Humanitarian Crisis

in Iraq2006 and Beyond

Current crisis from 2006

Origin: Sectarian conflicts, exacerbated by Ethnic conflicts (Arab / Kurds / Turkmen)

Location: Almost all over Iraq, but mainly:Baghdad : divided into Sectarian & ethnic zonesEastern governorates: Dyala, Misan, Wasit, BasrahNorth Western Gov.: Ninawa, …….

Current crisis from 2006

Size: Around 2.5 millions IDPs & 2 millions refugees (mainly in Jordan and Syria)

Distribution of IDPs: Intra- & Inter-urban & also from Rural to Urban Majority (> 85%) are integrated with local population< 10 % are in government building, vacated houses< 5% are in camps

Current situation: around 1.2 million IDPs

Decrease of Health services capacities & qualities, particularly those targeting women and young girls (providers barriers, complex services, …..)

Decrease of women’s utilisation of existing SRH services (socio-cultural barriers), particularly among IDPs

Increased Violence Against Women (social & domestic) Reports on Trafficking of Young women to neighboring

countries

Consequence on Women SRH concerns

Limited to Maternity (Pre-natal care & EmOC) Provision of RH kits to PHCs & Hospitals, rehabilitation of

facilities Low commitment of national partners to concerns of women and

young girls (especially SRH issues), including MoH plan/agenda Focus on children, casualties, endemic & epidemic diseases, ….

Women & Girls are at the end of the TAIL

(Confined at home, Few women are dying,

but Majority are suffering in Silence)

SRH in emergency responses

Few scattered mechanisms Min. of Women Affairs & women NGOs : around GBVNGOs working on Health issues (FP association)UN agencies & Int. NGOs : “Health Cluster”

Causes:Low integration of RH into MoH agenda & prioritiesLimited capacities of National NGOsCompetition between Partners

National mechanism to respond to SRH conerns

Return of IDPs will take quiet some timeElections, existing political & borders disputes could

lead to renewal of Ethnic and Sectarian fightsGovernment RH services will SLOWLY increase its

scope and qualitySocio-cultural barriers affecting utilization of existing

RH services

Most likely scenario in Iraq

Human Face for SRH: Women & YouthAdolescents & Youth: SRH is ONE of many

concerns …………. ( Most / Least?? )MISP:

Adaptation to social & cultural context of Arab worldDissemination of successful implementation in Arab world

Non-classical Partners: Women & Youth Local NGOs

Recommendations to improve SRH emergency response