Erbil, Iraq, 11 September 2024 —  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the European Union (EU) have concluded a project to provide critical legal support, cash assistance, and protection services to marginalized communities across eight governorates in Iraq. This initiative was conducted by the IRC in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, and IMPACT (REACH Initiative). The project received substantial support from the EU, which contributed a total of more than 11 million euros.

Although nearly six years have passed since Iraq declared victory over the group known as ISIS, nearly 5 million people who have returned to their homes still lack livelihood opportunities, appropriate shelter, and access to basic services due to the slow pace of post-conflict recovery. At the same time, around 1.2 million Iraqis remain displaced and continue to live in harsh conditions. Many of their areas of origin remain unsafe and lack the employment opportunities for them to rebuild their lives. The unemployment rate remains high, especially among women due to cultural norms and skills gaps, with an average of 64% of women, at the age of employment, being unemployed. Job seekers need more advanced technical skills and financial means to acquire the necessary expertise. Within these vulnerable communities, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are missing key civil documents, such as national ID cards, marriage certificates, and birth certificates. As a result, they are unable to claim legal status and face challenges accessing housing support, education, health care, and other essential services. Women and female-headed households, in particular, face barriers in accessing their basic rights, such as freedom of movement and social welfare. 

Intisar, a mother of four, who was forced to flee during the conflict and return with her children to live in a half-destroyed home, told us,

“The house is not safe at all, but where else can we go? It is not within my power… The children are not allowed into any schools because they do not have legal documentation. Our documents are with the [IRC] lawyer, and he is working on them, so the kids can go to school.”  

For many Iraqis, displacement and financial constraints have prevented them from accessing the legal services to obtain or renew their key civil documents. As a member of the EU-funded consortium, the IRC has focused on providing legal assistance to individuals and households in need of documentation and offering cash assistance to those navigating complex cases. With our partners, the IRC has successfully reached over 114,000 displaced individuals and returnees in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, and Salah Al-Din, as well as in Dohuk, Baghdad, and Babil governorates through the REACH Initiative.

Thomas Garofalo, IRC’s Country Director in Iraq, said,

“The European Union has been an invaluable partner in ensuring that the IRC can provide pro-bono legal assistance to the Iraqi individuals and families in need of key civil documentation. Without the civil documents to prove their citizenship, lineage rights, or immediate family relationships, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been unable to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. With the support of the EU, the IRC has been able to assist displaced Iraqis and returnees, who face livelihood and legal challenges, as well as heightened risks of violence against women, child abuse, and exploitation.”

The IRC first began working in Iraq in 2003, providing humanitarian relief and recovery assistance to the most vulnerable and crisis-affected Iraqis. Since then, the IRC has helped communities affected by, and recovering from, conflict to access protection, education, economic security, legal support and awareness, and safe spaces for women and girls. In 2023, the IRC reached 19,303 Iraqis with Economic Recovery and Legal Protection as part of the EU-funded Protection Consortium of Iraq. We will continue to deliver tailored and integrated support to Iraqis in need and work with local and national partners to ensure a sustainable recovery plan for those who remain displaced.