Obstacles to Providing Aid in Iraq

Challenges of Humanitarian Aid Reaching Iraqis in Need

Sep 6, 2007 Sandra Williams

The ongoing violence in Iraq has made delivering humanitarian aid difficult to the estimated 8 million people in need of assistance. Checkpoints, curfews and road closures make it extremely challenging for NGO’s to deliver supplies.

Armed groups interfere with PDS (Public Distribution System) convoys and medical supplies. If foreign governments, Iraq governments and the UN could agree to a cease-fire long enough to let these supplies through it would help.

Other obstacles to aid in Iraq:

Presently all aid supplies coming into Iraq must first be sent to Baghdad. Once there, they are kept in huge warehouses until they can be inspected. This ends up taking too long and when any of the warehouses are damaged in Baghdad there are no back up supplies. It would be helpful if the government could decentralize some of the delivery services so that supplies could be distributed throughout different locations in Iraq.

The roads throughout Iraq remain risky. Some roads are closed and others are blocked or interrupted by criminal gangs and militias. Frequently PDS supply trucks do not reach their destination. Even when they do make it, often many essential items are missing by the time supplies get there. If supplies were first sent out to other locations besides Baghdad, at least more would have a better chance of reaching their destination.

Much of Iraq’s water is contaminated because of damaged water systems. Up to 70% of people have no access to adequate water supplies and 80% lack effective sanitation. Sewage has leaked into rivers that many rely on as their main source of drinking water. There is reported to be an increase of diarrhea and diseases because of this.

• 50% of the people are out of work. Unemployed young men are left vulnerable to be recruited into army groups for their survival.

• 43% of people in Iraq suffer from severe poverty. One of the main contributors to poverty is the death of many men who were the main breadwinners of families.

• There is an increase in households headed by widows. Many of these women receive a mere $100.00 payment per month from the government which is not enough to support their families. An increase to $200.00 a month would bring them closer to the monthly average wage.

• Other vulnerable groups such as internally displaced people should also be receiving assistance. Presently most displaced people are not eligible for food rations because their identity cards are only good for their hometowns. The Ministry of Trade should improve this system by issuing temporary identity cards so that they could become eligible for assistance.

• 32% IDPs have no access to food rations.

• 51% only get food and supplies some of the time. Malnutrition in children went from 19% in 2003 to 28% in 2006.

• Internally displaced people have a hard time getting medical treatment outside their home area since they are not registered elsewhere. There has been an estimated 820,000 people displaced since the bombing of Al-Askari shrine in February 2006.

• Another obstacle to aid is the fact that most humanitarian organizations will not accept money from governments with troops in Iraq because it would jeopardize their security. It is important that they stay neutral for their own safety. Increased funding is needed from countries that have not sent troops to war in Iraq.

Anonymous NGOs (non-government organizations) supported by Oxfam continue to provide emergency assistance in spite of the violent risks but more help is still needed. People in Iraq have a legal right to assistance but are being neglected. The Iraq government, international donors and the UN need to focus more on humanitarian aid instead of focusing their main energies on reconstruction.

Source: (Rising to the humanitarian challenge in Iraq, NCCI, Oxfam International, 2007)