The United Nations' food agency warned Tuesday of a looming humanitarian crisis in southern Iraq, where tens of thousands of destitute, displaced families have sought refuge from conflict.

The World Food Program (WFP) said the situation in the governorates of Najaf, Karbala and Babel was reaching "critical levels" because of an influx of people who have fled violence in other parts of the country and no longer have any means of supporting themselves.

WFP aid involves the delivery of staples such as flour, rice, oil and pasta to families who have found semi-permanent places of refuge, emergency supplies to people still on the move and the issuing of food vouchers in areas where this can support local economies. The agency said it provided food support to 1.4 million people in Iraq in 2014 .

...