Humanitarian Action for Children 2019 - Unicef

More than 6.5 million people in Iraq, including 3 million children under 18 years,

will need humanitarian assistance in 2019.1 Although armed violence has declined,

and over 4 million people are returning to their homes,2 1.9 million people, including

900,000 children, remain displaced. Over 30 per cent of displaced children live

in camps,3 where the delivery of basic services is essential to reducing the risk

of disease and ensuring access to water and sanitation facilities, vaccination,

education and protective spaces. Vulnerable families returning to affected

communities are in danger due to explosive hazards. In some areas, over 90 per

cent of school-aged children lack access to learning.4 Girls, boys and women who

have survived gender-based violence require specialized services to recover and re-

engage with their families and communities.5 After decades of violence and neglect,

Iraq’s public services remain overstretched, with damaged water and sanitation

networks and overburdened health systems putting children at risk of disease

outbreaks. Since the start of 2018, 130 children have suffered grave violations of

their rights, including killing, maiming and recruitment into armed groups.6 The

humanitarian crisis is compounded by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods

and drought, which are threatening children’s safety across the country.