Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan

Since 2003, Iraq has faced a series of conflicts and crises that have had a severe impact on the population. The appearance of the Islamic State on the territory in 2014 led to the displacement of more than 6 million people, the destruction of much infrastructure and, more generally, a significant deterioration in the living conditions of the population. Since the Iraqi government took over the country in 2017, Iraqis have begun to return to their areas of origin. This process has been accelerated by the closure of refugee camps and the withdrawal of some UN agencies as part of the transition from a humanitarian emergency to a development response. The security situation also continues to deteriorate due to the general context of the region. There are also economic difficulties, inter-communal and social tensions, and a serious lack of infrastructure in the country, making living and working conditions difficult for young people, who regularly take to the streets.

Iraq also faces another major challenge: climate change. The UN ranks Iraq as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate-related disasters in 2022. This means exposure to extreme temperatures, water and food shortages, and a high risk of further population displacement.