Obama offers Iraq $200M in humanitarian aid

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi is welcomed into the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2015, for his meeting with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Prime Minister’s visit is to discuss U.S.-Iraq policy and the fight against the Islamic State group.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi is welcomed into the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2015, for his meeting with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The Prime Minister’s visit is to discuss U.S.-Iraq policy and the fight against the Islamic State group.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is offering Iraq $200 million in humanitarian aid to help those displaced by Islamic State militants.

Obama said families and children have suffered because of the group's activities and the U.S. needs to support them.

Obama is meeting in the Oval Office with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The president said Iraqi forces are getting better equipped and trained since al-Abadi's election seven months ago. He said Iraq and a U.S.-led coalition have recovered about one-fourth of the territory the Islamic State had captured in the country.

However, Obama said the process of pushing back the militant group will be long.

Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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