A total of around 1,000 tonnes of flour, or enough to feed 70,000 people for a month, is due to travel to the Iraqi town of Dohouk Friday and Saturday to be distributed to the most vulnerable groups, WFP spokeswoman Heather Hill said.

"This is the first in a large number of major convoys to go into northern Iraq," said Hill.

Around 2,000 tonnes of flour will be brought to Arbil and 3,000 tonnes to Sulaymaniyah, both in northern Iraq, Hill said. Flour is a staple food in the region.

The WFP's chief on Friday praised the international community's response to the agency's 1.3 billion dollar food aid appeal, but warned that the poorest Iraqis could run out of food late this month.

SPACE.WIRE