Rising to the humanitarian challenge in Iraq, Briefing Paper

This paper focuses on the humanitarian needs of millions of ordinary Iraqis, addresses some of the challenges to providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq, and humanitarian responses of the Iraqi government, NGOs, and international donor agencies. According to estimates in this paper, forty-three percent of Iraqis suffer from Ôabsolute poverty,' child malnutrition rates are up to 28 percent, thirty-two percent of internally displaced person had no access to Public Distribution System food rations, the number of Iraqis without access to sufficient water is up to 70 percent, and 80 percent of Iraqis lack effective sanitation. The paper points out that women are uniquely affected by violence and the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, particularly widows, female-heads of households, women who have been internally displaced, and women needing health services. Oxfam argues that international donor aid and funding policies do not meet the needs of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Oxfam urges that more flexible funding and funding policies and increased humanitarian assistance be available from the international community. The paper ends with a list of policy recommendations for the government of Iraq, international governments, the governments of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, donors, and UN entities.