A Belgian dredger has arrived at Umm Qasr on Wednesday to work on increasing the depth of the shipping channel.

The vessel is the 18,620 tonne trailing suction hopper dredger, the 'Francis Beaufort'. It is 142m in length, and has a maximum dredging depth of 71.5m.

The report from AKnews says the project was facilitated by a $250 million [300 trillion Iraqi dinar] loan from Japan.

A 52 million Euros contract to buy (hire?) the ship was signed with Belgian company Jan de Nul.

Another dredger is expected to arrive within the coming days, according to Anmar al-Safi, the director of Information department at the Iraqi ports.

"There is another big dredger that started working in May under the same contract, and the excavators will dredge up 5.6 million cubic meters of mud. The project is expected to be completed in March 2011", Safi added

The ports in Basra province (550 km south of Baghdad) have 15 excavators; two of them were brought in 2008 to help increase the depth of the river so that larger ships can enter the ports.

(Sources: AKnews, Jan de Nul)

President Masoud Barzani this week in Brussels met Belgium’s Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere. He also met European Union officials to discuss expanding relations with its member states.

President Barzani encouraged Foreign Minister Vanackere to move Belgium’s Embassy from Amman to Baghdad and to consider opening a consulate in Erbil. Mr Vanackere commended the political and economic progress in the Kurdistan Region and expressed his country’s desire to have closer ties.

President Barzani also met President of Belgium’s Senate Sabine de Bethune, and of the Chamber of Representatives André Flahaut. They discussed the federal system in both countries, and how Kurdistan's institutions can interact more with those of Belgium.

In his meetings with European Union officials, President Barzani urged EU member states to be more actively engaged in Iraq’s and Kurdistan’s reconstruction process. He asked for more economic and political cooperation, saying that Europe should invest in Kurdistan and play a greater role in Iraq’s democratic and economic progress.

Mr Struan Stevenson MEP described President Barzani’s visit as constructive for EU strategic relations with Iraq and particularly Iraqi Kurdistan, and looked forward to these relations being expanded in future. Mr Stevenson is Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq.

President Barzani also met Mr Martin Schulz MEP, the President of the European Parliament’s Socialists and Democrats Group.

The EU representatives said that they hoped for more improvements in Iraq’s human rights and respect for the rights of ethnic minorities and different religions. To this end, Mr Stevenson said that the Kurdistan Region acts as a shining example to the rest of Iraq in its peaceful environment and tolerance of minorities and different religions.

President Barzani was accompanied by RG Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami, the President’s Chief of Staff Dr Fuad Hussein, the KRG Head of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, and the KRG Representative to the EU Mr Salim Gravi.

(Source: KRG)

ONDD, the Belgian export credit agency, has warned in its monthly report that "insecurity, instability and sectarian tensions will continue to prevail in Iraq".

The text of their statement is shown below:

Iraq: Deteriorating security and political climate as US troops leave the country

> Event: The last US troops left Iraq after President Obama‘s declaration of the end of the Iraq war on 15 December. Only a few days later, a political crisis broke out as Iraq’s biggest parliamentary bloc, al-Iraqiya announced a boycott of the assembly in a reaction against Prime Minister al-Maliki’s efforts to remove two key government members, affiliated to al-Iraqiya: Vice-President al-Hashemi, against whom an arrest warrant was issued on terror charges, and deputy Prime Minister al-Mutlaq. This has resulted in a severe political crisis within the unity government that has only been formed end-2010. On top, during the past weeks the country has once again been hit by serious terrorist attacks, the most deadly in months.

> Impact on country risk: It emerges that, also after the withdrawal of US troops, insecurity, instability and sectarian tensions will continue to prevail in Iraq. These sectarian tensions are not only being witnessed on the political scene (as PM Maliki comes from the Shia majority and al-Iraqiya is Sunni-backed), but these divisions are also being exploited by terrorist organizations on the ground. Iraq’s Kurds, which form a third major group in the country, could intend to reconcile the Sunni and Shia blocs – thereby increasing further their own influence – but the current instability will further impact economic performance and relations with international (energy) investors. (analyst: Daan Rowies, d.rowies@ondd.be)

(Source: ONDD)

A Belgian-British company has reportedly won a contract from the Ministry of Construction and Housing to build a housing complex for its members in Wasit [Wassit] province.

The company, which has not been named, has conducted field investigations for the project, which will include 240 housing units within a number of six-story residential buildings, according to AKnews.

The site covers an area of 19 dunums [5 hectares] next to the Sports City in Qut, south of the city center. The units will be allocated to employees of the ministry in the province in addition to staff of Wasit Provincial Council.

For those wishing to purchase a unit, 25 percent of the value of the unit will be paid by the employee during the construction phase and 25 percent will be paid after completion. The remaining 50 percent will be paid from the housing fund as a loan.

