Iraq Crisis - Water Hygiene Sanitation (WASH) and Child Protection - 2015

March 2015 - The humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. The violence between armed groups and government forces has displaced over 2.4 million people from their homes. An estimated 5.2 million people in Iraq have been affected by the conflict and are in need of humanitarian assistance. Basic services including health care and water infrastructure are disrupted resulting in acute humanitarian needs. As fighting and human rights violations persist and international efforts remain to free territory controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) the situation is expected to deteriorate and to cause additional displacement. With DFATD's support the partner is helping to reduce the vulnerability of internally displaced people affected by the civil unrest in Iraq. Project activities include: (1) providing child-friendly spaces for 1 000 children; (2) providing psychosocial support for 200 children; (3) conducting awareness raising on child protection issues; (4) providing specialized child protection and case management services for conflict-affected girls and boys; (5) establishing and training WASH operation and maintenance committees to manage sanitation facilities; (6) distributing hygiene kits to 1 500 children; and (7) conducting hygiene promotion activities for 5 000 people.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access of children and families living in camps with access to protective spaces psychosocial support and interventions addressing child protection issues; and (2) improved access of children and families living in camps to hygiene promotion and sanitation services. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or facing acute food insecurity.