Funding gaps threaten closure of health facilities serving almost one million vulnerable Iraqis

A lack of funding is threating to close critical health facilities in Iraq, leaving almost one million people without access to basic medicines and health care.

Support for health services in Iraq has drastically declined since the end of the Mosul campaign just over one year ago. Four health partners have already shut down 22 health service delivery points in 2018 due to a shortage of funds, leaving critical gaps in the provision of health care for children, women and men who are still displaced from their homes, and those who have returned to areas with heavily damaged infrastructure.

In total, 38% of health facilities supported by nine health cluster partners are at risk of closure by the end of July, resulting in increased risk of communicable diseases outbreaks and roll back recovery efforts in areas devastated by conflict.

These facilities currently offer health services to more than 900 000 displaced Iraqis and residents of host communities, including the treatment of common diseases, gynecological services, vaccinations for children, nutrition screening and referral of complicated medical cases for advanced treatment.

So far, only US$ 8.4 (12.5%) of the US$ 67.4 million required by health cluster partners for the Iraq Humanitarian Response Plan for 2018 has been funded.

$54 million is urgently required by health partners under the Humanitarian Response Plan to ensure continuation of health services in newly-accessible governorates of Iraq.

Health cluster partners play a crucial role in providing health care for displaced people and host communities in Iraq. Since 2018, health partners have treated more than 1.2 million Iraqis.