MSF Operation Room in Iraq, MSB89294
The effects of years of conflict and instability continue to be felt in Iraq. Despite the resumption of services in some health facilities, the country’s public health system is still far from making a full recovery.

While over 4.8 million people have managed to return home, around 1.1 million people remain displaced across 18 governorates*. Both returnees and those still displaced struggle to access basic services and job opportunities.

The healthcare system is unable to fulfil the needs of people, which is exacerbated by the shortages of specialist healthcare workers and drugs.

Our teams in Iraq continue to bridge the most pressing gaps in access to healthcare in four governorates. We provide general, maternal, neonatal, and mental healthcare, in addition to surgical procedures, post-operative care and rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases and emergency medical care.

Why are we here?

Our activities in 2023 in Iraq

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023. 

MSF IN IRAQ IN 2023 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) ran a diverse range of health services across Iraq in 2023, serving hard-to-reach communities and people affected by years of conflict.
MSF in Iraq 2023

Despite signs of improvements after decades of fighting and war, Iraq’s public healthcare sector is still recovering and there are significant needs, particularly in remote areas and regions directly affected by the recent conflict with the Islamic State group.

As international resources have been reallocated to other regions in the world and assistance has decreased in Iraq, the country is facing the major challenge of rebuilding and rehabilitating its infrastructure and public services, including public healthcare.

In 2023, MSF teams worked in 11 locations across Iraq, delivering a wide range of essential and specialised medical services to residents of areas with limited access to healthcare, as well as to people returning home after prolonged displacement in camps or other regions within the country.

Our activities included maternal, paediatric and neonatal services, emergency medical care, sexual and reproductive healthcare, specialised orthopaedic and obstetric surgery, comprehensive post-surgical rehabilitation, treatment for non-communicable diseases, and mental health support. In addition, we supported healthcare facilities across Iraq with donations of medical supplies and technical training for staff, and strengthened local health authorities’ preparedness for emergencies.

We also continued to assist the National Tuberculosis Institute with the administration of oral treatment regimens for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

During the year, we organised several referrals for Iraqi patients requiring specialist surgical care to MSF’s reconstructive surgery hospital in Amman, Jordan.

IN 2023

 
Iraq

MSF distributes 550 hygiene kits to families in Mosul’s old city

Press Release 2 May 2018
 
Malnutrition

Giving Syrian refugees in Iraq a safe place to give birth

22 Jan 2018
 
Mental Health

Reducing stigma is key to helping displaced people in Iraq recover from trauma

Press Release 10 Jan 2018
 
Iraq

Jonine Lotter: “The MUST – Quality care, even in a war zone”

Fieldworkers Stories 2 Jan 2018
 
Iraq

Mosul: Returnees face booby-trapped homes

Press Release 17 Oct 2017
 
Malnutrition

“The vast majority of patients we saw in the emergency room were paediatric cases”

Patient and Staff Stories 15 Sep 2017