According to UNHCR data, there are still millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq as a result of the war, plus more than 250,000 refugees who fled the conflict in Syria. Many of them are children, who due to the violence they have suffered are now in need of psycho-social support and targeted therapies to overcome fears and trauma.

That is why since 2012, with the beginning of the Syrian refugee emergency, we have been carrying out a Mental Health Psyco-Social Support (MHPSS) program in the clinics opened in the camps that received the fleeing Syrians. Initially in Domiz camp (Dohuk), thanks to the support of OCHA, and then extending our intervention to the whole area of Erbil and Dohuk.

During 2021, the UNHCR-funded project Strengthening the provision of MHPSS assistance to Syrian Refugees in the Erbil Governorate aimed to improve the mental health and vulnerability' psychosocial conditions of refugees by continuing to strengthen services offered in urban areas to refugees of all nationalities. In the past 12 months, 1,950 people accessed psychiatric support sessions, including free medicines distribution; 1,602 people accessed psychosocial support sessions including those for family support; 11,132 people were involved in support groups, psycho education, psychosocial activities; and 5,381 people participated in workshops and were visited house to house by community workers. Cash assistance was also provided in December to cover transportation costs for the most vulnerable patients who needed to reach the psychiatric hospital in Erbil. The training component included in specific trainings 36 school teachers in the camps, 9 community volunteers and 40 officials from the Health Directorate.