Further to the announcement by Commissioner Nielson yesterday (SPEECH/03/146 and IP/03/416), the European Commission has released further details of its first humanitarian aid decision (adopted today) for civilians in Iraq. €3 million has been allocated by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) under the fast-track “primary emergency” procedure to provide at least 75,000 internally displaced people with emergency relief, through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Commenting on the decision, Poul Nielson, the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid stressed the need to act swiftly. “Even at this early stage, we are receiving reports of people moving out of urban areas in northern Iraq. We all recall the terrible images of twelve years ago when tens of thousands of civilians were stranded without food or shelter in the mountains. There is now a very serious risk of major displacements throughout the country.”
Mr Nielson reiterated that the Commission was moving swiftly to deploy the remaining €18 million in the initial package of funding announced yesterday by the Commission.
This decision announced today involves:
 the provision of emergency relief for 75,000 internally displaced people (covering items such as food parcels, blankets, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, tents, heaters, stoves and hygiene kits).
 the supply food aid for hospitals.
 the chartering of an aircraft for humanitarian flight operations
 protection activities.

Website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/iraq/index_en.htm