EU sends 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Mosul IDPs in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The European Union delivered 40 tons of emergency relief assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Erbil, the European Commission stated on Monday.

The plane transported the first batch of aid including 268 family tents sheltering about 1,400 people, 3,000 blankets, tarpaulins, sleeping pads, maternity kits for newborn babies, and hygiene supplies.

According to the statement, the aid covers the basic needs of the most vulnerable people who are affected by the fight against the Islamic State (IS) inside and around Mosul.

“The fighting continues to cause enormous suffering among the population in Iraq, especially around and inside Mosul, Hawija, and Telafar,” said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.

“These airlifts, filled with urgently needed help, are a tangible expression of European solidarity with the Iraqi people,” the Commissioner continued.

The EU also stated the second batch of aid was expected to arrive in Erbil on Dec. 13 which included 100 tents, 10,000 blankets, and 1,000 kitchen sets.

Additionally, the third shipment, scheduled to come on Dec. 14, consists of over 570 tents, 7,400 blankets, and non-food items such as hygiene, school and family kits, and medical equipment.

Since 2015, the EU’s humanitarian aid to Iraq accounted for a total of €241 million ($255 million USD) which included different basic needs and services for the displaced.

Moreover, since June 2014, over 3.3 million Iraqi civilians had been displaced in the country with over 1.8 million residing in IDP and refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany