ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Several international aid organizations in the Kurdistan Region are planning to boost relief efforts ahead of the anticipated Mosul offensive, despite growing concerns about the agencies' financial troubles over the past two years with millions of refugees on the run in Iraq and Syria.
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Iraq and Kurdistan called for more international funding earlier this year and shut down parts of its much-needed medical centers in the country due to financial cuts.
The UNHCR coordinator Fredrik Kessy told Rudaw his team has prepared to take portions of the refugees who are predicted to flee to Kurdistan, but that their resources will likely be scarce.
"If we were not getting funding for the winter that would be a catastrophe," Kessy said, fearing that sub-zero temperatures in the cold seasons could become difficult challenges for the aid groups to assist the refugees.
Iraqi and Kurdish officials have predicted that around half a million people could take refuge in the Kurdistan Region, in addition to some 1.8 million other displaced people who have already taken refuge in hard conditions in the region.
Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Erbil has prepared for the possible refugee crisis with medical teams and equipment.
WHO in Erbil told Rudaw it had stored large amounts of medicines and hoped the challenge would not be greater than what they can cope with.
As part of our #Mosul response preparations, UNICEF is setting up water + sanitation services in a new camp in Daquq, #Kirkuk#Iraq #WaterIs pic.twitter.com/FGCysxp5nT
— UNICEF Iraq يونيسف (@UNICEFiraq) October 3, 2016
UNICEF video of work on water and sanitation services in a new camp in Daquq, Kirkuk in preparation for the Mosul operation.
