Politics

Australia joins others in providing financial support to Iraq for reconstruction

Australia has joined the United States in announcing the provision of financial aid to support displaced persons in Iraq and promote stability in the country.

Karzan Sulaivany 2018/01/11 13:36

middle east Iraq Australia Islamic State

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Australia has joined the United States in announcing the provision of financial aid to support displaced persons in Iraq and promote stability in the country, the Australian Ambassador to Iraq said on Wednesday.

Following a meeting in Baghdad with Iraqi Planning Minister Salman Jumaili, Australian Ambassador Christopher Langman said his country would provide USD 100 million “over the next three years to support displaced people and provide stability.”

Langman’s promise came after Jumaili called on the Australian government to provide more support to Iraq, especially in the areas of reconstruction and development of liberated cities and towns, a press release published following the meeting read.

On Tuesday, the United States said it would grant USD 75 million “to stabilize Iraq” after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS).

Meanwhile, a conference in Kuwait in February will address the reconstruction of different areas in Iraq which have been destroyed due to the war against IS, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.

The meeting is expected to be held from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14 where donor countries and organizations will announce financial contributions, KUNA said.

Following Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s declaring “final victory” in December, marking the end of IS in the country, efforts are now focused on rebuilding areas devastated by the war.

“Iraq requires at least USD 100 billion in assistance to rebuild homes, businesses, and infrastructure including oil and telecommunications facilities,” KUNA quoted Secretary General of the Iraqi cabinet, Mahdi al-Allaq.

Following the vicious battle against IS, Iraqi officials say that rebuilding the areas destroyed due to war requires support from the international community.

The country’s officials estimate that the reconstruction of Mosul, liberated in July 2017, could take at least five years and require billions of dollars.

Editing by Nadia Riva