International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances – August 30, 2026 On August 30, 2026, the international community marks two decades since the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED). Twenty years on, the core message of this landmark convention remains painfully relevant: no person should disappear without a trace, and no family should be left without answers. Behind every missing name is a pe

On the morning of 19 August 2003, a truck bomb tore through the Canal Hotel in Baghdad — the United Nations headquarters in Iraq. Twenty-two people lost their lives in the attack, among them Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the UN Special Representative for Iraq, and more than a hundred others were injured. Most of them were humanitarians: aid workers who had chosen to stay and serve, even as the country burned around them. The United Nations General Assembly later designated 19 Augus

Every year on 9 August, the world marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, a day dedicated to recognizing the history, cultures, knowledge, and rights of Indigenous communities across the globe. This day was established by the United Nations in recognition of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982, and it serves as a reminder that Indigenous Peoples continue to face significant challenges despite their invaluable cont

Families who have already endured conflict and displacement should not be left to face the devastating consequences of a climate crisis they did not create.

Khanaqin Youth Centre is quiet while Adnan, the youth centre manager shows Mercy Hands team around, in the searing heat of August, last year. School is still in session and so the hallways are empty. Adnan is excited by the announcement of Mercy Hands’ new project which will be based from three youth centres: Khanaqin’s, as well as centres in Alsadiyah and Jalawla. Three small towns in Khanaqin district, Diyala. He tells Mercy Hands that they receive very little funding, b

The remarkable journey of kits that crossed continents to empower girls in displacement camps.

While global attention often focuses on newly emerging crises, many displacement situations receive far less attention despite lasting for years. Iraq is one such example.

June 17th marked the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This day compels reflection on a human-made phenomenon that is causing devastating consequences in Iraq, more than any other place on the planet.

Peacebuilding projects can have strong generative effects when being directed at the younger population, which holds the keys to the future of their communities

In Iraq, this struggle stretches back more than 4,000 years.

On September 11, 2025, Baghdad hosted a pivotal meeting of the Sub-Committee for Preventing Violent Extremism, chaired by the First Deputy Governor and attended by representatives from government institutions and civil society organizations. The discussions focused on Iraq’s 2025 Plan, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, resource mobilization, and empowering local communities to prevent extremism and strengthen social cohesion. Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid partici

Baghdad, September 1, 2025 — On Monday, the Guest House of the Prime Minister’s Office hosted a high-level national conference on Iraq’s efforts to prevent the involvement of children in armed conflicts. The conference was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and brought together senior government officials, United Nations representatives, diplomatic missions, and civil society organizations. Mercy Hands attended the conference following an invit

Baghdad, 19 August 2025 – Mercy Hands held a high-level meeting with senior officials at the Ministry of Interior, alongside consultations with the Directorate for Combating Human Trafficking. The discussions were practical and focused on a shared priority: protecting children and strengthening community resilience. The meeting explored opportunities to develop child-friendly media tools and nationwide awareness campaigns on critical issues such as child marriage, violence ag

Amid the significant challenges facing Iraq’s education sector, Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid continues to strengthen its role as a strategic and effective partner advancing comprehensive and sustainable education reform. At the 9th quarterly meeting of the Iraq Civil Society Education Forum (ICSEF) held in Erbil, organized by UNESCO Iraq in partnership with People in Need and RRD Organization, Mercy Hands reaffirmed its leadership in driving collective efforts focused on

In Diyala Governorate, addressing the underlying drivers of violent extremism is essential. It is important to identify and implement effective, context-specific activities that tackle these root causes, with the goal of fostering long-term stability and enhancing social cohesion in the targeted areas. Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid has started implementing a project titled "Building Resilient Communities to PVE: Strengthening the Role of Youth and Women in the Prevention o

Some conversations don’t need a stage. Sometimes, it’s enough to sit around a table—with someone who has lived through displacement, someone who has returned unsure of being welcomed back, and someone who works daily on the ground—to realize that “return” is not a simple administrative process, but a deeply human equation. On July 21, 2025, the Engineers Club Hall in Mosul hosted a high-level dialogue session titled: “Reintegration, Countering Violent Extremism, and Peacebuil

In the face of accelerating climate change, Iraq is confronting profound challenges that affect millions—from internal displacement to fraying social fabrics. Mercy Hands, with the generous support of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in partnership with the Berghof Foundation and GIST, led the Strengthening Infrastructures for Peace (i4P) project implemented from May 25 to July 15, 2025. The initiative focused on understanding how climate change-driven migration infl

In March 2025, Mercy Hands invited government representatives and members of the local community to an exhibition of products made by women in shelters across Baghdad. It was a culmination of an eight month-long project which aimed to tackle violence against women and girls and support women in shelters in Iraq. Globally, violence against women and girls has surged in recent years, and Iraq is no exception: nearly 1 million women are at risk of some form of violence and arou

Iraq – May 2025 As climate change continues to reshape lives and livelihoods across Iraq, Mercy Hands for Humanitarian Aid has launched...

Sulaymaniyah, May 12–14, 2025 – Mercy Hands was invited to participate in a national workshop organized by SALAR International, through its partner IRFAD, to support the development of local women’s institutions in Iraq. The workshop focused on reviewing and discussing a guidance document that outlines the roles and responsibilities of these institutions at the governorate level. Mercy Hands was invited not only because of its long-standing work on women’s empowerment project