Frequently asked questions about the ICRC’s work in Iraq

If you are looking for a missing person, please contact the appropriate authority or organization, as indicated in the information below:

For military personnel who went missing during the Iran-Iraq (1980-1988) or Iraq-Kuwait wars (1990-1991), please contact the Directorate of Human Rights at the Iraqi Ministry of Defence at +964 790 194 5476 (Sunday to Thursday, from 09:00 – 14:30, except official holidays).

For civilians who went missing during the Iran-Iraq (1980-1988) or Iraq-Kuwait wars (1990-1991), please contact the Mass Graves Directorate of the Martyrs Foundation at +964 783 571 5725.

If the person went missing after the 2014 conflict:

If you live in Iraq, please contact the ICRC directly through the Community Contact Centre (CCC) at the toll-free number 80022222 (Sunday to Thursday, from 08:30–16:00, except official holidays).

If you live outside Iraq, you can reach out to the nearest ICRC office or National Society office in your country.

If the person went missing under other circumstances:

• Visit the nearest police station or court.
• Contact the Medico-Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Health at +964 780 717 1201 or +964 773 499 4910.
• Contact the Mass Graves Directorate of the Martyrs Foundation at +964 783 571 5725.
• Contact the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights at +964 773 068 5040.

Please note that the primary responsibility for clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing persons lies with the authorities and parties involved in the conflicts. The ICRC supports these efforts and assists in locating missing individuals under certain circumstances.

It is not true; these are false rumours. The prisoners of war file between Iraq and Iran has been officially closed by both governments, and according to their statements, there are no Iraqi prisoners of war held in any of the countries. The last prisoner exchange between the two countries took place in 2003, under the supervision of the ICRC.

If you hear such rumours in the future and want to check whether they are true, please contact the ICRC directly at the toll-free number 80022222 (Sunday to Thursday, 08:30–16:00, excluding official holidays). The team will assess your situation and inform you if assistance can be provided. You can also reach the ICRC in Iraq via Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter).

Rights and compensation are the responsibility of the relevant authorities. The ICRC does not engage in the compensation programs run by the government. The ICRC's role is limited to issuing attestations of detention for former prisoners of war and authenticating these attestations upon written official requests from the authorities.

The ICRC can provide attestations of detention to former detainees who were either individually followed by the ICRC or officially notified to the ICRC during their detention. These attestations can help former detainees access social services or resolve legal matters. 

If you live in Iraq, you can contact the ICRC directly at the toll-free number 80022222 (Sunday to Thursday, 08:30–16:00, excluding official holidays). If you live outside Iraq, you can reach out to the nearest ICRC office or National Society office in your country.

The ICRC has been visiting places of detention in Iraq since 1980, and has continued its regular visits ever since, based on agreements with the authorities. The purpose of the visits is:

• To help uphold the rights and dignity of detainees, guided by the principles of international humanitarian law.
• To create a space for open and bilateral dialogue with the detaining authorities, aiming to identify and address any humanitarian concerns that may arise.
• To ensure that the fundamental rights of the detainees are upheld, including access to fair judicial processes and adequate living conditions, by engaging in interviews with detainees.
• To work closely with stakeholders involved in the detention process, contributing to the development of policies and legal frameworks that safeguard the rights and well-being of detainees.
• To restore lost communication between detainees and their families through Red Cross messages.

Legally, in international armed conflicts, the Geneva Conventions grant the ICRC the right to visit prisoners of war and civilian internees. In non-international armed conflicts, Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions permits the ICRC to offer its services to visit detainees, subject to the agreement of the parties involved in the conflict.

In other situations, based on its recognized humanitarian mandate, the ICRC can also offer its services to visit detainees with the agreement of the authorities.

Unfortunately, the ICRC does not have the capacity or resources to help individuals or groups leave Iraq or provide financial assistance for relocation. This is currently beyond our capacity and mandate.

As a result of the 1990-1991 Gulf War, over 1,000 Iraqis, Kuwaitis and third nationals are still unaccounted for. Their families have endured years of anguish and uncertainty about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. 

Do you have information about some events that could have led to some persons going missing or burial places from the 1990-1991 Gulf War? Did you witness any such events or have seen any place of burial? Have you heard of such events or gravesites from other people?

