United Nations, Aug 29 (IANS) The United Nations Thursday said that there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Iraqi areas sieged by the Islamic State militants.

“The World Food Programme (WFP), which has delivered food to more than 700,000 people since the start of the crisis in June, warns that there is an urgent need for assistance in areas under siege by armed groups, particularly in Anbar and Salah al-Din,” Xinhua quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric quoted as saying.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs( OCHA) said that the UN continues to support the Iraqi government and the northern regional authorities in delivering emergency life-saving aids.

“Key priorities are shelter, food, clean water and sanitation as well as medical assistance,” Dujarric said.