The recovery of Iraq is at a critical juncture. While there is a dire need for securing enough of the right kind of aid, the financial support for Iraq is losing ground among donors. Now, a group of aid agencies warn that if support from the international donors for Iraq continues to fall, it could pose a serious risk to the country’s recovery.

Danish Refugee Council as one of 17 international and national non-governmental organisations, has launched the briefing paper Fallen Off the Agenda? More and better aid needed for Iraq recovery, highlighting that Iraq is still extremely fragile, ranking in the top ten of the 2010 index of failed states.

- This is a crucial moment for Iraq as the situation is still fragile and largely unpredictable. In Danish Refugee Council we wish to emphasize the need for continued aid to the people in Iraq, says Christian Jacob Hansen, programme coordinator in the Danish Refugee Council.  

Commitment to invest and secure the recovery of Iraq is crucial to prevent the volatile situation from further unravelling. However, the international community’s focus on Iraq is fading, and along with it the funding for rehabilitation and development activities.

Danish Refugee Council has been working in Iraq since 2003 in support of the people in need suffering from the consequences of war. Furthermore, a range of organisations are providing assistance in the neighbouring countries, in Syrian, Jordan and Lebanon, where more than 1.5 million Iraqi refugees are still residing. Many of them are hesitant to return to Iraq where the security situation is critical, and where there are still limited options for securing livelihoods.

The delivery of quality basic services remains a major challenge for the Iraqi public sector. Millions of people throughout Iraq are in need of water, electricity, adequate healthcare and access to proper housing.  

- The instability affects the development of sustainable livelihoods. Widespread unemployment and poverty is fuelling discontentment and the situation is keeping the Iraqi people in a deadlock. We need to make sure that both emergency needs are continuously addressed as well as long-term development, Christian Jacob Hansen from the Danish Refugee Council tells.    

Pdf: 'Fallen Off the Agenda? More and better aid needed for Iraq recovery'

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