Iraq Crisis: UK to send Iraq £3m in non-military aid
It is hoped the money can help those that have been displaced trying to flee the Isis insurgency
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The British government is to give £3 million in aid to Iraq in an attempt to help those that have to deal with the humanitarian consequences during the insurgency by Islamist extremists.
The £3 million is aimed at helping those that have had to flee their homes as a result of the territorial gains made by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) group who continue to take cities throughout the north of the country.
It is hoped that the money will provide agencies with the resources to supply water, sanitation, medicine, hygiene kits and basic household items.
Britain’s International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced the decision today after the Department for International Development had sent experts to Iraq to assess what level of support was needed.
In her announcement Greening said: "Iraq is facing serious humanitarian need.
"The UK contribution to the international relief response will include initial funding for clean water, medicine and sanitation, as well as support for the UNHCR (the United Nations refugee agency) to provide dedicated safety and welfare teams to protect vulnerable women."
Britain has now set up a Rapid Response Facility, which allows the Government to commit to rapid humanitarian funding in the first 72 hours after a humanitarian emergency has occurred.
Despite their commitment to non-military aid, on Tuesday the Foreign Secretary William Hague ruled Britain out of taking any military action in Iraq.
Mr Hague, who is currently in Turkey co-ordinating approaches to the situation in Iraq with the Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu, said that Britain would not be sending troops and that it was a “situation for the Iraqi leadership primarily to respond.”
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