The company will use foreign-manufactured materials for all stages of construction, and will be the first to use insulating materials in Iraq.

The ministry is currently building three residential compounds in Wasit province. The first is in Qut city and includes 504 housing units, while the second is in the Hay district - 40km south of Qut - and includes 520 units. The implementation of the third began last month in the Al-Suwaira district - 135km north of Qut - and includes 620 housing units.

(Source: AKnews)

In the meeting between Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the KRG Foreign Relations, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reynders, military as well as humanitarian aid for the Kurdistan Region were at top of the list of priorities discussed.

Minister Mustafa welcomed Minister Reynders in his first visit to the Kurdistan Region and expressed the desire of the Kurdistan Regional Government to establish strong ties between the Region and Belgium.

He briefed the visiting Minister on difficulties facing the Kurdistan Region in continuing the fight against ISIS and caring for over 1.8 million refugees and internally displaced persons.

He expressed his gratitude to the government of Belgium for the assistance it has provided to the Kurdistan Region and reaffirmed the necessity of further commitment of the international community to assist Kurdistan Region in fighting the ISIS terrorists and providing humanitarian relief for the refugees and IDPs.

Minister Mustafa encouraged Belgium to explore the possibility of opening a representation office of the government of Belgium in Kurdistan as a first step to establishing and broadening bilateral ties on both fronts.

Commenting on the role of Peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS, Minister Reynders said “The Peshmerga forces have done an impressive job. We have seen real motivation from the Peshmerga forces in this fight and they deserve to receive continued support from the Counter-ISIS coalition.”

He added, “KRG has done a remarkable job in responding to the immediate challenges of refugee and IDPs influx.” The Minister also commended KRG for respecting the rights of minorities in the Kurdistan Region regardless of their ethnic and religious background. Minister Reynders stressed that Belgium is committed to continue its support to the Kurdistan Region during this challenging time.

Minister Reynders announced that the government of Belgium will open an honorary consulate in Erbil as first step in the process of strengthening bilateral ties between Erbil and Brussels.

Both Ministers expressed willingness to explore areas of potential cooperation between Belgium and Kurdistan through exchange of visits between the relevant authorities of both sides. The meeting was followed by a joint press conference.

The meeting was also attended by Thomas Baekelandt, Ambassador of Belgium to Iraq, Delavar Ajgeiy, KRG Representative to the European Union and several other officials of both sides.

(Source: KRG)

By Simon Kent.

Belgium has announced plans to open a consulate in Erbil, capital of the semi autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq.

In a sign of deepening ties between the KRG and Belgium, the central EU nation also announced they would provide hospital treatment for injured Peshmerga soldiers.

The Peshmerga are the armed forces of the Kurdish Regional Government, and have suffered thousands of injured while fighting ISIL.

Currently, a number of nations, notably Canada, the UK and Germany, are focusing military assistance on the Kurdish region. The new consulate is a boost for confidence in the Kurdish region following last year's ISIL offensive, which is ongoing.

(Source: Bas News)

Banking Technology reports that Ideal Payments has teamed with Taif Money Transfer to launch Iraq’s “first” mobile payments app – Taif eWallet.

The platform aims to create a “holistic payments ecosystem” used by multiple agents in the economy including retail merchants, ecommerce platforms, private companies, and government institutions.

Ideal Payments’ local partner, Taif Money Transfer, will operate the service, using its existing agent network across Iraq.

Ideal Payments says its role is to select and customise the appropriate technology, prepare the business plan and execute the strategy to spread the service in Iraq. The technology is powered by Monniz, a Belgian mobile money service provider.

Ideal Payments says it was set up and is run by a team with experience from both global and local financial services, including banks such as Goldman Sachs and the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI).

According to Ideal Payments, Iraq, a country of 35 million inhabitants, remains a cash based society at large with a significant unbanked population. Bank account penetration is below 10 percent and debit card penetration below 3 percent.

The firm says that issues such as “inaccessibility, inefficiency, and unaffordability deter customers from using traditional financial services”.

It adds: “Trust also remains a key issue for the Iraqi banking sector, which customers hold in low regard following decades of mismanagement and corruption.”

(Source: Banking Technology)

Many vulnerable rural families in Iraq can now benefit from a safer, more secure means of receiving income thanks to mobile money transfer technology adopted for the first time by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as part of a cash-for-work programme aimed at rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure and land.

The programme, which is funded by the Belgium Government, will support 12,000 conflict-affected people in 30 villages in Kirkuk, Anbar, Salah al-Din and Ninewa governorates. It will benefit local farmers, by enabling them to restart or expand farming activities with rehabilitated infrastructure, and provides agricultural livelihoods opportunities for displaced people returning home.

