A Brief History

There is no doubt that Iraq’s frequent wars in recent history have gradually taken their toll on a country in which citizens once enjoyed the luxuries of free education, good healthcare and a generally high standard of living.

The U.N sanctions of 1990, combined with the Allied bombing campaign caused untold damage which the country was unable to recover from before having to face new disasters.

With UN figures showing more than 1.7 million civilian deaths in Iraq as a result of the sanctions, it is accepted that the economic warfare, in violation of the Geneva Convention, prevented Iraq from repairing its damaged water system which resulted in dire health consequences and a devastating humanitarian crisis that took more civilian lives than the wars.

Now, with the recent Iraq war, U.S occupation and current sectarian conflict, the damage is overwhelming. Behind the endless violence which claims lives each day, those trying to help save lives and improve living conditions are faced with dire realities.

Blockades

Due to the current international blockade which bans the import of farming materials such as seeds and fertilisers, the country is only able to feed one third of its population. With 60% of the population having to rely on food aid, nearly one quarter of all Iraqi children suffer from stunted growth.

The blockade also affects health care; there is a shortage in basic essential medical materials such as needles and anaesthetics and a general increase in life threatening diseases such as, polio, measles, diphtheria and cholera.

With such widespread hunger and shortage of medicine, malnutrition and lack of adequate medical care has claimed millions of lives already.

Muslim Aid Field Office in Iraq

Following on from the invasion in March 2003, what would become the Muslim Aid Iraq field office started its work in October of the same year, providing humanitarian assistance to its people, until it was officially inaugurated in May 2004.

Consolidating Muslim Aid’s long standing efforts in the country, the office was set up to continue and strengthen relief projects, alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable.

Read more about our current campaign in Iraq