Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
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In Iraq, nearly 3 million people (1.3 million children) affected by the protracted conflict continue to need humanitarian assistance. This includes 1 million people (463,760 children) with acute humanitarian needs and 990,500 children and women at risk of gender-based violence.
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UNICEF's multi-pronged humanitarian strategy within a transition context includes providing continued humanitarian assistance while strengthening government systems and creating durable solutions for children. UNICEF focuses on return areas and on areas of displacement.
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UNICEF is requesting US$77.6 million in 2023 to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families affected by crisis. This will cover work to strengthen government systems and support children returning from northeast Syria under difficult circumstances, internally displaced children and children in extremely water-stressed areas.
Humanitarian Needs
The current humanitarian situation in Iraq is a legacy of the 2013-2017 conflict, which displaced more than 6 million Iraqis. Although reconstruction and stabilization efforts have been initiated in the conflict-affected areas to promote the sustainable return of people under the durable solutions approach, significant challenges and needs remain. This is particularly true for returnees who live in remote and disputed areas, because there is limited government attention and resources for the provision of basic services.
As of September 2022, 1.2 million people remained internally displaced, while 4.9 million had returned to nearly 2,200 locations in eight governorates. With the abrupt closure of many camps for displaced people starting in October 2020, the in-camp population dropped from 256,861 in August 2020 to 179,325 in September 2022, while the number of displaced people living outside of camps reached 1 million, including 370,000 living in informal sites, often widely dispersed and with little access to services. Overall, humanitarian assistance for 3 million people, including 1.3 million children, remains critical. Nearly 1 million people (463,760 children) are considered to be in acute humanitarian need.
Additionally, the Government of Iraq started scaling up efforts to return Iraqi citizens from northeast Syria; an estimated 50,000 returnees from Al-Hol camp there are in need of multisectoral assistance and reintegration support. UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration are coordinating efforts to support the Government of Iraq to complete this return and reintegration. This will be a resource-intensive effort and will include providing support for children and young people who are physically and psychologically very vulnerable.
An estimated 680,000 internally displaced and returnee children face obstacles to accessing education. Some 699,000 children are in need of child protection services, while 990,500 individuals are at risk of gender-based-violence. Female-headed households, especially those of displaced people, as well as women and girls living with disabilities and people perceived to be affiliated with extremist groups are at increased risk of gender-based violence.
Iraq also faces significant challenges related to climate change, including water scarcity, which impacts peace and security throughout the region and globally. Iraq will face severe water scarcity in 2023, due to lower groundwater levels and reduced flows in the main rivers. An estimated 15 per cent of children will be affected by this in Iraq's central and southern governorates and will need humanitarian assistance. Overall, nearly 1.7 million people need access to WASH services in conflict-affected areas and in areas facing severe water scarcity and persistent cholera risks.