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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 2023 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Iraq in 2023 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ran a diverse range of health services across Iraq in 2023, serving hard-to-reach communities and people affected by years of conflict.
Iraq IAR map 2023

Despite signs of improvements after decades of fighting and war, Iraq’s public healthcare sector is still recovering and there are significant needs, particularly in remote areas and regions directly affected by the recent conflict with the Islamic State group.

As international resources have been reallocated to other regions in the world and assistance has decreased in Iraq, the country is facing the major challenge of rebuilding and rehabilitating its infrastructure and public services, including public healthcare.

In 2023, MSF teams worked in 11 locations across Iraq, delivering a wide range of essential and specialised medical services to residents of areas with limited access to healthcare, as well as to people returning home after prolonged displacement in camps or other regions within the country.

Our activities included maternal, paediatric and neonatal services, emergency medical care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, specialised orthopaedic and obstetric surgery, comprehensive post-surgical rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. In addition, we supported healthcare facilities across Iraq with donations of medical supplies and technical training for staff, and strengthened local health authorities’ preparedness for emergencies.

We also continued to assist the National Tuberculosis Institute with the administration of oral treatment regimens for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

During the year, we organised several referrals for Iraqi patients requiring specialist surgical care to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan.

 

In 2023
 
Patrick Durrant, MSF PC, Sulaymaniyah
Iraq

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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
 
Providing care to displaced communities, Tikrit district, Iraq.
Iraq

Crisis update – December 2017

Crisis Update 18 Jan 2018
 
Mohammad, nine days old, with his mother Seva
Iraq

Giving Syrian refugees a safe place to give birth

Voices from the Field 18 Jan 2018
 
Tondo project in Philippines
Photo Story

A year in pictures 2017

18 Dec 2017
Photo Story
 
Al Khansaa hospital in East Mosul
Iraq

Crisis update – November 2017

Crisis Update 30 Nov 2017
 
Al Khansaa hospital in East Mosul
Iraq

From chaos to the provision of care

Voices from the Field 23 Nov 2017
 
Mosul : Qayyara hospital
Iraq

Returnees to Mosul face booby-trapped homes and destruction

Project Update 17 Oct 2017
 
Irak - MSF mobile clinics in Kirkuk and Salahedin governorates
Iraq

Hawijah offensive pushes nearly 14,000 people to neighbouring districts

Project Update 12 Oct 2017

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