Participants, who are from households with no other income source, include women who often the sole breadwinners for their families, and people with a disability. The workers and their families are people who either remained in their villages during conflict or returned home after being displaced by the fighting.

Fadel El-Zubi, FAO Representative in Iraq, said:

“The use of mobile technology will streamline the safe delivery of cash transfers to participants, who are some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

“Providing income opportunities is critical in rural areas affected by conflict, where competition for employment is high, jobs are scarce and people are struggling to support their families.”

International partnership

To facilitate the payments, FAO has partnered with Zain a mobile and data services operator with a commercial footprint in eight Middle Eastern and African countries. Participant names and identity numbers are pre-registered with the company, and they receive a free SIM card.

A new low-cost satellite broadband service will be launched across Iraq and Afghanistan as Belgium's SatADSL, a provider of professional VSAT services via satellite, and UK-based Talia agreed to expand their long-term partnership.

The two companies’ current agreement lets SatADSL link directly to Talia’s teleport to provide services across the whole of Africa, with Talia’s equipment providing high performance and low-cost per megabit. Under the new deal, SatADSL will also be able to access Talia’s new platform in Jordan Media City, enabling it to offer Ka-band services across Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We are taking our relationship with Talia to the next level by using its facilities to offer our innovative services across Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Caroline De Vos, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at SatADSL. “The use of Ka-band High Throughput Satellite capacity, combined with Talia’s equipment means the services we provide can be quickly and easily installed by users and offered at an extremely competitive price, taking a significant step towards bridging the digital divide.”

By connecting its Cloud-based Service Delivery Platform (C-SDP) to Talia’s hub, SatADSL will be able to offer the full range of services available on its platform in Iraq and Afghanistan, including vouchers, VNOFlex, Wi-Fi Hotspots, etc. The C-SDP is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution which enables operators to deliver a full range of satellite-based connectivity services without investing in physical infrastructure. SatADSL expects to have worldwide coverage by the end of the year, further expanding the reach of its C-SDP.

To enable connectivity, Talia uses capacity on the Arabsat 5C Ka-band satellite, located at 20o East. Talia is offering its services based on the Newtec Dialog® multiservice platform which features small VSAT antennas (75cm) on the remote site to create a new lower price point for Internet access and innovative setup guides for self-installation via a smartphone app. A variety of Newtec’s broadband satellite modems have also been deployed, supporting different bandwidth allocations to ensure optimal bandwidth usage. This includes Newtec’s dynamic Mx-DMA technology to achieve the efficiency of SCPC with the dynamic bandwidth allocation of MF-TDMA.

“We see this next chapter with SatADSL as building upon what has so far been a hugely successful partnership in Africa, enabling many developing countries to have access to affordable fast satellite Internet,” said Jack Buechler, VP Business Development at Talia. “Just as in Africa, the services which SatADSL will provide in Afghanistan and Iraq, using our infrastructure will help bridge the digital and economical divide and transform societies for the better.”

(Source: Talia)

The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Brussels Mr. Sadiq Al-Rakabi received a delegation from the European Investment Bank.

They discussed ways of resuming negotiations between the two sides on the framework agreement to be signed between Iraq and the European Investment Bank.

The Bank’s funding and support for private sector projects will contribute to stimulating intra-trade between Iraq and ITU Member States, and provide many vacancies for Iraqi university graduates.

On his part, the head of the delegation of the European Investment Bank stressed the importance of Iraq, its position to the European Union, and their appreciation for the difficult circumstances and challenges, indicating their readiness to start negotiations again and provide assistance to Iraq in the common interests.

The two sides agreed to hold a second expanded meeting to discuss the draft framework agreement.

(Source: Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

By John Lee.

The Anglo Belgian Corporation (ABC) and Kunz have been selected to contract and design seven power plants (14 gensets) for several oil refineries in Iraq.

The generated power contributes to the start and back-up process of these refineries and is independently generated by two gensets on each site.

The complete gensets were designed and assembled in the factory of ABC in Ghent, Belgium. In 2015 these gensets were shipped and installed in Iraq. Today, the complete plants of Al Kesik, Kirkuk 1 and Al Qayara 1 are commissioned. Kirkuk 2, Al Qayara 2, Al Sinya and Haditha will follow soon.

An overview of following ABC engines/gensets per refinery:
*kWm & kVA/power plant

1. AL KESIK 2x 8DZC - 2496 kWm - 3000 kVA
2. Al QAYARA 1 2x 16VDZC - 4960 kWm -6000 kVA
3. Al QAYARA 2 2x 16VDZC - 4140 kWm - 5000 kVA
4. KIRKUK 1 2x 12VDZC - 3316 kWm - 4000 kVA
5. KIRKUK 2 2x 16VDZC - 4140 kWm - 5000 kVA
6. AL SINYA 2x 12VDZC - 3324 kWm - 4000 kVA
7. HADITHA 2x 12DZC - 3324 kWm - 4000 kVA

(Source: ABC)

A high-level meeting between the United Nations and international donors took place in Baghdad to discuss the United Nations' updated development strategy for Iraq.

