Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation Susan Whelan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham have announced that Canada will contribute $45 million to provide better access to water, health and education facilities and services for the people of Iraq.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will allocate the funds to CARE Canada and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of a $300-million Canadian commitment for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in the country.
Some $40 million of the grant will be disbursed to UNICEF for a three-year initiative to expand ongoing programs to help rebuild Iraq's social sector. This includes initiatives that focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality, child protection, enhancing basic education for disadvantaged children and women, and restoring and rehabilitating water and sanitation systems.
The remaining five million dollars will be directed to CARE Canada to work with CARE Iraq to restore social stability and improve the existing living conditions of the Iraqi population in the town of Kerbala. This includes providing better access to clean water, basic health services and education facilities. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
