Food Security

To be considered food secure, every person has to have physical and economic access to safe and nutritious food, which is needed for wellbeing and a healthy and active life. REACH has been improving food security of vulnerable people in Iraq since 1997.

The destabilizing violent conflicts and numerous economic and political crises that characterized Iraq, resulted in increased levels of food insecurity among its population. The combination of the Syrian war, and the ISIS conflict, as well as the economical crisis in Kurdistan and military operations in the Kirkuk governorate have left millions of vulnerable refugees, IDP, poor host communities and drought affected villagers without a reliable or sustainable sources of food.

• Dry food rations are distributed to IDPs from Mosul, Tooz Khurmatu, Kirkuk and other affected cities. The rations contained a set of dry food products, such as rice, beans and oil, which are the most preferred by the local population. The amount of goods in each was designed to provide for the survival of an average family of 6 people for a period of 1 month.
• Food vouchers distribution for IDP in Duhok and Syrian refugees in Sulaimaniya. Food vouchers are distributed to each family with a set amount, depending on the family size, allowing them to buy food in the local markets. Additionally, REACH developed a nutrition pamphlet in order to raise awareness among beneficiaries and help them to choose healthy products and promote a healthy diet. Assistance through Vouchers provides more freedom of choice among beneficiaries and supports a sense of independence and dignity.

• Agricultural livelihoods programming is implemented in the rural villages in Sulaimani ya, Erbil, Duhok and Diyala. These projects were designed to help increase diet diversity through the production of honey and vegetables, as well as address the severe economic challenges facing the Iraqi population. REACH established kitchen gardens, green houses, poultry farms, beekeeping units, as well as built a small dam, distributed livestock and provided trainings for farmers. These were low-income small-scale farmers, those who have been affected by drought, and were not receiving support from the government.