10 million in need across Iraq, chidren hit hardest
Conflict in Iraq has thrown millions of lives into utter chaos. 10 million people urgently need humanitarian aid - nearly half of them children.
UNICEF estimates that one in every five schools is destroyed or closed. More than 600,000 displaced children have missed an entire school year, placing girls at increased risk of early marriage and other forms of gender-based violence.
Boys are vulnerable to becoming child labourers and remain at risk of recruitment into armed groups. Since the start of 2014, more than 2,600 children have suffered grave violations of their rights, including killing, maiming and abduction.
Water and sanitation infrastructure remains weak in many areas and hospitals have been destroyed in the conflict. Public health services are overwhelmed, leaving pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children at serious risk.
UNICEF is delivering emergency aid and support on a huge scale. In 2016, UNICEF is working to:
- Reach 823,000 people with clean, safe water, toilets and hygiene supplies.
- Immunise 5.6 million children against the threat of polio that looms in conflict zones.
- Give 550,000 children the educational supplies they need to keep learning.
- Provide 14,655 households direct cash transfers to they can buy essentials for their children from local markets.
- Support 131,200 children with psychosocial care so they can build resilience and recover.