IRAQ
RESPONDING TO URGENT NEED
WHY IRAQ?
In 2014, attacks by armed groups forced millions to flee their homes for safer areas. These clashes have continued, and as of
June 2016, there are more than 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, one of the highest IDP populations in the
1
world. Many of the displaced are living in government camps or in informal settlements such as unfinished buildings. While
some families are able to safely return home, most often to devastated communities, there is need for support as people
rebuild their homes and local economies. At the same time, others are becoming newly displaced due to ongoing clashes
between various armed forces. As the conflict-affected population remains fluid, many displaced are trapped in areas difficult to
access. Medair continues to serve those most vulnerable, providing support to the displaced as well as those rebuilding their
communities.
WHERE WE HELP
In Iraq, Medair is implementing projects in Duhok, Kirkuk, and Ninewa governorates. Medair responded to the crisis in Iraq in
August 2014, and has been active in the Middle East since 2012, working with Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. Medair
has previously worked in Iraq in 1991 and 1992, and again in 2003, providing relief and recovery to thousands of people affected
by conflict.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Emergency Response Mobile Medical Teams
As the crisis in Iraq continues with the conflict-affected population predicted to reach 13 million people, there is a need for
humanitarian services to be able to respond swiftly to newly arising emergencies. Medair emergency response mobile medical
teams focus on rapid humanitarian response to provide emergency primary healthcare services to recently displaced and
vulnerable populations.
Providing primary health care in a camp
More than 18,000 displaced people live in Sharya camp in Duhok governorate. Medair provides basic health services, treating
illnesses and referring serious or complicated cases to the hospitals in the nearby city of Duhok. A team of community health
volunteers visit families in their tents to share health education messages and screen for malnutrition. The clinic operates a
feeding programme to support mothers and children who suffer from malnutrition.
Supporting a health clinic in area of returns
Some of the people who fled from their towns when armed groups took over in 2014 have been able to return as areas have
been recaptured. Medair supports health clinics serving these areas of return. As local economies grow and more people
choose to return to their homes, social services such as health clinics often lack the operational and staff capacity they had preconflict. Medair supplies medicines and staff to support them in providing health services until they are able to operate
independently again.
Mobile Medical Teams
As the displaced population continues to grow with millions of people in need of assistance, existing clinics have been
overburdened by the dramatic rise in healthcare needs. Medair is serving conflict affected populations living in informal
settlements with access to health services through Mobile Medical Teams. Mobile Medical Teams include healthcare
professionals bringing medicines to serve several communities in Sinjar and Kirkuk that would otherwise have limited access to
healthcare.
Cash Assistance
With limited livelihood opportunities for the millions of displaced people along with the increasing strain on public social
services, the economic burden of the conflict has had a widespread impact on both the displaced and host community
populations. Medair provides emergency cash assistance to conflict affected people, enabling households to meet their critical
and varied needs.
1 http://www.unocha.org/iraq
This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarter staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should
not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.
IRAQ
RESPONDING TO URGENT NEED
The people we serve
Havin, a new mother observed her infant daughter was weak. “We realised that something was wrong, but we didn’t know
what. Then a Medair community health volunteer came and checked her for malnutrition using the MUAC test. They found that
she was malnourished and referred her to the Medair clinic. The community health volunteers are very helpful.”
-Havin*, her husband and daughter lives in Sharya IDP Camp in Duhok Governorate
Hamid* receives treatment from a Medair Mobile Medical Team. “The clinic staff here treats us very well. We are thankful for
the good services you provide for us. It is more than we expected.” Hamid and his family fled his hometown leaving behind his
parents and other family over a year ago and think of their welfare daily, “I hope the families left behind will be safe and free.”
Due to the unknown circumstances of his parents and family, he lives under constant stress over their health and safety; in
addition he struggles to provide for his family now they are displaced.
-Hamid*, father of 3 children, an IDP living in Kirkuk Governorate
Impact (2015 report): 65 925 direct beneficiaries, among which:

24,963 patients were treated at Medair-supported health clinics,

11,822 people received improved sanitation or bathing facilities and 3,251 got access to drinking water,

31,856 people benefitted from hygiene kits (soap, toothpaste, detergent, sanitary towels, jerry can, etc.),

9,774 people received shelter assistance through winterization vouchers.
Donors and Funding Partners
2015: Swiss Solidarity, the Government of Canada in partnership with World Renew, the European Commission's Humanitarian
Aid and Civil Protection department, the World Health Organization, Medicor Foundation (LI), Transform Aid International (AU),
the Iraq Humanitarian Pool Fund, and generous private donors.
2016: Swiss Solidarity, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department, Medicor Foundation (LI),
Transform Aid International (AU) and generous private donors.
For Media
Interviews, photos, and stories are available in English.
For enquiries and interviews on the ground, please contact:
Bethany Williams, Regional Communications Manager (English)
[email protected] +964 (0) 750 311 7326
For more information from HQ in Switzerland, please contact:
Nath Fauveau, Press Relations Officer (English/French/German)
[email protected] +41 (0)78 635 30 95
Web: www.medair.org | Twitter: https://twitter.com/MedairInt & https://twitter.com/Medair_ME |
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Medair/ | Instagram: Medair_middle_east
Medair supports conflict affected
families by cash assistance to support
in meeting their critical needs in Kirkuk
Governorate.
©Medair/Ammar Kana’any
A Medair nurse weighs a child at the
primary health clinic for IDPs living in
Sharya Camp, Duhok Governorate.
©Medair/Bethany Williams
The Medair health manager greets a
woman at a clinic in an area of return
in Ninewa Governorate.
©Medair/Bethany Williams
This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarter staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should
not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.