U.S. funding enables WFP to support vulnerable people and update social protection system in Iraq
BAGHDAD – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received US$16.7 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Food for Peace (FFP) to support food assistance for internally displaced and refugee families in Iraq. The funds are also helping digitalize the country’s Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food entitlements to citizens.
Although it has been two years since the areas controlled by the Islamic State were retaken, more than 1.7 million people still need food assistance, including some 1.5 million people who are internally displaced.
US$13.8 million of the US contribution is providing monthly food packages and cash assistance over a three-month period to 259,000 internally displaced people across the country, including those living in conflict-affected areas.
A smaller portion of the funds covers cash transfers for three months for 32,000 Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region. In places with functioning markets, cash transfers enable families to buy their own food.
The final portion of the contribution is supporting the testing phase of the electronic Public Distribution System which reaches around 11,000 families (55,000 people) in 10 governorates.
”The funds cover the needs of vulnerable families in camps and help ensure that the PDS is reaching the right citizens at the right time,” said WFP Country Director Abdirahman Meygag. “This year, WFP is also testing an electronic PDS system in Khazer camp in Ninewa to measure the positive effects it has on displaced families as they collect food rations. As the PDS trial is being rolled out, we hope to bring further time-saving, practical solutions to families in need.”
WFP is working with Iraq’s Ministry of Trade to replace the existing paper-based system with the electronic PDS which safely encrypts and stores citizens’ data. Security is enhanced by using fingerprints or iris scans. This system will allow the government to identify and remove duplicate records as well as conduct biometric verification at the time of food collection.
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