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Why are we in Iraq? Years of conflict in Iraq have uprooted millions of people, eroded social cohesion, disrupted access to basic services, destroyed livelihoods, and led to increased protection risks. The country’s northern region, where Concern works, has also hosted large numbers of displaced people due to conflict and instability.

Nearly 1 million Iraqis remain displaced

The UN reports that almost 5 million Iraqis have been able to return to their homes amid an improving security situation and economic recovery. However, progress is still in a fragile state as the country navigates recovery amid regional conflict and instability. 

Nearly 1 million people remain internally displaced in the country, over 109,000 of whom are in camps in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq. The country also hosts over 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers, 90% of whom are Syrians trying to navigate their own uncertain futures. Communities living in displacement continue to face barriers to essential protection services, public services, and livelihood opportunities. 

Concern works with local partner VOP-Fam (Voice of Older People and Family) to provide case-management services for displaced children in Iraq, as part of VOP-Fam’s larger work to provide mental health and psychosocial support services and facilitate awareness-raising activities on child protection issues.

Latest achievements

One

Programme impact

In 2025, Concern reached nearly 40,000 people (both directly and indirectly) in Iraq via our partnership with VOP-Fam.  

Two

Protection

Three

Localisation

People receive hygiene kits at Khanke IDP site in Duhok. The kits contain shampoo, soap, detergent, nappies and pads for women. (Photo: George Henton/Concern Worldwide)
People receive hygiene kits at Khanke IDP site in Duhok. The kits contain shampoo, soap, detergent, nappies and pads for women. Photo: George Henton/Concern Worldwide
WASH Officer Shahnas visits a Concern-funded water pump in Duhok, Iraq. Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide
WASH Officer Shahnas visits a Concern-funded water pump in Duhok, Iraq. Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide
WASH Officer Shahnas visits a Concern-funded water pump in Duhok, Iraq. Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide
WASH Officer Shahnas visits a Concern-funded water pump in Duhok, Iraq. Photo: Gavin Douglas/Concern Worldwide

How we're helping Iraq

We are working hard to combat suffering and to build resilience in Iraq. We are doing this by establishing programmes which will offer protection services for children and tackle gender inequality.

Emergency response & protection

Organisations who fund us

People gather with jerrycans and other containers to collect water from a tanker cistern in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip

Gaza Crisis Appeal

  • 1.6 million people at crisis levels of hunger

  • 1 in 8 people are facing food shortages

  • 70,000 people have been killed

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