Additional assistance to Iraq

The Australian Government willprovide an additional $110 million over three years in humanitarian andstabilisation assistance for Iraq. This funding will help combat the Islamistterrorist group ISIS.

ISIS has now lost over 60% of theterritory it once held in Iraq. More than two million people were liberatedfrom its grasp in 2016. But there is more to be done.

Australia remains committed toutterly destroying ISIS, and we have made and continue to make major militarycontributions to the Counter-ISIS Coalition effort in Iraq and Syria. At thesame time we are also laying the foundations for enduring stability. Helpingsupport the restoration of essential public services in areas liberated from theterrorists will allow displaced people to return home and begin rebuildingtheir lives.

Our funding includes an immediateinjection of $10 million to meet urgent needs arising from the operation toliberate Mosul and a new three year $100 million assistance package that willbe part of the 2017-18 Budget.

This package will addresshumanitarian needs such as food, medical assistance and access to clean water.It will focus on protecting the most vulnerable, with a particular emphasis onwomen and girls.

As the Coalition military effortforces ISIS out of major population centres, it is important to increasehumanitarian and stabilisation assistance to help the Iraqi Government lock insecurity gains.

This new funding will bring Australia's humanitarianassistance to Iraq and Syria to more than $530 million since 2014.