Disaster Risk Management in Iraq

While the Iraqi Kurdistan region only covers 10% of Iraqi territory, it concentrates a significant share of natural disaster risks. Several factors contribute to these major risks, including its mountainous terrain, extreme weather conditions, and the impact of human activities in densely populated and sprawling urban centres. Flash floods, as in Erbil in 2021, and torrential rain, as in Dohuk in March 2024, have resulted in the loss of lives and extensive damage to infrastructure. Furthermore, there are an increasing number of urban fires, largely due the deficient power grids, which are particularly vulnerable during hot and dry summers.

As there are no specialised training centres, the emergency services struggle to cope with these disasters. The Civil Defence rescue teams do not have appropriate equipment and only have limited access to certain data, yet they are essential to their action. In addition, there is no early warning system or centralised emergency number to alert populations in the event of a crisis, and the emergency plans remain inadequate, or are even non-existent in some regions.

The combination of these factors makes the region vulnerable, requiring increased efforts to strengthen prevention, improve infrastructure, and help people better prepare for the growing risk of natural disasters in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The project aims to strengthen disaster response capabilities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (KRI). It focuses on reducing the human losses, injuries and economic losses caused by disasters, especially water-related events and urban fires. This project is supporting the main Civil Defence and emergency management institutions in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The main activities include:

• Providing specialised equipment for water rescue and firefighting
• Strengthening operational capabilities through targeted training programmes
• Improving psychological support services for vulnerable groups affected by disasters  

In addition, the project will improve flood risk management by strengthening risk assessment and mapping capabilities, improving planning for emergency measures, and organising awareness-raising campaigns. 

The objective of focusing on both preparedness and response is to strengthen the resilience of Iraqi Kurdistan society, and ensure that it is better equipped to cope with future disasters.

Training for Civil Defence personnel and Rapid Response Units (RRU) is a key component of the project. The objective is to improve their competencies in three key areas: water rescue, firefighting in confined spaces, and psychological support for vulnerable groups affected by disasters. 

Water rescue 

Five Kurdish rescue workers have been selected for specialised training in France. With firefighters from the SDIS34 Brigade (Gignac), they will be trained in techniques for white water swimming, operating boats in strong currents, and helicopter hoist techniques. 

When they return to Kurdistan, they themselves will become trainers for local teams, under the supervision of firefighters from the SDIS34 Brigade. This programme will train a total of 64 rescue workers, which will strengthen response capabilities in the event of floods.

Firefighting in confined spaces 

A “fire box” (container fire simulator) will be delivered to Kurdistan to organise a training-of-trainers session on how to use it. French firefighters will train 5 Kurdish firefighters in intervention techniques, and 12 additional sessions will be organised at the Civil Defence Training Institute near Erbil. This component will train 96 firefighters and Civil Defence personnel in techniques for fire management in difficult environments.

Psychological support for vulnerable groups

Psychological support for vulnerable groups affected by disasters will also be addressed through the organisation of training-of-trainers sessions. 

Training will be given to 12 Iraqi Kurd volunteers (6 men and 6 women) on psychological challenges, the development of empathy, resilience strategies, and knowledge of community resources. This will be followed by 4 additional sessions for 48 other members of the response teams and local organisations.

In addition to these training sessions, the project will also prepare three specific curricula and practical guides for first responders. These documents will provide benchmarks to improve the safety and efficiency of emergency interventions in the event of floods and urban fires. They also cover psychological support.

Through these training sessions and educational tools, the project is helping to strengthen disaster response capabilities in Iraqi Kurdistan, while ensuring that rescue teams are better prepared to handle the growing risks.