Since eruption of clashes between armed opposition groups and government forces in December 2013, violence has intensified across Anbar governorate leading to large-scale displacement. While the needs of the displaced in the governorate get more acute, many of them are located in hard to reach areas with limited access to help. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is present in Iraq, working closely with local authorities and leaders to deliver aid to people in need. NRC’s response have consisted of distributing warm blankets and mattresses, among other things. So far this year, NRC has reached more than 10,000 people inside Anbar.
The assistance was very much welcomed and met the urgent needs of people during the cold winter months” says NRC´s Iraq Programme Director, Rebecca Dibb.
Scaling up the response
Many of the displaced have taken shelter in unfinished buildings, schools and mosques, making it hard to locate them and ensure that they get the help they need.
“NRC is continuing to explore how we can reach further inside Anbar governorate and other currently inaccessible areas across Iraq. With further large-scale displacement predicted, we are scaling up the response with continued delivery of emergency materials and cash distributions. NRC is able to deliver emergency materials within 72 hours from warehouses in Dohuk, Erbil and Baghdad”, Dibb adds.
Negotiating access and overcoming challenges
Since 2014 NRC’s team in Baghdad have worked closely with local leaders in order to secure distribution of aid across particular areas of Anbar governorate.
The worsening security situation throughout Iraq and in key areas of operation, have led to temporary halts of important distributions for periods of time. One of the main challenges is to ensure that the relief reaches those in need without risking the security of the humanitarian workers. Another challenge is transporting and delivering relief items in time. Distributions can be severely delayed due to several checkpoints from Baghdad to the border of Anbar. In spite of the challenging circumstances, NRC continues to deliver aid in Anbar governorate and across Iraq.
“So far this year we have been able to distribute over 7000 emergency kits, reaching nearly 43, 000 newly displaced individuals, many of whom have fled Anbar”, Dibb says.