About the Situation
By the Numbers
More than 30,399,572 people live in Iraq
25% of the people in Iraq live below the poverty line
17.5%% of the population is unemployed
(Sources: U.S. government and the World Bank)
Decades of political instability have affected Iraq’s economy, infrastructure, employment and social programs. According to the World Food Programme, the country’s educational programs and health care services have also suffered.
While some strides have been made in improving socio-economic issues, governmental analyses report that some 6.4 million Iraqis remain extremely vulnerable to food insecurity, and are relying on public assistance for their meals. Continuing violence in the region, joined with power outages, water shortages and rising food prices, exacerbate already-desperate living conditions for millions in Iraq.
How Islamic Relief is Helping
Islamic ReliefTM has been working in Iraq since 1997. In 2003, Islamic Relief opened a permanent office in Baghdad for the maintenance and oversight of long-term programs.
Here are some of current and recently completed programs in Iraq:
- Education programs
- Emergency relief
Islamic Relief has maintained a presence in Iraq even during times of turmoil and emergencies. In these cases, relief teams have been quick to get health kits to hospitals and health centers treating thousands of injured. Islamic Relief teams have also distributed food rations to help alleviate hunger during times of instability. - Health and nutrition projects
- One-to-one orphan sponsorships
- Ramadan food distribution
- Sustainable livelihood projects
- Udhiyah/Qurbani meat distribution
- Water and sanitation access
Here are photos taken by Islamic Relief teams in the field in Iraq.
