Iraq

Overview

People are returning home after several years of conflict and displacement, but the Iraqi government still faces significant challenges to ensure safety and stability, functioning infrastructure, and access to basic services and job opportunities. ?Relations with the autonomous Kurdish Region of Iraq (KR-I), which voted for independence in September 2017, remain fragile.?

Some 10,000-15,000 Islamic State (IS) militants are believed to remain in Hamrin Mountains, Kirkuk governorate, Mosul, the southern part of Ninewa governorate, and the desert areas of Anbar governorate. ?

Almost 65% of all people in need are concentrated in Anbar, Ninewa, and Salah al-Din governorates. ?Large scale displacement persists despite the expulsion of IS from Iraqi territory. In December 2017. Return movements slowed in 2018 as returnees often face damaged housing, insecurity, and lack basic services and livelihood opportunities. ?Efforts to reduce areas extensively contaminated with explosive remnants of war are ongoing, however, progress is very slow. ?Additionally, Iraq hosts almost 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including 250,000 Syrian refugees, of whom 99% live in KR-I. 69% of all Syrian refugees in Iraq are women and children. ?

The humanitarian crisis is compounded by reoccurring, countrywide natural disasters, such as floods and droughts. INFORM measures Iraq’s risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster to be very high, at 7.2/10. Hazard and exposure, as well as lack of coping capacity, are of particular concern, at 8.6/10 and 7/10 rates. ?

Latest Developments

Iraq registered 630 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 30 March, with 46 deaths. Three laboratories are now testing and case numbers are expected to increase. A curfew and grounding of flights have been enforced with arrests and fines. These measures have negatively impacted aid delivery. Though movement between governorates is restricted, thousands of Iraqis performed pilgrimage to Baghdad on 21 March, risking exposure to COVID-19. Iraq has a caretaker government as the PM appointee still needs ratification by parliament.?

ACAPS' team is daily monitoring the impact of COVID-19. Find more information related to the outbreak here.

26/03/2020: Following heavy rains over 18-19 March, flooding has affected northern and central governorates, with Ninewa, Diyala and Salah al-Din worst affected. Five people were killed; there are no figures regarding people displaced and affected. IDP camps may have additional health, WASH, and shelter needs. Mosul, where post-conflict rebuilding efforts are ongoing, was also flooded. ?

09/01/2020: Following an escalation of conflict between the US and Iran which led to attacks on Iraqi soil in December and January, the security situation in the country remains volatile. Reports of hindered humanitarian access including the closure of INGOs’ offices and the impossibility of mobilising humanitarian personnel have emerged.?

For more information on the humanitarian impact of past protests, please see the relevant paragraph below.