You can help us end the suffering of the families of missing persons by providing information you may have about a missing person and/or potential burial locations. Please contact us at the following email address: bagdad@icrc.org 

All information we receive, including your personal data, will be managed confidentially and used exclusively for this humanitarian program. It will not be shared or used for legal/court proceedings. For more details, visit this website page.

Authorities are responsible for instructing to conduct a DNA test. If you have a missing person, the first step is to check with the relevant authority if your relative is recorded in their databases, or if circumstances prompt a DNA test. 

In case the person went missing during conflict as military personnel, please contact the Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Defence at +964 790 194 5476 (Sunday to Thursday, from 09:00 – 14:30, except official holidays). They will guide you through the identification process and provide updates on any new information regarding your missing relative, such as whether their name appears among remains exchanged during handover ceremonies with Iran or Kuwait that have been occurring for many years.

If there is new information, the Human Rights Directorate will explain the next steps, including how to do a DNA test in cooperation with the Medico-Legal Department of the Ministry of Health.

For human remains of missing persons in all other circumstances:

• Contact the Medico-Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Health at +964 780 717 1201 or +964 773 499 4910.
• Contact the Mass Graves Directorate of the Martyrs Foundation at +964 783 571 5725.

The names of the exchanged human remains, if any, are published on the official Facebook page of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence after each exchange ceremony. 

You can also contact the Human Rights Directorate of the Ministry of Defence at +964 790 194 5476 (Sunday to Thursday, from 09:00 – 14:30, except official holidays). For more information, the Human Rights Directorate maintains a database of all human remains handed over to Iraq from Iran or Kuwait over the years.

If the person who went missing during the Iran-Iraq or Iraq-Kuwait conflicts was a:

Military personnel: Contact the Directorate of Human Rights at the Iraqi Ministry of Defence at +964 790 194 5476 (Sunday to Thursday, from 09:00 – 14:30, except official holidays).

Civilian: Contact the Mass Graves Directorate of the Martyrs Foundation at +964 783 571 5725.

It is important to note that the prisoners of war file between Iraq and Iran has been officially closed by both governments, and according to their statements, there are currently no prisoners of war held in any of the countries. The last prisoner exchange between the two countries took place in 2003, under the supervision of the ICRC.

In general, the ICRC provides financial assistance to families affected by previous armed conflicts in Iraq. The main aim is to help them return to their homes and rebuild their lives, including finding new sources of income.

We acknowledge that humanitarian needs remain significant, even years after the conflict. However, due to limited resources, we can only support families in the most urgent need who are unable to meet their essential requirements.

The ICRC is not a medical institution and does not support individual medical cases, as it does not fall under our mandate. Instead, the ICRC focuses on strengthening the healthcare system, in close collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Health, to benefit as many people as possible.

The ICRC supports state-run physical rehabilitation centers in Iraq, working closely with the Iraqi Ministry of Health.

Everyone can access free physical rehabilitation services, including artificial limbs, if they qualify after an assessment at one of the centers.

Here is the list of the Ministry of Health physical rehabilitation centers in Iraq:

Baghdad governorate 

• Al Hamza Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Al Mustafa Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Al Muammal Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Al Ghadeer Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Al Salam Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Baghdad Prosthetics Centre
• Ibn Al Quff Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury
• Orthotics Workshop in Al-Wasiti Hospital (orthotics for children with club foot)
• Sadr Al-Qanat Centre for Prosthetics.
• Al Hakeem Prosthetics Centre
• Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology Center

Salah al-Din governorate

• Hospital of Rehabilitation for the Disabled / Prosthetics Workshop
• Samarra Orthotic Workshop / Samarra General Hospital
• Medical Rehabilitation Hospital in Salah al-Din

Anbar governorate

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Fallujah
• Ramadi Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Najaf governorate

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Najaf
• Najaf Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Nasiriyah governorate

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Thi Qar
• Thi Qar Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Basra governorate

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Basra
• Basra Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Karbala governorate

• Jaafar Al Tayar Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Karbala Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Ninawa governorate

• Prosthetics and Orthotics workshop in Ninawa
• Ninawa Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Ninawa Physical Rehabilitation Hospital

Kirkuk governorate 

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Kirkuk
• Kirkuk Physical Rehabilitation Centre

Erbil governorate

• Erbil ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Helena Children's Medical Rehabilitation Centre
• Helena Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Diana Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Sulaymaniyah governorate:

