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Baghdad

Switzerland adds CHF1 million of aid to deliver water to Mosul civilians

 Switzerland adds CHF1 million of aid to deliver water to Mosul civilians

Displaced Iraqis who had fled their homes reach to get water before entering at Hammam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq April 3, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Displaced Iraqis who had fled their homes reach to get water before entering at Hammam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq April 3, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com)  Switzerland will increase its financial assistance to Iraq by CHF1 million to ensure the delivery of potable water to areas affected by the war between Iraqi troops and Islamic State militants in Mosul.

A statement by the Swiss embassy in Jordan said this amount raises the total of Swiss commitment to Iraq to more than CHF40 million since the breakout of the war in 2014.

“Beyond the current military offensive against the IS group in Mosul, of equal concern are the over three million people who have been displaced inside the country who –

despite the efforts of humanitarian organisations and the Iraqi authorities – suffer from a major lack of security as well as assistance and are forced to endure repeated displacements,” the embassy said.

“..the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has decided to allocate an additional CHF 1 million to support the efforts of non-governmental organisations in protection and providing access to water in areas where there is an acute need for assistance,” read the statement.

According to the United Nations and the Iraqi government, the war in Mosul, which began in October 2016 when Iraqi troops launched an offensive to retake the city, has so far displaced at least 700.000 people, with most of those suffering food and medicine shortages at refugee camps, while others at liberated areas have been facing similar hardships coupled with devastated infrastructure.

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