Rasha and her father Halif live in a camp for displaced people in northern Iraq. They are originally from Mosul but fled the city when Rasha’s uncle was killed and the fighting between the Islamic State group (IS) and the Iraqi forces became too intense. After they arrived in Hassansham camp (near the city of Erbil) in March 2017, Rasha was constantly scared as a result of the traumatic events she had witnessed in Mosul. Rasha received support from Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) psychologists to manage and overcome her fear.

MSF has been working in Iraq since 1991 and provides primary and secondary healthcare, services for expectant and new mothers, treatment for chronic diseases, surgery and rehabilitation for war-wounded, mental health support and health education activities. We currently work in the governorates of Erbil, Diyala, Ninewa, Kirkuk, Anbar and Baghdad.

In the camps for internally displaced people close to Mosul and Erbil, MSF works in six locations providing mental healthcare and treatment for non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes. The mental health services include psychological and psychiatric consultations, group therapy, psychosocial counselling and child therapy.