Emergency Food Distribution Project for IDPs
Medical Assistance for Childhood cancer patients in Iraqi hospitals

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Program background

After the station of multinational forces based on the UN resolution was over at the end of 2008, that task was switched to US troops by the bilateral agreement between Iraq I Government and USA.

For the people in Iraq, 2008 was another fearful year�@because military conflicts between armed groups and US forces occurred frequently. At present, approximately 2.3 million Iraqis are�@living outside of Iraq as refu-gees while about 2.7million people are displaced internally in Iraq and most of them cannot return home yet. (IOM reported)

With no means of income, the living conditions for these internally displaced people (IDPs) are extremely difficult. Moreover, most of the hospitals and medical service systems have been left functionally inoperable. Although the administration is beginning to carry out its function, emergency support from NGOs is still indis-pensable. JVC is continuing support for IDPs and support for childhood cancer patient through our base in Jor-dan, a neighboring country to Iraq.

Summary of activities

1. Emergency Food Distribution for IDPs

Due to deterioration of safety and security, the majority of IDPs fled from their homes and are liv-ing with relatives now. However, host families have typically borne the burden heavily since they also have restricted means of income. Since the Iraqi Government is still unable to meet the basic needs of the country in areas such as social services, the basic infrastructure, and including the medical and educa-tional systems, international assistance is still strongly required.

2008 Annual Report

In July 2008 and again in January 2009, JVC pro-vided food to approximately 1200 households of IDPs in Fallujah city of Anbar Province in the west of Iraq, where we have been working with local CBOs. We focused attention on the households with extreme difficulties, such as the households headed by women who have no way to earn an income. The food packages contain mainly beans, rice and cooking oil with some other supplementary foods enough for two weeks per household.

2009 Annual Plan

Since there is no sign of improvement in IDPs' liv-ing conditions, we will have to continue our food distribution in cooperation with local organizations. We are also planning to hold various advocacy events in Japan to raise public awareness of the difficult situations IDPs are facing.

2. Medical Assistance for Childhood Cancer in Iraqi hospitals

Compared to other regions, more children in Iraq suffer from leukemia and other childhood cancers. Radioactive contamination by the depleted uranium shells during the Gulf War (1991) and Iraq War (2003) are presumably the main cause of these dis-eases. In many hospitals because of severe damage to the infrastructure of the medical system, many children are dying.

Since 2003, JVC has been supplying medicines and medical equipments. Furthermore in 2004, we organized an NGO network called JIM-NET (Japan-Iraq Medical Network) along with 7 other organiza-tions in order to keep close cooperation and share information. Through this network we are able to provide medical aid more effectively.

JIM-NET includes: JVC (Japan International Volun-teer Center), Japan Chernobyl Fund (JCF), Friendship Group with Arabic Children, Citizens' Group for Asia-Japan Friendship in Nagasaki, Fund for Children's' Story House for Peace and Life, Medical Aid to Iraq//Internet Shopping, Campaign for complete Elimination of Depleted Uranium (CADU-JP), Child Clinic "SMILE".

2008 Annual Report

We continue to provide medical aid for hospitals in Baghdad, Mosul and Basra. In April, military fighting by Iraqi security forces became violent in Basra that caused serious casualties to the civilian population. The functions of the hospital were paralyzed. So we quickly responded to provide food and water to the hospital and under-privileged families. We also helped to repair a water system since one water sys-tem was cut off.

On the other hand, it was reported that Iraq Gov-ernment gradually began to function more efficiently and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Baghdad has started to supply medicines.

Hospitals covered by medical aid
Baghdad: Child Welfare and Education Hospital
Baghdad: Central Children's Education Hospital
Mosul: Ibn Asir Education Hospital
Basra: Obstetric - Pediatric Hospital

2009 Annual Plan

Originally we planned to provide assistance only "until the MoH could restore function". Now, it may be the time to watch if medicines are to be supplied adequately in the long term.