The Department for International Development (DFID) is leading the UK’s humanitarian response to the crisis created by ISIL in Iraq. We are getting life-saving aid to people across Iraq who have fled ISIL terrorists. More than 2 million people were displaced by ISIL in 2014.

In the summer of 2014 we responded to the rapidly growing number of Iraqis fleeing their homes by allocating £23 million in emergency humanitarian assistance. These funds are continuing to provide food, shelter, water, sanitation and medical care, to thousands of vulnerable displaced families across Iraq.

In December 2014, as winter approached and temperatures dropped below zero, we continued our support with an extra £16.5 million to provide essential aid to tens of thousands of families.

This includes delivering blankets, heating stoves and other essential winter supplies to 14,000 vulnerable displaced families; helping 16,000 families buy warm winter clothing; ensuring 4,500 families are sheltered from winter conditions and providing emergency health support and increased access to safe water for thousands of vulnerable people.

To find out more, please visit: www.gov.uk/government/news/isil-uk-government-response#hu...

Pictures: Andrew McConnell/Panos for DFID