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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

28 March 2003

USAID Grants $8 Million to UNICEF for Water Services In Iraq

(Grant will focus on aiding vulnerable in country, USAID says) (560)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it has
awarded the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) an $8 million
grant to provide basic health, water and sanitation services in Iraq.
UNICEF will focus on providing services to the most vulnerable people,
particularly women and children, USAID said in a March 28 press
release.
Immediate attention will be given to repairing key infrastructures and
meeting basic household needs for water and sanitation, according to
the release.
UNICEF will coordinate with USAID, other donors, and local government
entities to normalize health and water services in the shortest time
possible, the release said.
Following is the text of USAID's press release:
(begin text)
March 28, 2003
USAID Announces Grant to UNICEF for Health, Water and Sanitation
Services in Iraq
WASHINGTON, DC -- Andrew Natsios, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID), today announced an initial $8
million, one-year grant to the United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF]
to provide basic health, water supply and sanitation services in Iraq.
The grant is part of USAID's planning for reconstruction in Iraq and
will build on UNICEF's substantial on-going programs in the country.
The UN agency has been active in Iraq since 1997 and is the lead
agency for water supply and sanitation in the north of the country.
"The United States, through this partnership and the awarding of this
grant, is seeking to use the experience of UNICEF to ensure that the
people of Iraq have clean water and adequate sanitation facilities to
protect human health and prevent disease," said Administrator Natsios.
Under the USAID grant, UNICEF will provide basic health services to
the most vulnerable populations with a focus on women and children.
Child nutrition is a major concern as almost one-third of all children
in the south and central regions of the country are suffering from
malnutrition and the child mortality rates have more than doubled in
the last decade. The grant provides support to primary health care
services through UNICEF-assisted Ministry of Health clinics by
providing funds for essential medicines, vaccines and micronutrients,
and establishing a rapid referral and response system for more serious
cases. The grant also makes available UNICEF assistance in management
and technical assistance to facility-based medical staff, the
publication and distribution of relevant health education materials,
nutritional assessments.
The USAID grant also addresses the need to improve the water supply
and sanitation system in Iraq by repairing and rehabilitating the
existing systems and guaranteeing that affected populations have
access to minimal potable water supplies. Immediate attention will be
given to repairing key infrastructures and meeting basic household
needs for water and sanitation. This grant allows UNICEF to undertake
rapid assessments and ensure urgent technical, logistical, procurement
and maintenance assistance to these repairs and rehabilitation.
UNICEF is expected to coordinate with USAID, local government
entities, multilateral and donor partners to realize objectives. This
grant will serve to complement humanitarian efforts with the broader
goal of ensuring the normalization of health and water services in the
shortest time possible.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic
and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief efforts in Iraq,
please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq/.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



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