Iraq weekly press release from Janan Aljabiri IFIR Baghdad Representative 27th January 2017. 

Since the Mosul operation started thousands of people have sought refuge across all parts Iraq. A high number of people from Mosul are now living in Ninwa and Baghdad.  Those fleeing Mosul suffer from increasing unmet needs such as lack of food, clean water, medicine, tents and hygiene kits.  Unfortunately not enough financial resources are being put in place by Iraq’s Government’ to support those in desperate need.

The government continues to raise taxes on working people. including the 4 million, 500 thousand state’s employees in addition to more than 2 million retired persons to secure revenue to help both the Internally displaced people and raise funds for Al-Hashd Al-Shabi( Shi’a Militia).  This is % 4.8 compulsory cut of the state servants monthly payments. While 3% of this payment goes to both parties, %1.8 is paid to the state administration. This amounts to US $ 4 billions. This is still much less than required  to address
internally displaced people’s (IDPs)  needs. It still however creates financial difficulties for the state workers in particular those on a low income, causing more difficulty and financial hardship. In addition, this revenue  is subjected to corruption, given the lack of law and order in the state. 

IFIR believes that the state should take responsibility to respond to the IDPs and ensure enough resources are in place, and stop imposing compulsory cuts to wages and an increase in taxes on state workers, but leave it to voluntary donations. 

The International Federation of Iraqi refugees continues its humanitarian task of assisting the IDPs.  We extend our call to all human rights organisations in particular those who support refugees to collaborate with us to continue to relieve suffering and save lives of IDPs in Iraq.

Contact details of Baghdad Branch:
Tel: 00964 (0) 7800063048
Email: janan12@hotmail.co.uk
Skype: janan.aljabiri
Website: http://www.federationifir.com
Main Branch- London:
Tel: 44(0) 7856032991
Kurdistan details:
Tel:00964(0)770724343