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AL-Wahda Hospital
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
 
A Morning with an MSF Community Health Worker, Kawargosk Camp, Iraqi Kurdistan.
Photo Story

A morning with an MSF Community Health Worker, Kawargosk Camp, Iraqi Kurdistan

23 Oct 2014
Photo Story
 
Dalal
Iraq

"Does anyone care?": Testimonies of the displaced in Iraq

Voices from the Field 10 Oct 2014
 
Iraq - IDP fleeing violence in northern Iraq
Iraq

Populations displaced by violence left isolated and deprived of assistance

Project Update 10 Oct 2014
 
Iraq - IDP fleeing violence in northern Iraq
Photo Story

Fleeing Violence in Northern Iraq

9 Oct 2014
Photo Story
 
Maternity unit in Domeez Camp, Iraq
Iraq

Safe births for Syrian refugees in Domeez

Project Update 18 Sep 2014
 
Maternity unit in Domeez Camp, Iraq
Photo Story

MSF's new maternity unit in Domeez camp, Iraq

18 Sep 2014
Photo Story
 
MSF clinic for IDPs in Baharka Camp, Iraq Kurdistan
Iraq

Stories from Bharka Camp

Voices from the Field 20 Aug 2014
 
MSF clinic for IDPs in Baharka Camp, Iraq Kurdistan
Iraq

“With so many IDPs the challenge is to target our work to the most vulnerable”

Voices from the Field 20 Aug 2014
 
Refugee Doctors
Iraq

Successive Waves of Population Displacement

Project Update 14 Aug 2014

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13 June 2018