BAGHDAD, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency in Iraq said on Tuesday that it is planning to reach out to some 154,950 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and urban areas across the country, as temperatures in Iraq's winter drop below freezing level.
The program is "designed to give families the option to buy what they need to shelter from the elements and keep themselves warm," said a statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Iraq.
"The families benefiting from this program are particularly vulnerable. Many of them have exhausted their resources, and rely on humanitarian assistance," the statement added.
The refugee families in camps and urban areas received a one-off cash grant of 400 U.S. dollars, while IDP families living outside of camps received 200 dollars, according to the statement.
In addition to financial aid, the UNHCR has "distributed core relief items such as blankets, plastic sheets, jerry cans for kerosene and heating stoves."
"UNHCR is reaching a record number of persons in need with winter cash and core relief items across Iraq. This will make their living conditions more bearable, allowing them to continue being productive throughout the winter," said UNHCR Representative Bruno Geddo.
According to a UNHCR report in late 2018, some 1,802,832 displaced people remained uprooted for security concerns and lack of shelter and livelihood opportunities.
The security situation in Iraq has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist Islamic State (IS) militants across the country late in 2017.
