UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

While armed conflict between the Government of Iraq, international troops and armed groups continued throughout 2008, early 2009 shows signs of a decrease in new population displacements, improved access to humanitarian assistance, and the return of small numbers of internally displaced persons and refugees. However, water, sanitation and electrical infrastructure remain inadequate to support the local population, and levels of poverty, unemployment and dependency on government food rations are on the rise. CIDA's contribution is supporting the United Nations Children#s Fund (UNICEF) to help meet the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable conflict-affected individuals in Iraq. Activities focus on providing emergency assistance to acutely vulnerable communities, and include targeted emergency education, protection for children and young people, and services to help improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities.