The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Embassy of Japan in Iraq organized a joint press conference to mark the inauguration of the returnees’ shelter site in Al Karama, Ramadi, and to acknowledge the significant contributions that the Government of Japan has provided to UN-Habitat Iraq to support recovery and reconstruction projects in Iraq.
Since 2015 to date, the Government of Japan has generously funded the rehabilitation of 1,315 war-damaged houses and construction of 2,692 durable shelter units implemented by UN-Habitat in 17 sites across Iraq. Altogether, these projects have benefitted an estimated 26,000 vulnerable IDPs and returnees.
On 5 November 2017, a new low-cost housing site in Al Karama, Ramadi, was inaugurated to accommodate 3,150 returnees. The site is equipped with basic services such as electricity, drinking water and sewage, as well as public facilities such as a primary school, a women’s social center and a women’s safe space that were established and will be operated in collaboration with other UN agencies such as UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA.
The Al Karama shelter site also utilizes advanced and environmentally-friendly technology imported from Japan, such as solar lanterns and water-resistant floor panels produced from recycled plastic water bottle caps. On the same day, UN-Habitat also handed over rehabilitated houses in Mo’almeen neighborhood, Ramadi, which employed returnees as labourers to improve their livelihoods.
During the inauguration event, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Rikan Alhalbousi, Governor of Anbar, expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan on behalf of the citizens and the government of Anbar. He stated that the support from the Government of Japan implemented through UN-Habitat has had a real impact in Anbar Governorate to bring back displaced people to their home.
Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Deputy Executive Director, stated that Iraq offers one of the best examples to showcase how the support from the Government of Japan is contributing to human security, and confirmed that UN-Habitat is committed to continue working in partnership with the Government of Japan, national and local authorities in Iraq, communities, and UN sister agencies to rebuild conflict-affected communities.
H.E. Mr. Fumio Iwai, Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, notes that Japan has contributed to this project not only by financing, but also by using its environment-friendly technology such as solar light and floor panel. He expresses his hope that Iraqi Government makes more self-effort in order to achieve a better future for the Iraqi people.
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