Since June 2014, the UK has committed £79.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Iraq. The UK is the largest contributor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, through which we are funding projects to support those leaving Fallujah.

The United Nations estimates that there are almost 2.5 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Iraq. We do not hold data on the religious, ethnic nor geographic background of IDPs.

The UK is extremely concerned by the plight of people displaced due to the advance of ISIL in Iraq, and to date has provided £39.5 million to help address the humanitarian situation.

DFID is working closely with the Government of Iraq and the UN to provide humanitarian assistance to the almost 2.5 million internally displaced people (IDP) across Iraq. While we are determined that people will be able to return home to a stable, safe and secure environment, for the majority of IDPs this is not yet possible. The UK will continue to work with the Government of Iraq and international partners to ensure adequate planning is in place to allow IDPs to return home at such a time as it is safe to do so.

UK aid is reaching hundreds of thousands of vulnerable displaced people across Iraq and Syria, including those religious minorities affected by ISIL’s activities. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. DFID continues to work with the UN and the international community to ensure all minorities’ rights are protected and our aid reaches those in greatest need. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, and a further £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

We are monitoring the impact of military operations on civilian populations in both Iraq and Syria and ensuring our humanitarian response is targeted to those most in need. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, and a further £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Access to civilian compensation schemes is an MoD lead and therefore does not form part of our humanitarian mission.

More cowardly and unforgiveable executions have again reminded us of the depths of ISIL’s depravity. As temperatures plummet in northern Iraq, will the Secretary of State update us on progress in providing humanitarian assistance to the 5.2 million Iraqis affected by this brutal conflict?

More cowardly and unforgiveable executions have again reminded us of the depths of ISIL’s depravity. As temperatures plummet in northern Iraq, will the Secretary of State update us on progress in providing humanitarian assistance to the 5.2 million Iraqis affected by this brutal conflict?

The current security situation and the deliberate blocking of aid by ISIL have made it extremely difficult for us or our partners to access ISIL controlled areas.

We condemn the brutal human rights abuses perpetrated by ISIL, including reports of the trafficking and kidnapping of Yezidi women. The UK government is committed, as part of an international coalition, to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.

UK humanitarian aid has been helping many victims who have managed to escape ISIL’s atrocities, including through the protection of vulnerable groups and through meeting the specific needs of displaced women and girls. In Dahuk in Northern Iraq, where many Yezidi women have fled to, our partners are providing psychosocial and community outreach support for survivors of sexual and gender based violence.

The UN estimates that 6.4 million people are internally displaced in Syria and a further 1.8 million people internally displaced in Iraq. There are over 3.2 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.

In response to the current crisis, the UK has allocated an overall aid package of £23 million for 2014/15 to support the needs of internally displaced people in Iraq. £18.7 million of this has been allocated for Northern Iraq. Given the displacement and movement of people in Iraq, it is not possible to have precise information on the number of women and girls assisted by UK aid programmes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

DFID funding includes programming to prevent and respond to sexual violence. Activities include establishing women and children’s community centres, which provide group counselling and support for women, as well as offering safe spaces for children to play and learn.

The UK has not carried out any aid drops to the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

The UK carried out 7 airdrops of humanitarian assistance to Mount Sinjar and 2 air drops to the town of Amerli in Northern Iraq.

In response to the current crisis, the UK has allocated an overall aid package of £23 million for 2014/15 to support the needs of internally displaced people in Iraq. £18.7 million of this has been allocated for Northern Iraq. The total amount of aid that has been allocated to the Kurdistan region of Iraq is not possible to quantify exactly as our humanitarian partners are distributing aid based on need across Northern Iraq.

In response to the current crisis, the UK has allocated an overall aid package of £23 million for 2014/15 to support the needs of internally displaced people in Iraq. £18.7 million of this has been allocated for Northern Iraq. The total amount of aid that has been allocated to the Kurdistan region of Iraq is not possible to quantify exactly as our humanitarian partners are distributing aid based on need across Northern Iraq.

The Department for International Development used the expertise and experience of the UK Military, and worked with other international partners including the US, to ensure aid packages reached civilians most in need in Northern Iraq.

The UK is doing all it can to minimise the risks of aid being diverted or misused in Iraq. UK funds are channelled through organisations that have a strong track record of delivering humanitarian aid in difficult and dangerous places. We also apply a rigorous process of due diligence, where they must demonstrate clear and accountable governance structures, with transparent and accountable financial procedures. All partners that receive UK funding must also demonstrate full compliance with humanitarian principles.

The Department for International Development is delivering £23 million in response to the crisis in Iraq. Our Advisors on the ground are working closely with aid agencies, the UN and the Kurdistan Regional Government to further assess humanitarian needs. The UK government is lobbying the UN and the Government of Iraq to meet the humanitarian needs of all Iraq’s citizens, to protect minorities and to improve the tracking and reporting of human rights abuses including crimes of sexual and gender based violence.

Jointly with the FCO we are looking at how UK expertise could support the new Iraqi government build a stable and prosperous country.

DFID has not received any reports of any impact on UK aid operations inside Syria resulting from UK military action in Iraq. We continue to closely monitor the situation with our partners on the ground, and to receive regular reports from them.

DFID is leading the UK’s humanitarian response and is getting life-saving aid to people across Northern and Central Iraq who have fled ISIL terrorists. In addition to the £13 million already pledged, I announced a further £10 million of support during my recent visit to Iraq. Over £18m of this is specifically focused on helping those in Northern Iraq.

In response to the Syria crisis the UK has allocated £600 million to date for humanitarian aid to victims of the conflict. Total allocations for 2014/15 will depend on decisions to be taken on the basis of evolving needs. In Iraq, the UK has allocated £23m of humanitarian aid for 2014/15.

In Iraq, DFID support has included airdrops of assistance onto Mount Sinjar and in the Iraqi town of Amerli. The UK has also chartered cargo flights in order to deliver aid supplies for displaced people in the Dahuk region. £12.5 million of DFID’s funding is being delivered through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGO partners to provide basic life-saving assistance, including food, shelter, water, sanitation and medical care.