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The humanitarian disaster in Iraq: beyond the atrocities of Daesh
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words of Marzio Babille, UNICEF Iraq representative in the 2014 report, and concern the
suffering under the yoke of Islamic State. The execution of children, forced recruitment
of minors, extremist indoctrination and combat techniques taught at a very early age are
some examples of the children’s rights violations at the hands of Daesh corroborated in
recent months. As with women, Iraqi children have been suffering escalating punishments
since the effects of the embargo in the 1990s and the consequences brought about by
the invasion,14 resulting in the breakdown of the social and family framework that could
have sheltered them from the chaotic security situation and the government’s sectarian
policies. In 2001, UNICEF estimated the number of orphaned children to be at 800,000,
while other organisations believed the number was closer to four million. 15 The lack
of services and the general absence of the Iraqi state in social issues since 2003 have
marginalised many of these young people, who are unable to form part of society through
a labour market in which they are generally exploited. This marginalisation means they
become a rich source of recruitment by criminal gangs and militias that use them (like
Daesh) as informants, fighters and, in some cases, in suicide attacks. The effects of such a
drawn-out conflict on Iraqi children has only been analysed in a few studies, for instance
the one carried out by the organisation War Child in 2010. The conclusions drawn from
the answers of children interviewed stressed how: “The most common fears expressed
by the children were conflict-related. Many mentioned guns, explosions, kidnappings
and tanks as the main things that scare them”.16 This situation has nurtured the recovery
of tribes with power and influence that had been slowly losing ground since the 1950s.
This power, patriarchal, random and heavily influenced by conservative traditions, has
had a critical effect on the situation of women and girls, while the increase in honour
crimes, the return to arranged marriages, the limitations on their movement and girls’
access to education has become widespread in the most tribal areas, undermining future
possibilities for Iraqi minors.
Health care and education in Iraq
The health care and education system the Americans inherited was in a precarious
situation in terms of physical infrastructures. Nevertheless, it still had a robust human
structure that had been deserving of various mentions around the world. This was
acknowledged by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General of the World Health
Organisation, on 2 May 2003: “In the past days and weeks, we have seen the commitment
of Iraqi health workers to public health. They have continued to work under some very
difficult conditions. Now we must ensure that their dedication and bravery is not wasted.
Iraq’s health system must not collapse for want of finance and support.” Unfortunately,
this was not the case, and the US response: “was paralyzed by a mixture of inter-agency
14 Al Maqdadi H. The genetic future of Iraqi children threatened by radioactive weapons from the US.
London, 13 November 2012. Translated from Arabic at .
15 . 2010/7/14
16 Armed conflict: spotlight on Iraq (2014). In: CRIN [online]. Available in:
publications/armed-conflict-spotlight-iraq