Many Iraqi citizens were either displaced or forced to migrate to more secure regions in Anbar or adjacent provinces since the end of last December, due to Iraqi government’s fight against the terrorist organizations in the Anbar Province, neighboring Syria. According to the latest information released by the United Nations, the number of Iraqi families displaced as such has reached 66,520.

Turkey fully supports the Iraqi government in its fight against terrorism, stands by the brotherly Iraqi people and in this context acts in line with its responsibilities. Turkey is saddened and concerned about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Anbar. Therefore, Turkey has decided to support the project initiated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in cooperation with the Iraqi government to provide core relief items for the displaced people of Anbar. For this purpose, Turkey submitted its financial contribution of 500,000 US Dollars to the UNHCR.

This international aid project is very timely and appropriate. Turkey, having opened its territories to hundreds of thousands of Syrians fleeing from the conflict in Syria, takes it as a duty to also extend a hand to its neighbor Iraq in this challenging period, as it has done in the past. Turkey also calls on the international community not to remain indifferent to this UNHCR project.

Turkey will continue to stand by the friendly and brotherly people of Iraq as it has done so far and contribute to the unity and integrity, stability, security and prosperity of Iraq.