how do Iraqis benefit from this assistance? |
| The UN provides assistance to the entire Iraqi population of 31.5 million people. It remains particularly concerned about the Iraqi people’s ability to lead normal lives and all aspects of their safety. Protection of targeted and vulnerable groups including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, minorities, the deprived, children and women makes important aspect of the UN’s work. The UN implements its projects and programmes in eight different sectors including: education, water & sanitation, health & nutrition, housing & shelter, food security, protection, governance support and economic reform & diversification. |
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What emergency mechanism does the UN operate in Iraq? |
| Through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN operates the Expanded Humanitarian Response Fund (ERF), which provides quick and flexible funding of up to US$400,000 to national and international organisations for urgent humanitarian activities in Iraq. The ERF supports rapid humanitarian response by supporting projects which focus on saving lives or protecting threatened livelihoods, meeting critical short-term humanitarian needs and |
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Does the UN have any alignment with particular groups or factions? |
| The UN is an impartial body working in Iraq at the request of, and in partnership with, the Government of Iraq. The UN does not favour any political, sectarian or ethnic groups or factions. It upholds the highest standards in fostering equal opportunity among all Iraqi people, respect for human rights and enhanced empowerment to achieve a successful, dignified and sustainable future for the Iraqi nation. |
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What was the aftermath of the Canal Hotel bombing? |
| Following the tragic bombing of the former UN Headquarters at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, which saw 22 staff lose their lives and injuring over 100, the UN was forced to reassess its staff security policy and reduce its physical presence in Iraq. However, the UN continued providing assistance and support to the Iraqi people, mainly through its Iraqi staff. Since 2007, the UN has progressively increased its presence in Iraq and plans to continue expanding operations throughout the country. Currently, there are approximately 170 international staff and more than 420 national staff, all based in Iraq. |
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How can I contact the UN in Iraq or find further information? |
| Visit http://www.uniraq.org to find links to UN organizations, news and publications. For further information on the UN’s work in Iraq, visit http://www.iauiraq.org. |
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