Hotline helps displaced Iraqis receive aid

(Vatican Radio) As floods of refugees continue to flee violent conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, the UN's refugee agency is involved in a call center for displaced Iraqis in need of humanitarian support.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:

The call-center aims at connecting displaced persons with the various aid agencies on the ground and receive information on the humanitarian care they need.

Callers need only to call 6999 from any phone line in Iraq to receive details on how to find food distribution points, shelter, medical assistance, and other necessities.

May Yaacoub, who is involved in the initiative, told the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, explained the challenges of bringing humanitarian aid to the people who need it.

“The scale and the magnitude of this displacement is completely unprecedented,” Yaacoub said in reference to the 3.1 persons displaced by the ongoing violence in the country.

“Communicating with this people is a challenge, and UN agencies and other aid agencies find it difficult to have access to certain areas and to reach everybody.”

Islamic State declared a caliphate last year in territory it controls in Syria and Iraq and is being targeted by U.S.-led air strikes in both countries.

The conflict has led to the displacement of millions in Iraq in the ongoing conflict, and has forced tens of thousands to flee the country.