As images of military action in Iraq are fading from our television screens, millions of Iraqis are coping with consequences of the fatal combination of crippling sanctions, dictatorship, previous wars and the recent military action. Over 60% of the Iraqi population relies entirely on external assistance. Public services are severely disrupted and any delay in restoring them will increase already rather dramatic security concerns and health issues.

Almost two months into the new era, the Coalition Forces and the international community in Iraq are struggling to establish order, help Iraq through its challenging period of transition to a stable, modern state and at the same time, address urgent humanitarian needs. Iraq remains in need of rapid and forceful action that will help its population get back on its feet.

Having gained the access to Iraq following the end of military action, ACT International used its resources built during the preparedness stage to respond to the most immediate needs in Iraq. Initial emergency response in Iraq and the relatively small-scale refugee issue in the neighbouring countries have already started thanks to the capacities built in the months before the war. A number of assessment missions launched in the immediate aftermath of the war clearly show ever growing and urgent humanitarian needs in all sectors of life in Iraq.

While maintaining a longer-term vision for Iraq, by this appeal, members of ACT International request financial support in order to meet the most immediate needs of the Iraqi population. According to their areas of expertise and experience, they will expand on their involvement in the following areas of emergency humanitarian relief and assistance:

• emergency food and non-food distribution
• urgent (small-scale) reconstruction initiatives
• emergency health
• emergency repairs and maintenance of essential public services: water and sanitation
• education and psycho-social assistance

Project Completion Date:

IOCC - 31 December 2003

NCA - 31 December 2003

HIA - 30 September 2003

CAID - 31 December 2003

D. Austria - 31 December 2003

MECC - 31 December 2003

Signed by:

Thor-Arne Prois, ACT Director

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

Iraq - Relief & Rehabilitation - MEIQ31 (file size: 142 Kb)

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An Executive Summary has also been prepared as an Appendix to this Appeal.
To view it (PDF file, 17 Kb), click here.