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)

Iraq

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. While the worst of the violence has receded, the recovery and development process have just begun.

Post-conflict doesn’t immediately equal post-crisis

Over 1 million people continued to be displaced in Iraq after years of conflict and hostilities, unable to return to their homes due to trauma and fear of persecution, damaged shelters, and a lack of opportunity to earn an income. Over 112,000 are living in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps, and nearly 85,000 are living in emergency shelters.

IDP communities face challenges accessing essential protection services. The closure last year of several camps also compelled people to either return home, or go into secondary displacement—moving to another camp or emergency shelter. In many cases, both IDPs and those who return face similar challenges: a lack of livelihood opportunities and basic public services.

Concern works with its partner in Iraq to provide case management services for children in displacement camps, as part of its larger work to provide mental health and psychosocial support services and facilitate awareness-raising activities on child protection issues.

Latest achievements

Protection

As part of our protection work in Iraq, Concern has established community centres designed to improve the well-being of women and children in both northeast Syria and in Iraq’s Duhok governorate. Last year, this programme reached nearly 1,500 people.

Localisation

Hussein* (42) is a driver. There are eight in his family. "We live in terrible conditions in this site. We need fuel." (Photo: Kareem Botane/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

Aziza (36) is from Sinjar Sinuneh. (Photo: George Henton/Concern Worldwi

Aziza (36) is from Sinjar Sinuneh. "This is the only NGO that distributes the hygiene kit. We have been in the camps for 4 years, life is very hard in the camps, things get dirty quickly, the project inside the camp is making it even worse, so hygiene kits are crucial for us." (Photo: George Henton/Concern Worldwide)

A Concern distribution at Bardarash site, Iraq. (Photo: Concern Worldwide)

People receive hygiene kits at Khanke IDP site in Duhok in Iraq. Photo: George Henton / Concern Worldwide.

Markaz (40) from Sinjar Til Qasab. Photo: George Henton/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.