Iraq

Iraq country profile

BACKGROUND

The Republic of Iraq is a country in southwestern Asia. It has a mainly continental and subtropical semi-arid climate, with a Mediterranean climate in the northern mountainous regions. Over 40 per cent of the country is desert and the southern regions, in particular, have a desert climate with temperatures reaching well over  40˚C during the day in the hottest months of June through August. In much of the country, good quality water can be scarce due to salinity. Desertification and water scarcity due to river flow fluctuations render Iraq vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Iraq is most vulnerable to floods, drought, dust storms, earthquakes, and climate-related disease outbreaks. It can also be adversely impacted by extreme heat waves and rising air temperatures.

The situation in Iraq is made more precarious due to years of conflict, political and economic uncertainty, displacement, social unrest due to unemployment, eroded public services, and persistent low standards of living. There is evidence that links agricultural drought, water scarcity, conflict, and migration that signifies cascading effects of climate change impacts on the vulnerability and exposure of vulnerable communities. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has further slowed development and increased rates of food insecurity, with WFP reporting 2.4 million people in acute need of food and livelihood assistance.

INFORM RISK INDEX (2022)    

Hazard and exposure: 7.7  |  Vulnerability: 5.8  |  Lack of coping capacity: 6.5 |  Total: 6.6 (very high)  |  Rank: 13

HAZARDS COVERED BY ANTICIPATION    

Population movement | Conflict

EXPERIENCE ON ANTICIPATION 

• Start Network has allocated financing through the Start Fund to partner organizations in Iraq twice in anticipation of displacement.