Children waving at a camp in Iraq.
Where we work

Iraq

The devastating impacts of the war in Iraq are still being felt by children and their families across the country. 

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In 2023, Iraq started to transition from an emergency response to a longer-term development approach rooted in a sustainable development framework. 

Despite the reclassification of the humanitarian situation in Iraq, the needs of children and young people remain as serious as in previous years. 

The number of children deprived of schooling remains consistently high, with 1 in 5 children lacking adequate schooling and 1 in 4 children in need of child protection. Only 9% of children receive any form of early childhood education, and 25% of children—mostly girls—drop out between primary and secondary education.

The Government of Iraq has continued a gradual return of the approximately 30,000 Iraqi citizens currently in Northeast Syria. So far, 7,000 Iraqi citizens have returned, but there are significant gaps within the return and reintegration process across the country.

Livelihood opportunities for the 60% of the Iraqi population who are under 25 remain limited. While the Government of Iraq has continued to support access to job opportunities and training, there are stark gender disparities in the workplace, with only 10.6% female labour force participation compared to almost 70% male participation.

Climate change is also impacting the country, with heatwaves, drought, and a rapid increase in average temperature.

Scale of the challenge

  • 90 %

    Of returnees from Syria are children and women

  • 1.3 M

    Children in need of humanitarian assistance.

  • 9 %

    Of children receive early childhood education

Our work in Iraq 

War Child began working in Iraq in Baghdad (Federal Iraq) in 2004 and expanded into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in 2014. We operate out of offices in Erbil, Mosul, and Baghdad, collaborating with local and national NGOs, forming consortia with other international NGOs, and partnering with government ministries.

Throughout 2023, War Child teams reached over 2,291 children, 1,719 youth, and 768 adults through a mix of programming interventions covering early childhood education, youth employment and skills, and parental programmes in Ninewa, Baghdad, Anbar, and Basra governorates.

Participant Soleen carries her younger brother in their home.
When IS forces attacked their village, Soleen and her family were forced to flee their home. Now living in a camp for those displaced by the conflict, Soleen attends a War Child community centre where she can play and learn. Credit: Arete.
Now I go to the War Child centre and love to learn and play with my friends. I'm so happy I get to learn new things that are important and useful.
Soleen, Iraq.

War Child’s programmes include:

  • Delivering educational activities focussed on Early Childhood Development (ECD).
  • Providing access to education for young people whose educational opportunities have been disrupted by conflict and displacement, along with youth empowerment and livelihood opportunities.
  • Building partnerships with local businesses so that caregivers can access parental and caregiving sessions at their workplace.
  • Supporting primary-aged children in the Anbar district in collaboration with formal schools and the Directorate of Education. This includes delivering remedial education, ECD sessions, teacher and school management support, and targeted support to girls at risk of dropping out of school.
  • Integrating protection approaches and supporting community-led committees in our project locations across the country to identify and address specific needs within their communities.
  • Supporting youth with life skills sessions, on-the-job training opportunities, vocational training, and funding for entrepreneurs, as well as supporting youth-led civic engagement in collaboration with government partners across three governorates in central and southern Iraq.
  • Capacity building and system strengthening for teachers and social workers in protection, education, and safeguarding.
  • Providing psychosocial support and protection assistance to children and their families through our case workers.

 

A donation from you will mean life-saving aid for children affected by conflict. 

With your help, we can continue to support vulnerable children for as long as they need us.

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