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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 26 July 2006

IRAQ: Government donates $35 million to Lebanon

BAGHDAD, 26 Jul 2006 (IRIN) - Despite an escalating humanitarian crisis of its own, the Iraqi government has contributed US$35 million to the High Relief Commission of Lebanon (HRCL) in a show of support for the Lebanese government and concern for the needs of its citizens.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, who said he had phoned Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Monday to inform him of the financial aid.

“We cannot let our Lebanese brothers suffer without the support of their fellow Arabs,” said a senior official in Saleh’s office. “Our prime minister and his deputy have called on the international community to make more effort to stop the violence that has spread in Lebanon. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki will also make the same appeal on his visits to the United States and England this month.”

Though more than 6,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in sectarian violence in Iraq in the past three months alone, according to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), demonstrations related to the Lebanese conflict are occurring across the country. In Baghdad, rallies of 200 to 400 people are typically in support of the general Lebanese population. In the south, where Shi’ites are more prevalent, they are taking a more pro-Hezbullah stance.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut has been busy evacuating Iraqis living in Lebanon. So far, the embassy has organised 10 journeys via Syria to bring more than 400 Iraqis back to Baghdad. Another 100 are expected soon while the embassy continues to receive calls from anxious Iraqis who have relatives in Lebanese prisons – mostly charged with entering the country illegally.

“We have already contacted officials in Lebanon for the release of these Iraqi detainees and we hope that in the coming couple of days they are going to grant this request,” says Diyar Salushi, a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hoping to move in the opposite direction of evacuees are Iraqi NGOs who are offering humanitarian support to Lebanon.

“I and nine friends have already contacted the Lebanese Embassy in Baghdad asking for a visa to go there and assist the HRCL,” says Ahmed Youry, a volunteer from a local aid organisation in the capital. “The embassy has promised us a response at the end of this week, by which time I’m sure even more Iraqis will be ready to join forces and help Lebanese victims.”

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This material comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006