The meeting focused on the 2020-2024 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which was signed by the Government of Iraq in September.

The UN was represented by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano (pictured), who also serves at the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. Also present were representatives of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Iraq, which consists of 22 agencies, funds, and programs.

The donor community was represented by several Ambassadors and high-level representatives from embassies in Iraq, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The UNSDCF is the consolidated strategy for the UNCT to support the Government in meeting the needs of Iraqi people in economic growth, basic services, social protection, and the environment. The updated UNSDCF also has a new focus on durable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) so that families displaced by the war against Daesh (ISIL) can return to their areas of origin or integrate into new communities.

"This is the time where we have to come together to support Iraq to emerge from this pandemic stronger, achieve safe durable solutions to displacement and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and towards a peaceful and prosperous society for all Iraqis. Together with the Iraqi society let us all harness resources and assets to make it happen," said Ms. Vojáčková-Sollorano.

In the meeting, the UN agencies highlighted key interventions and efforts in supporting Iraq's development priorities and Iraqis' needs through 2024 while discussing the donors' critical role in supporting this joint effort.

(Source: UN)

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes an additional contribution of EUR 1.5 million (approximately USD 1.69 million) from the Government of Belgium to support the Government of Iraq in protecting civilians impacted by explosive ordnance and enabling humanitarian action, socio-economic development, and peace-building.

The legacy of successive conflicts - the recent conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in particular - continue to substantially impact health, housing, public services, and livelihoods of Iraqis, including the displacement of millions since 2014, of which a million are still displaced today.

The Government of Belgium, through its generous contribution to UNMAS Iraq, will support the Government of Iraq to develop its nationally-led response to explosive ordnance, as well as support UNMAS Iraq in providing the necessary technical support (both theoretical and practical) to the national authorities to further enhance their capacity to lead the mine action sector in the near future.

UNMAS Iraq continues to prioritise the development of institutional capacity in Iraq, including through partnerships with the Directorate of Mine Action (DMA) and the Ministry of Interior (MoI), as well as the Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency (IKMAA), working to enhance their capabilities to implement and coordinate a targeted explosive ordnance response that responds to community needs, including the different needs for women, men, boys and girls.

Commenting on the contribution, Mr. Filip Vanden Bulcke, Ambassador of Belgium, stated:

"Belgium is very happy to continue its longstanding partnership with UNMAS in support of Iraq's national efforts on mine action as a part of Belgium's lasting contribution to the stabilization efforts to ensure protection, safe return of IDPs and resilience for Iraqi conflict-affected communities. Much work remains to be done. The development of national capacity and ownership of this important sector is crucial, and we commend UNMAS' and the Government of Iraq's outstanding work in this regard".

Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, UNMAS Iraq Chief Mine Action Programme, added:

"Empowering Iraqi governmental institutions to lead the Iraqi mine action response will contribute to enhanced protection and human security and, in turn, boost the confidence of citizens in the government and enhance community trust."

(Source: UN)

Belgium renews commitment to stabilization with new €1.4 million contribution

The Government of Belgium has contributed an additional €1.4 million (US$ 1.6 million) to the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS).

The critical funding will support stabilization efforts implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) across Iraq's five governorates in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah Al-Din.

This is the Kingdom of Belgium's seventh contribution to the FFS, bringing the country's total contribution to €13.52 million. With this generous additional funding, UNDP will be able to support the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in the sectors of electricity, water and education.

"The impact of our collective stabilization efforts with continuous support from key international partners such as Belgium are clearly visible across Iraq. Schools are reopening, clean and potable water is reaching people, roads are linking people and homes are rehabilitated," says UNDP Resident Representative Zena Ali Ahmad.

"However, critical stabilization needs remain as 1 million people are still internally displaced, including the hardest-to-return populations. This contribution comes at a critical period for Iraq, as we look to safeguard the hard-won stabilization gains and prevent ISIL's resurgence," she adds.

"After winning the war, we must win the peace and address the root causes and consequences of Daesh's presence in the region. In this regard, building resilience for returnees and local communities in the sectors of electricity, water and education is critical to the long-term stability of the region. That is why Belgium is happy to confirm with this new contribution its full and continuous engagement in the stabilization process in Iraq since 2016," Axel Kenes, Director General for Multilateral Affairs and Globalization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium.

At the request of the Government of Iraq, UNDP established the FFS in 2015 to facilitate the return of displaced Iraqis, lay the groundwork for reconstruction and recovery, provide capacity support and safeguard against the resurgence of violence and extremism. The mandate was extended to 2023 due to the scale of urgent remaining stabilization needs and the request from the GOI and international partners to continue our interventions.

