Iraq

Over 1 million people are still displaced, with nearly 150,000 living in open camps in precarious conditions with no long-term prospects.   

Returns are limited by insecurity, lack of public services, a lack of economic opportunities, and community tensions. In areas such as Sinjar and Ba’aj, destroyed infrastructure and ethno-sectarian divisions are hindering returns. 

Iraq is also facing a serious climate crisis. Declining rainfall and repeated droughts are threatening agriculture, which is essential to the local economy, particularly in the governorates of Nineveh, Dohuk and the south. The over-exploitation of water resources, exacerbated by dams in Turkey and Iran, is significantly reducing the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, exacerbating tensions between host communities, displaced persons and returnees. Equitable access to water is becoming crucial and is a prerequisite for social stability.

In this context of cross-cutting vulnerabilities, alongside inflation and failing public services, there are considerable humanitarian needs. Priorities for affected communities include shelter, food security, access to basic services, and livelihoods. Women, young people and those stigmatised for their alleged links to armed groups are particularly vulnerable. Increased support for sustainable solutions is essential, including support for resilient agriculture, local entrepreneurship and rebuilding public services.