Iraq: Strategies & Goals
To contribute to the survival and resilience of conflict-affected populations such as internally-displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees.
Iraq has suffered from repeated armed conflicts in recent decades and with the insurgency by the Islamic State in 2014 the violence in many parts of the country greatly increased. As a result, UNOCHA estimates that there are 3 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the country and 11 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid. The years of conflict have destroyed basic infrastructure in parts of the country, making it difficult for families to return to their homes even after the violence has ended.
Facts and Figures
Sectors of intervention
Welthungerhilfe’s work in Iraq initially focused on emergency aid, such as the distribution of food aid and winter provisions in the Dohuk and Erbil governorates. A more comprehensive approach has been developed in recent years to improve the food and nutrition security situation by focusing on rehabilitation assistance for IDPs, returnees and host communities as well as improving the water and sanitation situation for communities.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
- In the Northern Ninewa province of Iraq, Welthungerhilfe is working in partnership with the GIZ and the Danish Refugee Council to improve the living conditions for 195,000 people who have been affected by conflict. Basic infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads and electricity and water services are being rebuilt with cash for work programmes, which also help to reduce household dependency on food aid and allow displaced people return to the region. Efforts are also being made to clear the area of undetected weapons and mines and promote social cohesion between different groups.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
- Welthungerhilfe is working to reduce the level of communicable diseases and improve access to drinking water for more than 85,000 people in Sinjar, Telafar and Telkaif districts with funding from BMZ. Water and sanitation infrastructure is being repaired and local engineers are being trained to maintain the systems.
- Welthungerhilfe, with support from the Federal Foreign Office (AA), is working to ensure the health of 160,000 people in four districts by providing water treatment kits while water infrastructure in being repaired, improving sanitation and waste disposal infrastructure and providing hygiene items and training at household level.
Economic Development
- Welthungerhilfe is working in partnership with the BMZ to secure and improve the livelihoods of 2000 rural households, including IDPs, returnees and host communities, by providing agricultural and business training and supporting the development of agricultural value chains.
