While agriculture is at the heart of Iraq’s past and present, its position in the country’s future is at risk. Small-scale farmers in Iraq are among the most affected groups in Iraq by climate change and water scarcity. With the reduction of rainfall and soaring temperature, agricultural production is dropping, and farmers’ ability to cope is hindered. Affected farmers are exhausted and feel that they are left alone in the face of crisis. Many farmers are leaving their lands and looking for better opportunities away from their land and the urban areas. Duty bearers need to mobilize resources and political well to support farmers and the agricultural sector through a national strategy with clear vision on the current needs and comprehensive forecast of the impacts of climate change.

Five years after the end of the fighting in Mosul, Iraq, the devastating effects of war are still visible and intensely felt. However, many public services, including schools, have been slow to resume, and children continue to face many challenges, including a lack of psychosocial support. With the support of the Japan Platform and in partnership with World Vision Japan, World Vision Iraq is helping children access the support and services they need.

World Vision Iraq (WV Iraq) has had an active year as we have deepened our investement into cocmmunities in Iraq to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children, their families and communities in Iraq. In this report, WV Iraq shares details of our work across Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din and Ninewa, reaching 504,086 people people in 2021.

5 years after the end of the conflict, life for Azzam has not gone back to normal. He wishes to return back to school and he attempted times to register, but he always gets told he is too old to start schooling and his application is rejected. Children like Azzam who lived in limbo because of the conflict lost years of education and now after the return to stability, they have difficulty accessing education because of the years out of school as they are too old for the grade they need to get into. Today, he works by collecting and selling scrap metals in Mosul to support his widowed mother and siblings.

Meet Zahraa and learn how Raya and Elmo helped her and her family to be more prepared for COVID-19 in Iraq.

Around the world, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is taking lives, devastating families and disrupting life in previously unimaginable ways. 

We are responding in every country we work in to limit the spread of the virus and reduce its impact on vulnerable children and their families. 

Iraq, is one of the 17 priority countries where we are increasing our efforts to protect especially vulneralble populations.

Two years after the Prime Minister of Iraq declared victory over ISIL on 10 December 2017, the effects of years under ISIL rule and following conflict to retake control are still very present for many Iraqis. Girls and boys in Mosul continue to need support to help them cope through overcoming feelings of isolation, fear of leaving their homes and returning to school, inability to focus and being withdrawn from other children.

Learn what World Vision is doing to respond to these needs and meet members of the team carrying out the work.

Children in Iraq have been greatly affected by years of conflict. Not only have they lost friends and family members, homes and years of education – in many cases they have also lost their sense of childhood. World Vision is working to help children regain their childhood through programs like Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support. Rebuilding lives not only requires fixing the visible damage but addressing the needs that may not be as easy to see. For Sama, this support has helped her to regain hope for the future. 

Learn about World Vision's work in Iraq through the stories of change of children and families  from four different sectors.

Scroll down to find 4 Stories of Change