Skip to main content
AL-Wahda Hospital
War in Gaza:: find out how we're responding
Learn more
The effects of years of conflict and instability continue to be felt in Iraq. Despite the resumption of services in some health facilities, the country’s public health system is still far from making a full recovery.

While over 4.8 million people have managed to return home, around 1.1 million people remain displaced across 18 governorates*. Both returnees and those still displaced struggle to access basic services and job opportunities. 

The healthcare system is unable to fulfil the needs of people, which is exacerbated by the shortages of specialist healthcare workers and drugs.

Our teams in Iraq continue to bridge the most pressing gaps in access to healthcare in four governorates. We provide general, maternal, neonatal, and mental healthcare, in addition to surgical procedures, post-operative care and rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases and emergency medical care.

*http://iraqdtm.iom.int/ - IOM

Why are we here?

Our activities in 2022 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.

MSF in Iraq in 2022 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continued to work across Iraq in 2022, filling gaps in healthcare exacerbated by war and conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iraq IAR map 2022

After years of conflict and instability, Iraq has started to see some signs of recovery, but its healthcare system is still far from being able to fulfil all the medical needs of people, especially in areas directly affected by the most recent war with the Islamic State group.

In 2022, MSF worked in 10 projects across Baghdad, Ninewa, Kirkuk, Erbil and Dhi Qar. We offered a wide range of general and specialist medical services and support to people living in areas affected by the war, returnees from long periods of displacement in camps or other regions of the country, and communities with poor access to healthcare. Services included emergency, maternal and neonatal care, specialist orthopaedic and maternity surgery, comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation and care, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. We also provided medical supplies, technical training, and support for emergency preparedness and response in several health facilities across the country.

Patients requiring advanced surgical care were referred to MSF’s reconstructive surgery programme in Amman, Jordan, which has been conducting orthopaedic, plastic and maxillofacial surgery for patients from Iraq and other countries in the Middle East since 2006.

In Baghdad, we continued to collaborate with the National Tuberculosis Institute, working on switching drug-resistant TB patients from injections to newer, more effective oral drugs.

Our teams also assisted the Iraqi health authorities with the response to COVID-19. We provided intensive care treatment, patient isolation (for mild and moderate cases), and health promotion campaigns to encourage vaccination. In all our regular activities, we implemented strict infection prevention and control measures to protect patients and staff from catching or spreading COVID-19.

 

In 2022
 
ER in Sinuni Hospital
Iraq

Rehabilitated hospital improves access to healthcare in Sinjar district

Press Release 8 Nov 2018
 
Vaccination in Qayyarah camps
Iraq

Life after the war

msf.org 26 Oct 2018
 
BMRC - Baghdad medical rehabilitation center
Iraq

Helping victims of war get back on their feet

Project Update 9 Aug 2018
 
NFI distribution in Mosul's Old City
Photo Story

After the battle: The unfolding of a disaster

11 Jul 2018
Photo Story
 
Nashwan - war wounded - Mosul
Iraq

A year on from battle, Mosul’s healthcare system is still in ruins

Press Release 9 Jul 2018
 
Zainab - war wounded - Mosul
Iraq

The agony of Mosul’s war wounded: “I've had about 15 operations on my leg so far.”

Voices from the Field 9 Jul 2018
 
Omar Mahmoud Mental Health Activity Manager Assistant
Iraq

Syrian refugee works to heal wounds of Iraq's displaced

thenational.ae 19 Jun 2018
 
Patrick Durrant, MSF PC, Sulaymaniyah
Iraq

“Hospitals must always be prepared; you never know what will happen”

Voices from the Field 25 May 2018
 
Damaged buildings in Diyala, Iraq
Iraq

Isolated, angry, anxious and stressed - mental health in Iraq

Voices from the Field 2 Apr 2018

Find us online

Up Next
13 June 2018