Iraq
CRS in Iraq
CRS and Caritas Iraq have served over 300,000 conflict-affected people in Iraq since 2014 with critical relief items and cash, shelter and sanitation, and education and emotional support for children. With offices in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul, Dohuk, and Erbil, CRS maintains robust, flexible emergency response capacity in Iraq to support families still living in displacement.
As locations stabilize and families are able to return home, CRS is scaling up its help for families rebuilding their lives. With support from CRS and Caritas Iraq, families are repairing their homes, restarting their livelihoods and accessing quality education for their children.
Stats
People Served: 14,717
Population: 42,083,436
Size: 169235 sq mi (438,317 sq km) Known for the Tigris-Euphrates river system and the Ziggurat of Ur temple
Our Partners
Become a PartnerCountry News and Stories
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September 26, 2024
Repairing Trust and Building Business in Iraq
Critical skills training along with a cash grant helped build a business—and new perspectives—following displacement. Critical skills training along with a cash grant helped build a business—and new perspectives—...
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October 4, 2023
Rebuilding Livelihoods in Iraq
Displaced families return home to start and grow businesses that allow them to rebuild their lives.
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March 2, 2021
CRS Welcomes Pope Francis' Visit to Iraq as a Sign of Hope in a Time of Crisis
The pope is scheduled to visit Iraq March 5-8.
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October 28, 2019
Repairing War-Damaged Homes in Iraq
Families return home to find CRS waiting with grants to help speed the recovery process.
CRS' History in Iraq
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) began assisting Iraqi war victims immediately after the Gulf War in 1991. In 1999, following international sanctions and the call of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, CRS partnered with Caritas Iraq to reinitiate humanitarian programs addressing the growing needs of the Iraqi population.
CRS’ humanitarian support to the country continues to be ongoing, with our efforts ramping up following the escalation of violence in January of 2014, which has uprooted an estimated 3 million people. Many families describe fleeing at a moment’s notice after learning that the Islamic State (IS) was nearing their cities and towns. Civilians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds have been targeted and displaced, including minority communities such as Yazidis, Christians and Turkmen, as well as Shiites and Sunnis. In addition to the massive number of internally displaced Iraqis, the country is hosting some 230,000 refugees from Syria who have sought help, mainly in the northern Kurdistan region. Families in desperate need continue to arrive, straining local resources.
Within the last year, CRS and Caritas Iraq have provided support to nearly 88,000 individuals. This includes critical household items for winter; food assistance; safe shelter; water and sanitation; and child support centers that provide traumatized children with education, play and care.
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2023 Operating Expenses
Recognition
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Catholic Relief Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; Donations to CRS are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under the law.
Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.
We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas Internationalis.