In 2021, FFS placed greater emphasis on utilizing an integrated approach that included promoting sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities by rehabilitating supportive infrastructure for productive sectors, such as agriculture and small industries.

(Source: UN)

Belgium Provides an Additional EUR 1,000,000 for UNMAS Activities in Iraq

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes an additional contribution of EUR 1,000,000 (approximately USD 980K) from the Government of Belgium, which will support the Government of Iraq in protecting civilians impacted by the threat of explosive ordnance and enabling humanitarian action, peacebuilding and socio-economic development.

Thirty-seven years of conflicts, with the most recent conflict perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), makes Iraq one of the world's most contaminated countries in the world , with approximately 2,879 square kilometers of land affected. Since 2014, millions of Iraqis have been displaced and nearly 1.2 million remain internally displaced.

This generous contribution from the Government of Belgium supports clearance and explosive ordnance risk education work. It will help to enable the safe and dignified return of internally displaced people, as well as reconstruction efforts, and will support the clearance of explosive ordnance in areas liberated from ISIL as well as the clearance of legacy contamination in southern Iraq.

UNMAS adopted a strategy to ensure continuous and optimal support to the Government of Iraq by increasing the national mine action capacity through a partnership model whereby international mine action organizations collaborate with national NGOs, leading the way for localization and sustained mine action responses in Iraq.

Mr. Serge Dickschen (pictured), Belgium's Ambassador to Iraq, stated: "Belgium is pleased to continue its long-standing and fruitful partnership with UNMAS in Iraq. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, contamination by explosive ordnance remains a major obstacle for the return of Iraqis affected by the successive conflicts and a hindrance to social and economic development. Belgium particularly welcomes the increased emphasis placed by UNMAS on strengthening the capacities of national demining actors."

Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, Chief of UNMAS Programme in Iraq, added: "The generous contribution from the Government of Belgium will enable UNMAS to continue providing sustainable solutions to address explosive contamination by increasing, strengthening and sustaining the national operating capacity. The Belgian Government has been a steadfast and important partner to the United Nations in this area."

(Source: UN)

Belgium increases its support to stabilization in Iraq with new EUR 1.5 million contribution

The Government of Belgium has contributed an additional EUR 1.5 million (approximately US$ 1.49 million) to the Funding Facility for Stabilization. The critical funding will support stabilization efforts implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) across Iraq's five governorates: Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah al-Din.

This is the Kingdom of Belgium's eighth contribution to the Facility, bringing the country's total contribution to over US$15 million. With this additional funding, UNDP will be able to support the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in the most vulnerable communities in the Liberated Areas.

"We are grateful to Belgium for this timely contribution to the Facility. With the Facility transitioning in 2023, UNDP's focus is now on completing the last mile - namely and where possible, the dignified return of Iraq's remaining 1 million internally displaced people, including the hardest-to-return population groups and most vulnerable returnees," says UNDP Resident Representative Zena Ali Ahmad.

"This generous contribution comes at a critical juncture for Iraq, as we look to safeguard the hard-won stabilization gains and prevent secondary displacement. We believe that continued support is critical to secure Iraq's still-fragile stability," she adds.

"Belgium is proud to support the Funding Facility for Stabilization, which is entering its last phase after having ensured the safe, durable and dignified return of millions of Iraqis affected by the ISIL conflict.  The stability of Iraq remains a priority for Belgium. I am hopeful that in the coming transition phase, the Government of Iraq will be able to take further responsibility to ensure the sustainability of and build on the impressive results achieved so far by the Facility for the safety and well-being of the Iraqi people in the liberated areas. While the transition's primary efforts shall go to the remaining million internally displaced Iraqis, Belgium encourages a continued attention to the most vulnerable amongst them, especially the \minorities, women, children and disabled people," says Hadja Lahbib (pictured), Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade.

At the request of the Government of Iraq, UNDP in partnership with the International Community established the Facility in 2015 to facilitate the return of displaced Iraqis, lay the groundwork for reconstruction and recovery, provide capacity support and safeguard against the resurgence of violence and extremism.

The Facility has supported the safe, dignified and voluntary return of almost 5 million internally displaced people by restoring essential services, supporting civilian livelihoods, building municipal capacity and fostering social cohesion. To date, the Government of Iraq has taken full ownership of over 3,400 projects completed under the Facility.

(Source: UN)

FAO Iraq trains ministry of agriculture staff on good agricultural practices

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Iraq held a training of trainers' workshop for the Ministry of Agriculture's staff under the project funded by the Belgian Government.

The workshop aimed to train farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, which develop capacity building and technical skills in crop production, fertilization, irrigation, pest control, harvesting, and equipment maintenance, leading to improved agricultural productivity, food security, and farmers' income.

