Iraq

4.1 million people in need of humanitarian aid

1.3 million people still displaced

4.7 million returnees

72 600 helped people

Since the end of the fighting against Islamic State (IS) in late 2017, the country has gradually shifted from a situation of high-intensity armed conflict to one of gradual return of displaced populations.

However, populations that were unable to return to their communities or those affected by the uncoordinated closure of official camps are now living in informal camps and continue to face immense challenges in meeting their basic needs. Social and political tensions continued in 2021, destabilising the country and limiting the prospects for addressing the needs of displaced populations or supporting their return. Moreover, the country was not spared by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 500,000 cases and 11,000 deaths, which further impacted on the most vulnerable populations.

39.1 million inhabitants
31% poverty rate
123rd out of 189 on the Human Development Index

Mission
opened in 1992, 2003, 2017
Team 10 international staff
54 national staff
Budget 4M€

Since 2019, the activities of SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL and its local and international partners have focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in IDP camps and among multi-displaced or returnee populations residing in informal settlements, in urban or rural areas, such as Baghdad, and in areas affected by fighting with IS, including Mosul and the Nineveh Plains. Our teams are implementing projects that combine emergency and medium-term strategies to support the improvement of living conditions for these populations and their host communities. Following an influx of people from North-East Syria in October-November 2019, support is being provided to Syrian refugees arriving in Iraqi Kurdistan in the Bardarash and Gawilan camps. More recently, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL teams have started new interventions in the Sinjar and Ba’aj areas, which are experiencing a massive influx of returnees due to the recent decision of the Iraqi Government to permanently close the camps. In order to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 on vulnerable households, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has also extended its interventions to the sectors of food security, livelihoods and shelters in 2021.

Partners

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Crisis and Support Centre, OCHA-IHF, ECHO, BPRM, ELMA Foundation, Choose Love

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)

– Distribution of drinking water and water quality control
– Restoration of drinking water points and networks
– Distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene promotion
– Restoration and maintenance of sanitation infrastructures
– Construction of latrines
– Solid waste management
– Co-coordination of the WASH platform in Nineveh province