(VEE) ITALY DONATES 4.5 MILLION EUROS FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION

(VELINO) Roma, 6 Jun - Italy has donated 4.5 million euros to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to finance the project Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation (FFIS) in Iraq. The aim is to support the UNDP to take swift action in the areas liberated from ISIS. The funds come in addition to the 2.5 million granted by Italy in December 2015 to the UN agency for Iraq. The FFIS, in accordance with the priorities identified by the Iraqi government and local authorities, is responsible for the rapid restoration of public infrastructure, providing loans to small businesses, increasing the capacity of local government, promoting civil and community reconciliation efforts and at the same time providing temporary jobs. The FFIS, founded in June 2015, currently operates in the governorates of Anbar, Salah al-Din, Ninewah and Diyala in a total of 17 areas where stabilisation efforts have been held up by destruction in the fighting with Daesh and where the Islamic State has planted improvised explosive devices to hamper their enemies. "The very effective cooperation between the project, the Iraqi government and local authorities has helped identify several areas that need FFIS intervention," said Italian Ambassador in Baghdad, Marco Carnelos. He continued: "Italy is already substantially engaged with Iraq in terms of stabilisation, thanks to the police training programmes conducted by the carabinieri. From today this will grow further in the context of the growing needs of the FFIS. A strong stabilisation process remains crucial to pave the way for the safe return home of Iraqis displaced abroad and to prevent Iraqis from becoming potential refugees." vel
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