DRC was one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance following the invasion in 2003, opening an office in Diyala, and soon after in Basra in the south.  The general breakdown of basic services, security and infrastructure is affecting the entire population. Therefore, DRC has adopted a community based approach, and we aim at balancing the special protection needs of the most vulnerable with support and strengthening of basic communal services.

Over the years the programme has developed in both geographical spread and the types of assistance provided.  At present DRC is implementing activities in 12 out of 18 governorates in Iraq, and expects to expand this to all 18 in 2009.  Although the high level of insecurity required that expatriate staff relocate, the programme has continued successfully through remote management from Amman.  The assistance is implemented within the following sectors:

Protection
DRC is currently working in two clearly defined ‘protection areas’, namely Protection and Assistance Centres (PAC) and Governorate Emergency Cells (GEC).  The PACs focus on monitoring and assessing the needs of target communities and respond to identified legal, physical and material protection gaps.  The objective of the GEC is strengthening the capacities of the local authorities in terms of response to displacement, this compliments the capacity building that is carried out at individual beneficiary and local NGO level and falls very much in line with DRC plans for 2009, whereby we will expand on capacity building projects at community, district authority and governorate level.

Self-Reliance/Livelihood
The activities can be defined under various areas covered by DRC, namely, Vocational Trainings,  Income Generation and Infrastructure Rehabilitation.  The strategy is to respond in parallel to both community/local authority and household needs, thereby ensuring sustainability for both duty bearer and right holders.  This thereby ties in closely with protection activities for 2009.

Shelter & Emergency NFI distributions
DRC has developed two types of shelter assistance responding to the need in Iraq; namely, emergency shelter kits and housing extensions.  In 2009 DRC will continue with these activities with a special focus on women’s needs and property rights coordinating with our protection activities.  DRC is also delivering Emergency NFI’s (Non Food Items), primarily in Dyala governorate due to the continued ongoing conflics in this area.

Displacement
Iraq struggles with one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Since the outbreak of sectarian violence after the Samara bombings in 2006, almost 1.6 million individuals have been displaced. This figure, combined with the estimated 1.2 million individuals who were internally displaced before February 2006, results in a total of more than 2.8 million individuals displaced within Iraq to date. Furthermore it is estimated that around 2 million Iraqi’s fled to the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Syria and Iran.

Background and context
Decades of conflict and international sanctions have had devastating effects on Iraq and its population. After the 2003 invasion, expectations for creating a stable and democratic Iraq and establishing a strong market economy were high. Unfortunately, the events took a different direction and what transpired was a severe security deterioration.

The infrastructure is now in a worse condition than before 2003; major social indicators are showing serious decline while the delivery of basic social services can barely meet the demand.

Partners and donors in Iraq:

• The Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) and other local authorities
• Danida
• UNHCR
• IOM (International Organisation for Migration)
• Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)