• Children’s Physical Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities
• Emergency Medical Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
• Emergency Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Kurd Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Halabja Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Kurdistan Physical Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities

Duhok governorate:

• Duhok Medical Rehabilitation Centre
• Duhok Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics 

Muthana governorate:

• Samawah Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Muthana

Maysan governorate:

• Amarah Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Maysan

Babil governorate:

• Babil Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Babil Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Wasit governorate:

• Al Kut Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Wasit Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Diyala governorate:

• Al Amal Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Al Amal Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Diwaniyah governorate:

• Diwaniyah Physical Rehabilitation Centre
• Diwaniyah Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Thank you for your interest in joining the ICRC's humanitarian workforce. The ICRC in Iraq shares all open external vacancies on the IQJ Scout website and the NGOs Jobs & Bids website. Most vacancies are also posted on ICRC social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

If you are interested in working with the ICRC, please follow these platforms regularly for new announcements, and carefully follow the instructions provided at the bottom of each vacancy announcement.

Thank you for your interest in joining the ICRC's humanitarian workforce. Unfortunately, the ICRC does not run a volunteer program in Iraq. All ICRC staff are recruited through a competitive hiring process for paid positions. 

If you would like to work with the ICRC, please follow our job announcements on the IQJ Scout website, the NGOs Jobs & Bids website, and our Facebook and Instagram pages.

If you would like to volunteer with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS), our humanitarian partner in the field, please visit the closest branch office in your governorate.

Unfortunately, some individuals falsely claim to be ICRC staff in order to scam others for money in exchange for job opportunities, assistance, information, or other services. Please be aware that all ICRC services are completely free of charge. We never accept money, favours, or anything else in return for the support we provide.

If you encounter such a scam, please report it immediately by calling us at the toll-free number 80022222 or contacting us on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, or X), as this is a serious offence that harms people who are already in need.

If you encounter a strange object that looks dangerous or suspicious, please follow the instructions below: 

Stay away from it.

Do not approach, touch, or throw anything at it.

Report it immediately to the relevant authorities using the following toll-free numbers:

• 911 – Civil Defence Directorate
• 182 – Directorate of Mine Action
• 182 – Iraqi Kurdistan Mine Action Agency

The Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the ICRC are members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian network. The ICRC collaborates with the Iraqi Red Crescent to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict. Both organizations work hand in hand to respond to the most urgent needs of vulnerable communities in Iraq. 

The ICRC cooperates with the IRCS to deliver principled and effective humanitarian responses to key needs in Iraq. We work together on enhancing coordination with other Movement partners to prepare for emergencies and strengthen programmatic responses in areas such as disaster risk reduction, relief, health, water access, restoring family links, and climate change.

As an independent and neutral organization, the ICRC does not have the power or mandate to stop wars and conflicts. Our mission is purely humanitarian, not political. 

However, we play a critical role in helping people affected by conflict. Our services include searching for missing persons, visiting and repatriating prisoners of war, facilitating the exchange of human remains, and providing humanitarian assistance.

We also work to protect and promote the rights of people in armed conflicts, including prisoners of war, civilians and the wounded. We may not be able to stop wars and conflicts, but we’re still making a difference for the people impacted by them.

All services provided by the ICRC are free. 

Everyone who works with the ICRC (our staff, partners, and suppliers) must always treat you with respect and dignity. 

It is forbidden for ICRC employees and our partners to ask for money or any type of favors in exchange for aid. We encourage all to report in good faith suspicion of fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other suspected misconduct.

You have the right to report cases of inappropriate behaviour or illegal actions on the part of the ICRC. To do so, you can email us at code_of_conduct@icrc.org. You can also report it directly in the Integrity Line (available in English, French and Spanish). 

The information you provide will remain confidential. Filing a complaint will not affect the ICRC's work in your community.

Show your support for the ICRC by using your voice to share accurate information about our work with your community, whether in person or online.

We are committed to transparency about our actions and limitations. Our mission is to protect the lives and dignity of those affected by armed conflict and violence while providing them with essential assistance. Your public support plays a vital role in helping us achieve this mission. 

Help slow the spread of misinformation by verifying questionable information before sharing it with others.

If you encounter content online that you believe is false or misleading, report it directly to the social media platform.