World Vision had two areas of operation in Iraq.

In a small town in western Iraq World Vision rehabilitated the primary health care clinic, 12 primary and secondary schools and the only kindergarten. Students received stationery kits and sporting equipment for their schools.

World Vision provided basic items like blankets, clothing, shoes, plastic sheeting, collapsible water containers, cooking sets and other household items to more than 3,000 families. The organisation also distributed wheelchairs to children and young adults.

World Vision also aimed to improve the town’s water and sanitation systems.

In northern Iraq World Vision also helped to supply medicines and intravenous fluids to 14 hospitals. World Vision also distributed relief items such as blankets, cooking sets, kerosene heaters, clothing, shoes, mattresses, rugs, and family hygiene kits to more than 30,000 internally displaced persons.

World Vision rehabilitated more than 200 primary and secondary schools in the north.

World Vision has worked in the Middle East since 1975. We have offices in Beirut, Jerusalem (West Bank, Gaza) and Amman. World Vision conducted relief projects in Turkey after an earthquake in 1999, and we continue to run small offices in Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which assist our Afghanistan programmes. During both Gulf Wars, World Vision provided emergency supplies to the people of Iraq inside and outside the country by partnering with local aid organisations.

World Vision responded to the December 2003 earthquake, which struck Bam, Iran. With a team of more than 30 staff World Vision carried out a number of rehabilitation activities. World Vision established relief programmes to restore essential services such as Health, Education, Agriculture, Child Protection, Housing and others in both, urban and rural areas, directly benefiting more than 50,000 individuals (10,000 families) and many others indirectly.