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Emergency Response and Disaster Relief
AmeriCares has been providing assistance for Iraqis since 1990 and the first Gulf War. AmeriCares dedication to helping people in need throughout the world motivates our efforts for Iraq.
Our recent work began in 2003 in response to urgent medical and humanitarian needs brought about by the second Gulf War. As soon as security allowed, AmeriCares sent emergency airlifts to Kirkuk and Baghdad, both of which were the first airlifts orchestrated by a U.S. non-governmental organization. Other air and sea shipments followed, and to date AmeriCares has delivered more than $25 million of medicines and medical supplies to our local partner LIFE for Relief and Development (LIFE).
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
In 2005, AmeriCares increased the regularity of shipments to Iraq. We now regularly send medical assistance and other aid help with health and social services for Iraqi civilians, particularly some of the 2.2 million internally displaced persons and 750,000 people handicapped during three different wars.
LIFE operates two clinics, in Diala and Basra, where a staff of mostly volunteer doctors see roughly 400 patients a day. AmeriCares helps make these critical health services possible with the support of donated medicines and supplies. In addition, LIFE and AmeriCares work with the Ministry of Health to identify and distribute assistance to eight hospitals with chronic shortages of stock. Orphanages and camps for internally displaced persons receive 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.
The logistics of providing aid to Iraqi civilians is complex, with each shipment taking two months to reach Baghdad. AmeriCares and LIFE navigate the challenging security environment by maintaining a highly flexible and adaptive approach to routes and prudence in coordinating each delivery.
We are constantly reminded of the difficult circumstances of working in Iraq. The volatile situation, along with the loss of key personnel, has forced LIFE to close three of its clinics.
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