Photo essay
A Journey of Strength and Resilience: Begard’s Story
In a small home in Chamchamal district, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Begard Ayub greets each day with determination. At 33, Begard is a mother of five—two daughters and three sons, aged between 9 and 15. Her life has been a continuous struggle to support her husband and provide for her children. Yet, her journey is o...
Press release
The first-ever integrated child benefit initiative for children and pregnant women launched in Muthanna Governorate
Muthanna, Iraq – 8 January 2025: UNICEF Iraq, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health, launched the country’s first Child Benefit initiative in the Muthanna Governorate. This effort will benefit 7,000 vulnerable children and expectant mothers and inform social saf...
Press release
‘Not the new normal’ – 2024 'one of the worst years in UNICEF’s history' for children in conflict
NEW YORK, 28 December 2024 – The impact of armed conflicts on children around the world reached devastating and likely record levels in 2024, according to a review by UNICEF of the latest available data and prevailing global trends. More children than ever are estimated to be either living in conflict zones or for...
Press release
‘Underfunded and overlooked’: just 1 in 3 community health programs receive government funding in the Middle East and North Africa
AMMAN, 12 December 2024 – Children in the Middle East and North Africa would be better served by community health programs if they were properly funded and included in national health systems, according to a new UNICEF report launched today. Community-based primary health care is the cornerstone of a strong, susta...
Press release
World Children’s Day 2024
AMMAN, 20 November 2024 - “On World Children’s Day, we honor the promise we made to every child — to protect and uphold their rights, safeguard their future and nurture their potential. “35 years ago, these promises were adopted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Children’s unique a...
Annual report
Annual Report 2023, UNICEF Iraq
In 2023, UNICEF in Iraq adopted an integrated approach, combininghumanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts to create sustainable solutions for stability and development in the country. In line with the December 2021UNICEF Strategic Moment of Reflection, our programs were realigned to prioritize pathways...
Article
Drawing Dreams: Farah's Journey to Education
Ninewa, Iraq, 11 August 2024 - Drawing vivid pictures in her small notebook helps 10-year-old Farah channel her vibrant imagination to escape the hardships she faces. Alongside her two sisters and one brother, Farah's family originally hails from Baaj district in Ninewa governorate, Iraq. Their lives were upended ...
Article
Dreams of an Engineer: Yazan’s Journey to a Better Tomorrow
Ninewa, Iraq, 06 August 2024 – Originally from Baaj District, 12-year-old Yazan and his family lived in Mosul when the conflict erupted in 2015. The turmoil forced them to flee, and they suffered a heartbreaking loss—Yazan’s father went missing in Ninewa. “The hardest thing in my life is not having my father here ...
Article
Zaynab’s Story of Mental Wellness
Finding Strength and Hope In Ashti camp for internally displaced persons in Sulaymaniyah, 36-year-old Zaynab Kareem, hailing from Salahaddin Governorate, exemplifies resilience. Married at 15, Zaynab became a mother for the first time at 16 and has now eight children, her youngest being just nine months old. Zayna...
Press release
Government of Iraq Launches National and Sub-National Childhood Care Units to Strengthen Child Protection Services
Baghdad, 13 July 2024 - Iraq takes a significant stride in safeguarding child rights as the Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), inaugurates 44 National and Sub-National Childhood Care Units. These units are pivotal in ensuring access to essential protection services and promoting...
Photo essay
Beyond Survival: Youssef's Path to Education and Empowerment
Ninewa, Iraq, 11 July 2024 - "Every day, we saw people dying, and we didn’t have enough to eat," says Youssef. Youssef, now 18, vividly remembers his journey from Baaj District to Mosul city. Youssef and his family experienced multiple displacements within Iraq. After fleeing Baaj District in 2014 due to the escal...
Press release
UNICEF and Ministry of Health Launch Digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) for Birth Registration in Iraq
Baghdad, Iraq - July 4, 2024 - Today, Iraq takes a major step towards enhancing its health infrastructure with the official launch of the Digital Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) for Birth Registration. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF, this initiative marks a transf...