By Judith Ugwumadu | 18 June 2014

The UK is to provide an initial £3m in emergency humanitarian assistance to help civilians fleeing the militant insurgency in Northern Iraq, the government has said.

Department for International Development humanitarian officials were deployed in Iraq last week and, subsequently, International Development Secretary Justine Greening activated the UK’s Rapid Response Facility.

The RRF will provide emergency support through pre-approved organisation, DFID stated. Of this money, some £2m will help provide clean water and sanitation, essential medicine, women-friendly hygiene kits and household items.

The remaining £1m will go towards the protection of vulnerable girls and women through the deployment of dedicated United Nations safety and welfare teams in key refugee camp sites and areas, the DFID.

Greening said: ‘Iraq is facing serious humanitarian needs.’

Around half a million people have been displaced in the north of the country since Islamist militant group ISIS, along with other armed groups, took control of the town on the main route to Baghdad last week, the UK government said.