AmeriCares remains dedicated to providing medicines and medical supplies to Iraqi civilians impacted by the war. We regularly send medical assistance and other humanitarian aid with particular focus on internally displaced persons and those left physically impaired as a result of the wars and internal conflict.

Snapshot of Iraq:

After decades of war and internal conflict, the need for humanitarian aid for the people of Iraq continues. Many people who have been and continue to be affected by the turmoil, lack access to basic health care. Conflict and misallocation of resources had a negative impact on Iraq’s basic infrastructure including sanitation and clean water systems. Poor communities and displaced families often resort to rivers, dirty tap water and other unsafe sources to find drinking water. Critical health issues:

• Dangerous water-borne disease outbreaks such as cholera.
• Health care access, particularly in regions still subject to outbreaks of sectarian violence.
• Support for the disabled, particularly those injured in war and internal conflict.

AmeriCares has provided assistance to Iraqis since 1990 and the first Gulf War.

For a number of years, we supported the work of our local partner LIFE in the operation of two clinics, staffed by volunteer doctors by providing medicines and medical supplies. In addition, LIFE and AmeriCares worked with the Ministry of Health to identify and distribute medical assistance to eight hospitals experiencing chronic shortages of pharmaceutical stock. Furthermore, orphanages and camps for internally displaced persons received hygiene products, blankets, and other family care items.

In 2007 AmeriCares delivered a special shipment of 280 wheelchairs to Iraq in collaboration with the Wheelchair Foundation. In 2011, AmeriCares delivered 550 wheelchairs from Free Wheelchair Mission in addition to prosthetic arms to further support the Iraqi handicapped population.

In 2012, we began working with a new partner, focusing on continuing the supply of wheelchairs, prosthetics and mobility aids to those in need.

In 2003, in response to urgent medical and humanitarian needs brought about by the second Gulf War, AmeriCares delivered emergency airlifts to Kirkuk and Baghdad, both of which were the first airlifts orchestrated by a U.S. non-governmental organization. Additional air and sea shipments of medicines and medical supplies to our local partner at that time, LIFE for Relief and Development (LIFE), followed.