19th May, 2015
Almost 25,000 people have fled the Iraqi city of Ramadi after it was seized by fighters of the so-called Islamic State over the weekend, according to the UN.
Lise Grande, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, said nothing was more important than helping the people fleeing Ramadi – some of whom have had to flee for the second time in a month.
"They are in trouble and we need to do everything possible to help them,” he said. "Thousands of people had to sleep in the open because they didn’t have places to stay. We would be able to do much more if we had the funding."
Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was taken followed several days of fighting which involved suicide bombers and car bombs. The UN says most of the displaced are heading for Baghdad which lies 115 kilometres to the east.
UN agencies and NGOs have already been providing assistance to more than 130,000 after IS attacks on Ramadi last month. They are some of the 2.5 million displaced people and refugees in Iraq.
The UN has warned that funding for many life-saving programs in Iraq is running out and has called a new humanitarian appeal which will be launched in Brussels on 4th June.
Iran-backed Shiite militias are reportedly preparing to attempt to retake the city.
– DAVID ADAMS
