28 June 2016 - With generous support from the Government of Japan, temporary premises providing 25 classrooms, 128 residential units with accommodation for 512 students, basic site infrastructure and an administration building have been constructed at Fallujah University with technical support provided by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). The project is aimed at supporting displaced youth who have had to bear the brunt of the enormous human, social and economic suffering caused by the war.

During the official inauguration of the facilities, held on 23 June 2016, the Governor of Anbar Province, His Excellency Mr. Sohaib Al-Rawi noted that the ongoing financial crisis has affected all aspects of people’s lives and limited the government’s capacity to support similar institutions within and outside Anbar province. He acknowledged the efforts of UN agencies, noting with appreciation the support of UN-Habitat in rehabilitation of destroyed homes and provision of shelter within Ramadi.

Pointing out that lack of access to education among youth is one of the key factors that fuel the cycle of poverty, hopelessness and frustration, Dr. Erfan Ali, Head of the UN-Habitat Iraq Programme expressed his hope that the new premises will enable young women and men from Fallujah to continue their education and play an active role as agents of positive and constructive change.

Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in Iraq, Mr. Hirofumi Miyake, stated that as a result of disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and the recent nuclear accident, Japan too has its own internally displaced persons, and therefore the people of Japan understand very well the importance of support to displaced persons in Iraq. He further emphasized that Japan will continue its support for UN-Habitat’s efforts to improve living conditions of displaced persons in Iraq.

Deputy President of Fallujah University, Dr. Ibraheem Abdulkareem said that completion of the new premises of Fallujah University provides a glimmer of hope for displaced students, while for his part, the General Director of Migration at the Ministry of Migration and Displacement Mr. Sattar Nawroz Khan, praised the joint cooperation and partnership between multiple actors, including the Governments of Iraq and Japan, Anbar Governorate, Fallujah University, and UN-Habitat, that enabled the positive results of the overall project.

This project was implemented within the framework of larger programme titled “Humanitarian Support to Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq through Provision of Durable Shelter,” funded by the Government of Japan, aiming to improve the living conditions of internally displaced persons in Iraq through the provision of prefabricated durable shelters, and thereby to support and strengthen their self reliance.