Dr Salah El Hajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq, inaugurated the workshop and emphasized the importance of raising farmers' awareness and improving their technical skills.

He also stressed that the training aimed to equip the Ministry of Agriculture's staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to train farmers, including the new approach of Good Agriculture Practices contributing to reducing production costs, preserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and increasing farmers' income.

The workshop was a part of FAO's ongoing efforts to support the development of Iraq's agricultural sector and enhance food security through a project that aims to improve the farmers' technical skills and increase their productivity, leading to the sustainable development of Iraq's agricultural sector.

(Source: UN)

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is continuing its life-saving work in Iraq. UNMAS is grateful for the support it received from three generous donors.

The Governments of Belgium (USD 1.6 million), Italy (USD 784,000) and the Slovak Republic (USD 18,750), donated more than USD 2.4 million to ensure that explosive hazard management, training and technical support and risk education activities will advance in 2020.

The presence of explosive hazards, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in areas retaken from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da’esh, continues to endanger the lives of women, men, girls and boys and hinder the return of the 1.4 million people who are still unable to go home.

Belgium, Italy and Slovakia recognize that the work of UNMAS is necessary to achieve lasting stability in Iraq. As the United Nations launches the “decade of action” to realize the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the path-clearing work of deminers leads the way for all development in the country. Creating a safe environment enables people to return home, move freely and make productive use of their land.

Mr. Vanden Bulcke, Ambassador of Belgium to Iraq, said:

“After Iraq declared victory against Da’esh in 2017, everyone discovered with dismay the exact level of contamination left by the terrorist group in the regions they occupied. The priority of clearing the contaminated rumbles, houses and infrastructures became of national interest for Iraq.

"By supporting the work of UNMAS in mine risk education, clearance and capacity building, Belgium wants to guarantee with its share safe grounds to start reconstructing the country and help the population come back to their houses and their land.”

Mr. Michele Morana, Director of AICS Jordan and Iraq, stated:

“The appalling extent of mine-contamination in Iraq, is still producing dreadful consequences on the health and livelihood of the conflict affected communities. Therefore, Italy remains fully engaged in pursuing the objective of a mine free Iraq and in supporting UNMAS endeavour toward such goal”.

Mr. Lubomir Macko, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Beirut, added:

“Watching the dramatic events unfolding in today's Iraq we should not forget that many of its people still suffer from the consequences of the conflicts, the main phase of which is already over. Unexploded mines and explosive hazards continue to claim victims among civilians who want to return to their homes and rebuild their lives there.

"That is why UNMAS's work in Iraq is extremely important and I am glad that the Slovak Republic could support it by a financial contribution. Iraq is one of the main recipients of Slovak humanitarian aid.”

“Explosive hazards are found everywhere: in infrastructure, schools, hospitals, homes and under bridges. These deadly items not only hinder reconstruction and stabilization efforts, but also impede the return of displaced communities to some kind of normal life. That is why UNMAS work in Iraq remains critical and we are very grateful for the support received by Belgium, Italy and Slovakia.” said Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, UNMAS Senior Programme Manager in Iraq.

(Source: UN)

Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden commit $5 million to tackle COVID-19 outbreak

The governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden have collectively committed US$5 million to support the Government of Iraq's response to the COVID-19 crisis, in partnership with UNDP Iraq.

The funds, which were originally pledged under UNDP's Funding Facility for Stabilization to help rehabilitate infrastructure damaged by ISIL, are now being urgently redirected to support UNDP Iraq's initial $24 million COVID-19 response package.

Measures to combat the virus under this package include increasing the testing capacity of laboratories, providing personal protective equipment to healthcare workers, increasing the number of isolation wards, and undertaking assessments to establish post-COVID-19 recovery strategies.

Focusing on the most vulnerable communities in Iraq, activities will be rolled out in eight hospitals selected by local authorities in the underserved areas of Anbar, Diyala, Dohuk, Basra, Karbala, Najaf, Ninewa and Salah Al-Din.

Resident Representative of UNDP Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad, said:

"Containing the coronavirus outbreak is now the Government of Iraq's number one priority, particularly as infection rates rise, putting more pressure on the Iraqi healthcare system outside the major capitals. We're extremely grateful to Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden for acting swiftly to commit these funds and being so flexible in administering them.

"Due to the strict curfews imposed by the Government of Iraq, we've had no choice but to temporarily halt the implementation of our stabilization activities. However, by capitalizing on the tried-and-tested processes of our successful stabilization work, we will respond to this unprecedented global health crisis with the speed and agility UNDP Iraq is known for.

"Once this pandemic is under control, our stabilization activities will resume. Until then, we will work closely with the Government of Iraq, the World Health Organisation and other UN agencies to curb the crisis as best we can."

UNDP Iraq is currently discussing the remaining $19 million funding gap with other international partners.

