Six Iraqi children have been evacuated to neighbouring Jordan for
essential medical treatment by IOM and the International Islamic
Relief Organization (IIRO) with one four-year-old girl already
having had successful open heart surgery this week.

The children have been sent to Jordan for various interventions
including cardiac surgery and corneal graft. All the treatments
needed are currently unavailable in Iraq due to lack of staff,
equipment and medicine.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) selected the children for
medical evacuation in coordination with IOM, with priority being
given to cases that despite being complicated, were expected to
have a successful outcome. IOM has been responsible for
transporting the children and family members to the Jordanian
capital, Amman, while IIRO is paying the full cost of the medical
treatment.

More than 6000 Iraqis are currently on the MoH’s list of
patients in need of life-saving medical treatment unavailable in
Iraq including cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders.
The list also includes a large number of children injured by bomb
explosions and mines. 

Since January 2006, IOM has helped 150 Iraqis to be evacuated to
neighbouring countries after the MoH requested IOM to restart a
medical evacuation programme it carried out between 2003 and 2004.
Nearly 300 people were assisted by IOM during that year, after
which IOM then provided logistical assistance to the MOH to
evacuate another 250 patients to the USA and Jordan.

 

IIRO relief programmes are directed towards providing medical,
educational, and social support to those in need while the
organisation encourages entrepreneurs by sponsoring viable economic
projects and small businesses to help victims find employment and
earn a living. To fulfil these objectives IIRO has established a
wide network of national and international contacts with Islamic
and non-Islamic relief organizations, institutions and individuals
operating in Europe, Asia, and Africa, including IOM.

 

For further information please contact:

Rafiq A. Tschannen

IOM Iraq

Email: "mailto:rtschannen@iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">rtschannen@iom.int