Aid agencies warn leaders not to risk Iraq's recovery

A GROUP of aid agencies, including Edinburgh-based Mercy Corps, has warned that if aid support from the EU and UK government for Iraq continues to fall, it could pose a serious risk to the country's recovery.

Mercy Corps was among 17 international and national NGOs to launch "Fallen Off the Agenda", highlighting the need for "more and better" aid for Iraq recovery.

The report highlighted that Iraq was still extremely fragile, yet attention and support was waning and budgets had been slashed.

Mervyn Lee, executive director of Mercy Corps, said: "Iraq is at a critical and difficult juncture, struggling to rebuild itself, and without enough of the right kind of support the country could once again unravel.

"Effective aid delivery and development assistance from the international community is still absolutely necessary to prevent that from happening.

"The international community have a moral obligation to make sure millions of Iraqis have a fighting chance for a stable, secure future."