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INTRODUCTION
This report provides findings on the status of health-care services, public awareness levels, access to services, movement restrictions and the overall impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across Iraq. Data was collected for all of Iraq at subdistrict level for 401 subdistricts and took place between 3 and 9 June 2020 through face-to-face and phone interviews with a broad network of key informants (KIs) across the country. The detailed findings and dataset can be found on the COVID-19 dashboard.
KEY FINDINGS
• KIs reporting the presence of checkpoints to control population movements in most areas has decreased from 76 per cent in April to 46 per cent in June, which is linked to the easing of restrictions in many areas of the country. Compared to April when the whole country was subject to movement restrictions/curfew orders, only 48 per cent of subdistricts were reportedly subject to complete movement restrictions in early June. Similarly, fines/punishments for violations are also reportedly being issued in fewer areas in June (45%) compared with April (56%).
• The proportion of KIs reporting some groups being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis more than others within society rose from 62 per cent in April to 71 per cent in June. The groups most commonly reported as being more affected are daily laborers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the elderly. Furthermore, the proportion of KIs reporting that assistance is being provided to disproportionately affected groups has decreased from 73 per cent in April to 56 per cent in June.
• KIs reported expecting the pandemic to have a significant financial impact on their sub-districts at around double the rate in June (96%) than in April (44%). Additionally of concern, KIs’ expectations of psychological effects on the population due to the pandemic jumped significantly from 15 per cent in April to 66 per cent in June.
• Whilst price increases due to the pandemic remain fairly common (reported in 23% of subdistricts for food items, 37% for medicines, and 45% for NFIs), fewer KIs have reported issues with shortages or price increases of critical goods in their subdistrict in June compared with April.1
• Access to health care remains high, with KIs in 93 per cent of subdistricts reporting that public health-care clinics are open and accessible, up from 86 per cent in April. Additionally, there was a decrease in the number of subdistricts where private clinics/hospitals are reportedly closed, falling from 43 per cent in April to 11 per cent in June.
• In June, 63 per cent of KIs reported that the first action their families would take if a family member showed symptoms of COVID-19 would be to go to a public primary health-care centre, up from 56 per cent in April.