Refugees and displaced people – an unprecedented crisis

Iraq is a country marked by years of conflict. Although it is gradually emerging from the crisis stage, the country is still extremely fragile and is facing multiple political, economic, social and security challenges. Since the beginning of the conflict with Islamic State in 2014, Iraq has been the scene of violent events which have forced millions of people to become internally displaced in the country. The majority have sought refuge in Kurdistan and neighbouring regions. In 2017, military operations succeeded in liberating the city of Mosul in northern Iraq.

In Iraq around 1.5 million people are still internally displaced

In Iraq, of the six million people who fled their homes at the height of the conflict with Islamic State, around 1.5 million are still internally displaced. Of these, 70% have been displaced for over three years. There are many factors preventing these people from returning to their home regions, including trauma linked to the abuses perpetrated by Islamic State, community tensions, concern about war debris remaining in the area, homes that have been damaged or destroyed, the lack of services available, especially healthcare and education, and the lack of means of subsistence. These factors applies particularly to the Yazidi community of Sinjar, in Nineveh Governorate.

Critical lack of infrastructure and healthcare workers

People directly exposed to the conflict, those who were internally displaced, refugees from Syria and host communities are all direct or indirect victims of this conflict.

There is a desperate need for healthcare in the areas most affected by the conflict (primarily Nineveh, Anbar, Salah Al-Din and Kirkuk Governorates). The lack of infrastructure, the shortage of healthcare workers and the damage caused by the violence still represent major barriers to access to care for the most vulnerable.

In many regions access to healthcare is compromised by the unstable security situation. Where services are available, health centres are overcrowded and overwhelmed by the scarcity of resources (healthcare staff, medical supplies and equipment). Whole neighbourhoods have not yet been rebuilt, essential services in some regions are inadequate and poor hygiene conditions contribute to serious public health problems and the spread of disease.

The main needs in terms of health are the prevention of communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive healthcare, care for elderly people with chronic conditions, mental healthcare and the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.