Processes have been established to ensure that once funds have been committed, the response measures can be implemented immediately.

(Source: UN)

Belgium and Italy support WFP's assistance to displaced families and refugees in Iraq

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes two generous contributions from the Governments of Belgium and Italy of €1 million each (US$1.1 million) to assist internally displaced people (IDPs) and Syrian refugees in Iraq.

"The vulnerable situation of IDPs and refugees in Iraq is now further exacerbated by COVID-19. Italy remains committed to supporting WFP in its work to reach affected communities, helping people meet their food needs. Particularly in the current context, where many people have lost day jobs or cannot work, food assistance remains vital," said the Italian Ambassador to Iraq Bruno Pasquino.

Both contributions - committed pre-COVID-19 crisis - will enable WFP to distribute monthly cash-based transfers through electronic vouchers ("e-vouchers") and "mobile money," to 81,300 of the most vulnerable IDPs and Syrian refugees - who had to flee their homes and still live in camps. Cash assistance gives people the freedom to buy the food of their choice and at the same time sustains demand in local shops boosting the local economy, which is being badly affected by COVID-19.

Restrictions imposed to face COVID-19 in the country have pushed food prices higher while at the same time people's incomes diminished as they are unable to work. WFP is seeking US$31.9 million to help meet the increased needs of families affected by COVID-19.

"By addressing the food needs and assisting communities in strengthening their coping mechanisms, WFP plays a significant role in a number of countries and as such, is a key partner of Belgian humanitarian aid," said Ambassador of Belgium to Jordan and Iraq Filip Vanden Bulcke. "We are keen to support a comprehensive Food Security system in Iraq through our multiyear and flexible funding to WFP, to respond to people in need of humanitarian food assistance."

"As people's needs grow in the current context, WFP extends its gratitude to the Governments of Belgium and Italy for such strong and enduring partnerships," said WFP Representative in Iraq Abdirahman Meygag. "These funds are helping us ensure that the most vulnerable IDPs and Syrian refugees have enough to eat and prevent them from spiraling into hunger and poverty during this very difficult time."

Despite the retaking of areas that had been occupied by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), 1.4 million people continue to be displaced, hampered from returning to their homes due to severe damage, a lack of basic services and security issues. Due to violence in neighboring Syria, Iraq continues to host around 247,500 Syrian refugees.

(Source: UN)

The Government of Belgium has invested an additional EUR 2 million in the Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS).

The contribution will support stabilization efforts implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) across Iraq's five governorates in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah Al-Din.

Since 2016, Belgium has contributed EUR 12.12 million to the Facility, which was recently extended to 2023. To date, Belgium's support along with other international donors to the FFS has benefitted over 1.46 million Iraqis, of which 50 percent are women.

With this generous additional funding, UNDP will be able to support additional essential services such as housing, and the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in the sectors of electricity, water and education.

"The spread of COVID-19 in Iraq has increased economic instability, exacerbating existing challenges, such as the limited access to basic infrastructure and services, and a still-volatile security context. With Belgium's support we will better help the most vulnerable communities recover from the multiple crises they face today," says the UNDP Resident Representative for Iraq, Zena Ali Ahmad.

Belgium was one of the first international development partners to respond and support the UNDP rapid response to COVID-19, in partnership with national and local authorities. The support was used to establish isolation wards in Fallujah Teaching Hospital and Baqubah General Hospital that serve a catchment area of approximately 2.25 million people.

"We are grateful for Belgium's timely contribution towards supporting the people of Iraq build forward better, and for being one of the first to lend their support to our COVID-19 response," adds Ms. Ali-Ahmad.

"Belgium is very happy to continue its support for UNDP's FFS. The stabilization of Iraq remains an important challenge, even more in the context of COVID-19. We are therefore pleased that the FFS has been extended until 2023 and that other partners have renewed contributions," says Ambassador of Belgium to Jordan and Iraq, Filip Vanden Bulcke.

Since its launch in 2015, FFS has supported the return of 4.7 million Iraqis displaced by the ISIL conflict and helped more than 10 million Iraqis access critical services and infrastructure.

(Source: UN)

Belgium Provides Additional USD 1.8 Million for UNMAS Activities in Iraq

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes an additional contribution of EUR 1.5 million (approximately USD 1.8 million) from the Government of Belgium that will play a pivotal role in supporting the Government of Iraq to assist those impacted by explosive ordnance.

The Government of Belgium will contribute to strengthening national capacity in the mine action sector, thus enabling stabilization and humanitarian efforts through the support of explosive hazard management and delivery of life saving risk education messages to affected communities in the retaken areas of Iraq.

More than three years after the Government of Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), their presence continues to haunt innocent civilians, particularly through the swathes of explosive ordnance-contaminated land left behind in the wake of their defeat.

