Programmes and appeal 2008-2009

Middle East and North Africa: Iraq conflict triggers huge population movement

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) zone is well known for its chronic emergencies associated with deep-rooted conflicts. The latest of these conflicts is the one in Iraq, which is having a devastating impact on the civilian population and the surrounding countries. The Iraq conflict has triggered the largest population movement this region has seen in more than half a century.

The MENA zone lies at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe. The total population of the region, of more than 306 million people, is a young one. The countries share a linguistic and cultural heritage, but there are striking differences in economic and social spheres.

The World Development Indicator index shows a positive overall trend for the region between 2000 and 2005. Life expectancy at birth is on the rise, the under-five mortality rate is radically lower and measles immunization of children aged between 12 and 23 months has improved. The fertility rate – births per woman – is decreasing; a sign usually connected with improved living standards.

The continued deterioration of the security, economic, social and health situations in Iraq is displacing more people inside the country, with increasing numbers of refugees seeking protection in neighbouring countries.

The International Federation is running two ongoing emergency operations in partnership with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and different parts of the Movement, responding to the needs of the Iraqi people. One of the operations supports around 450,000 people inside Iraq, providing relief items and health services. The other assists 50,000 externally displaced Iraqi families living in Syria and Jordan.

National Red Crescent Societies from the Gulf region, as well as Egypt and Libya, are contributing increasingly to humanitarian operations around the world with their financial, humanitarian and in-kind resources. The extent and scale of their contribution is yet to be fully recognized by the world.

In North Africa, immigration from sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in vulnerabilities that the Red Crescent Societies of the region are working to address. The countries of North Africa have a long history of being used as transit points by individuals fleeing war, civil conflicts, hunger, poverty, or any combination of these factors.

Very often, the journey that irregular immigrants take is long and dangerous, with some either dying along the way or being caught and imprisoned by the authorities. Red Crescent branches located near borders and transit points try their utmost to provide support to the displaced people, often having to overcome difficulties linked to the status of irregular migrants as ‘criminals’ rather than human beings in need.

1. All figures are in thousands of Swiss francs (CHF).

Download

Complete document: Programmes and appeal 2008-2009 (28.7 Mb, 88 pages)	Chapter 3: Snapshots of the Red Cross Red Crescent in action in 2007 (24.2 Mb, 40 pages)	Middle East and North Africa: Iraq conflict triggers huge population movement (450 Kb, 2 pages)