Emirates Red Crescent launches fresh aid operation for Iraqi, Syrian refugees in Kurdistan

Abu Dhabi, 28 January 2015 (WAM): The UAE's Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) is carrying out a new humanitarian aid operation for thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq's Kurdistan Region as part of the Show Compassion humanitarian campaign (Tarahamu in Arabic). In its fresh aid effort in Iraq, the agency's distribution of aid to Syrian refugees and people affected by the current situation in Iraq is in accordance with the directives of the UAE wise leadership and is being followed up by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), said Secretary-General of ERC, Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, who is leading an ERC team of officials to Iraq to oversee the distribution of aid. Al Falahi said that Iraq is a top priority for ERC as the humanitarian challenges are being exacerbated by the increasing numbers of refugees flowing from Syria and IDPs being forced out by the events in Iraq. ERC is monitoring the refugee flows and the humanitarian situation in Iraq and has recently intensified its efforts under the current bad weather conditions. Al Falahi ERC's teams had access to Heran, Khleifan, and Soran, the mountainous areas north of Erbil close to the Iranian-Turkish border, to give out shelter, food and warm clothes to the displaced. The official added that refugee and displaced children, the most vulnerable in the country, are a priority for ERC which is trying to help minimise the impact of the exceptional circumstances on them. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395275700204.html