UNMAS is adapting its strategy to ensure optimum and sustainable support to the Government of Iraq, particularly through the focus of its assistance to sustainable national capacity inclusive of national authorities and national operators. As part of this strategy, UNMAS has rolled out a new partnership model bringing together international mine action organizations with local NGOs, paving the way for national ownership and localization of the mine action response in Iraq.

In addition, UNMAS is also advocating for gender mainstreaming and equal opportunity across all its activities as well as the overall mine action sector in Iraq. This means that UNMAS encourages the hiring and training of capable women and men from the community itself, providing critical livelihood opportunities to vulnerable communities.

"Belgium is very happy to continue its support for UNMAS activities in Iraq in the context of its policy of contributing to the stabilization of the country," said Mr. Filip Vanden Bulcke (pictured), Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Jordan and Iraq. "We are very impressed with the results of recent clearance activities in spite of the pandemic, as well as UNMAS focus on strengthening national capacities in mine action and on gender mainstreaming. This approach will enhance ownership and strengthen local communities while achieving demining objectives."

"This generous contribution from Belgium will significantly further UNMAS mine action activities in Iraq, and will enable the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced communities to their homes," stated Pehr Lodhammar, UNMAS Iraq Senior Programme Manager. "As the impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to reverberate across the country, the additional support will also provide much-needed economic relief to struggling communities by providing access to lands previously contaminated by explosive ordnance that can be utilized for farming, grazing of cattle and other livelihood activities. I thank the Government of Belgium for their unceasing support to the mine action sector in Iraq.

(Source: UN)

Belgium Contribution Enables UNMAS Iraq to Continue Supporting the Government and the National Mine Action Operators

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes a renewed contribution of EUR 750,000 (approximately USD 802,000) from the Government of Belgium, in support of life-saving mine action activities in Iraq.

Activities will include delivering sustainable and efficient explosive hazard management, support as well as providing technical and advisory support for the national mine action authorities. This is the fifth consecutive annual contribution from Belgium with a total amount of EUR 6,250,000 million (approximately USD 6,000,000).

Explosive ordnance contamination across Iraq, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), continues to threaten the lives of civilians in many governorates of Iraq. As of July 2023, there are approximately 2.942 square kilometers of recorded contaminated areas across Iraq (federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq). Since 2014, millions of Iraqis have been displaced and nearly 1.1 million of them remain internally displaced.

The generous contribution from the Government of Belgium will support the clearance of explosive ordnance in the areas liberated from ISIL to enable the safe and dignified return of internally displaced people, and will also allow for reconstruction efforts to go forward. In furtherance, this contribution will support explosive ordnance risk education efforts to protect civilians, with messages and means tailored to reach women, girls, boys and men, and vulnerable communities.

Furthermore, the additional funding from the Government of Belgium will reinforce UNMAS advisory and technical support to the national mine action authorities. Through continued technical support, the ability of the national authorities to autonomously lead, manage, and implement the mine action response in Iraq will be strengthened. In addition, UNMAS will also be able to further extend its support towards national mine action Non-Governmental Organisations in order to enable them to independently lead and manage humanitarian mine action response.

Remarking on the contribution, Mr. Serge Dickschen, Ambassador of Belgium, stated:

"Belgium is pleased to continue its long-standing support to the crucial mine action of UNMAS in Iraq. Despite significant progress, contamination by explosive ordnance remains a significant obstacle to the safe and dignified return of Iraqis displaced by the successive conflicts, as well as a hindrance to socio-economic opportunities and sustainable development efforts undertaken by the Iraqi authorities with the support of the international community.

"Belgium particularly welcomes the increased emphasis placed by UNMAS on strengthening the national capacities, at the level of both the government and non-government organizations, as well as on enhancing the local coordination between the various stakeholders in mine action. Belgium values the encouraging progress made in gender-mainstreaming and women's empowerment through mine action."

Mr. Pehr Lodhammar, UNMAS Iraq Chief Mine Action Programme, added:

"The generous contribution from the government of Belgium will enable UNMAS Iraq to continue the necessary support to the Government of Iraq and national operators. With continued assistance from Belgium, UNMAS will continue to facilitate a safe environment for Iraqis to live their lives dignified, unimpeded, and without fear of explosive hazards."

(Source: UN)

By John Lee.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Monday focused on reviewing and improving the performance of Iraqi Airways.

Discussions included aircraft maintenance and repair, with directives to finalize repairs by the end of the year.

Additionally, plans to increase and train airline crews were addressed to elevate service standards. The meeting also covered automation schedules handled by Belgian company Odoo, e-ticketing initiatives, and commitments to facilitate bookings via phones.

Compliance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements and establishing a subsidiary airline were also discussed. Regular review meetings were recommended to ensure alignment with directives and ongoing development efforts.

(Source: PMO)