Iraq

Background
Straddling both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, modern-day Iraq occupies roughly what was once ancient Mesopotamia, one of the cradles of human civilization. After the overthrow of its monarchy in 1958 and a coup one decade later, Iraq quickly became one of the centers of Arab nationalism, under the control of the ruling Baath party. In 1979, Saddam Hussein rose to its presidency.

Its vast oil deposits made Iraq rich, but both the war with Iran (1980-1988) and the first Gulf War (1991), coupled with the subsequent imposition of international sanctions, devastated its economy. By the time Saddam was toppled from power in 2003, Iraqis were living at a subsistence level and ethnic tensions were on the rise. While its first multi-party elections were held in 2004, the new Iraqi government faces a critical challenge of restoring security.

What IMC Is Doing
IMC was the first non-governmental organization to enter southern Iraq in April 2003, before fighting had ceased, and to enter Baghdad after the war. IMC prepared its relief operations by conducting in-depth assessments of the health, nutrition status, and living conditions of the Iraqi people. IMC also pre-positioned staff and supplies throughout the region; teams in Turkey, Jordan, and Kuwait helped to identify vulnerable populations, develop resources, and coordinate IMC's planned efforts with other relief agencies. IMC currently has approximately five expatriate and 300 national staff operating programs in 16 of 18 governorates throughout the country.

IMC has distinguished itself in Iraq by assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in emergency situations where other international organizations have chosen not to venture. In Tel Afar, where even local Iraqi NGOs are absent, IMC supplied water and non-food items to some 5,000 IDPs, while also repairing water networks, the sewage system, and installing water distribution points in convenient locations. In Al-Anbar governorate, IMC provided emergency humanitarian relief and health care to thousands of families, rehabilitated six hospitals and primary health care clinics, installed four field clinics, and fully repaired a water treatment plant serving 47,000 persons. In these emergency situations, entire regions face skyrocketing unemployment and stagnant economics. IMC has provided temporary relief to hundreds of workers through income-generation programs.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis remain displaced and without proper shelter, health care, or even a supply of clean water. IMC has provided basic and emergency health services, including maternal and child health, to many of these people, with special emphasis on children under five, and pregnant and lactating women. IMC relief programs also include emergency feeding programs for the most vulnerable, water and sanitation activities, and complementary food distribution.

Since 2003, the emergency situation in Iraq has led IMC to focus on rebuilding the much-damaged national health system. IMC is helping to restore the health infrastructure of the country through rapid assessments; rehabilitation of health structures and distribution warehouses; standardization and rehabilitation of medical and pharmaceutical supply distribution and monitoring systems; provision of consultative support for primary health care facilities; training of doctors, nurses, and paramedics; provision of medical equipment and drug supplies to primary health care centers; re-establishment of disease surveillance systems; and extension and rehabilitation of water supply and purification systems.

All IMC programs are focused on rehabilitating the existing Iraqi infrastructure and avoiding the creation of a parallel system in order to encourage long-term sustainability and limit further dependence on foreign assistance.