Continued support from the European Union helps rebuild reproductive health services in Iraq

The European Union continues its support to UNFPA in Iraq through a €5 million contribution to sustain services for reproductive health.

The United Nations estimates that around 825,000 women of reproductive age are in need of humanitarian assistance in Iraq. The devastating three-year conflict against ISIL that severely compromised health care service delivery in both conflict-affected areas and those hosting internally displaced people.

With the new funding, UNFPA will support comprehensive emergency obstetric care in six hospitals in Telafar, Hawija, Qaim, Hammam Aleel, Qayarra and Shirqat, basic emergency obstetric care in four facilities in Beiji, Ana, Qayarra airstrip and Sunoni, five reproductive health clinics in Jadaa, Salameya and Hamman Al-Aleel camps, and 26 reproductive health clinics in West Anbar, West Ninewa, North Salahuddin and Kerbala.

“The EU will continue to provide critical medical assistance in Iraq,” said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. “Facilitating access to essential reproductive health services for displaced populations and assisting victims of gender-based violence are top European priorities in Iraq.”

“The new EU contribution,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, “will go a long way in addressing the serious shortfalls in reproductive health services resulting from the wide destruction of Iraqi hospitals and health facilities. This will also allow UNFPA to continue providing health facilities with urgently needed medical supplies and services, and ensuring that tens of thousands of women and girls can enjoy quality reproductive health services.”

The European Union has been a strategic partner to UNFPA in Iraq since 2015, with a total contribution of €21 million to UNFPA’s reproductive health and gender-based violence interventions.