ICRC in Iraq: Key facts and activities
Iraq, Local, 8/24/2001

The ICRC has been continuously present in Iraq since 1981. Its operation was initially mainly concerned with the protection of Prisoners of War from the Iran- Iraq conflict ( 1981 to 1988) and from 1991 Gulf War. Almost 100,000 prisoners of War from the Iran, Iraq conflict and 70,000 from the 1991 Gulf War returned to their families under the auspices of the ICRC. Today, the ICRC still continues to follow the numerous cases of persons unaccounted for as a result of the two international armed conflict.

In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, the ICRC started emergency assistance programs for the civilian population in Iraq, mainly consisting of the distribution of clean drinking water in large urban centers and major repair works on water treatment facilities.

As the humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Iraq continued to deteriorate due to the economic sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the ICRC has continuously stepped up its humanitarian assistance programs. After the introduction of the oil-forÐfood program in 1996, which allows Iraqi government to use its oil revenues to purchase humanitarian supplies abroad under UN supervision, the ICRC gradually withdrew from material assistance programs and concentrated its activities in area which are not covered by the oil-forÐfood program.

The main problem identified was the gradual break down of public infrastructure, such as hospital buildings, water and sewage treatment plants, etc, due to a lack of investment and maintenance. Over recent years the ICRC has carried out hundreds of emergency repair and rehabilitation projects in hospitals, health care centers, water treatment plans and sewage evacuation systems in order to keep these structures functional.

Due to the lack of maintenance and the absence of new investments, the state of Iraq's drinking water supply systems and sewage evacuation network has constantly deteriorated since 1991.

In many parts of the country they have broken down completely. Since 1996 it has been possible for the Iraqi government to import spare parts for the water and sanitation sector under the oil-forÐfood program. The program, however, does not provide funds for maintenance and rehabilitation works on existing installations or for the construction of new structures.

Currently, the major part of the ICRC's operation in the water and sanitation sectors consists in emergency projects all over the country in cooperation with the local authorities, ICRC engineers are involved in the design and the planning of the projects. The works on the sites are carried out by local Iraqi contractors under the supervision of the ICRC and the local authorities. Imported spare parts are provided by the Iraqi government under the oil-forÐfood program.

Moreover, the ICRC became involved in the prosthetics service for amputees in Iraq in 1994 at a request from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Health. As Iraq was unable to import orthopedic components because of the economic embargo imposed on the country in 1991, the ICRC set up a local component production, mainly for feet and knee joints and provided necessary raw material. Expatriate prosthetic specialists provided training and expert advice to the staff of the Iraqi orthopedic centers, The ICRC activities led to a gradual increase in the production of prostheses, which had previously almost come to a standstill.

Since the beginning of the ICRC's physical rehabilitation program in Iraq, more than 13,000 amputees have been fitted with prostheses in the six orthopedic centers, which are assisted by the program. The ICRC continues to provide technical and material support as well as training for the Iraq staff working in the centers. Over the past year, where necessary, the buildings and equipment of the orthopedic centers have been maintained. Also indoor and outdoor walking training areas have been constructed.

Currently, the ICRC is involved with its local partners in the development of national treatment guidelines for amputees and in the establishment of a quality control system for lower limb prostheses. Upgrading the level of training of staff in the fields of prosthetics/ orthotics and physiotherapy remains a high priority for the ICRC and seminars, meetings on various subjects are organized on a regular basis by ICRC experts with the co-operation of the ministers of Health and Higher Education in Iraq.

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