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Iraqis rebuild

Ten years after Islamic State

By United Nations Development Programme

December 18^th, 2024

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It’s been 10 years since the Islamic State (ISIL) swept through Iraq. Millions suffered violence, displacement, economic turmoil and internal conflict.

By the time the caliphate was defeated in 2017, there was US$80 billion in damage, 11 million people dependent on aid, and more than 6 million displaced.

Iraqis are fighting to rebuild their lives, to find their way home, reconnect with friends and neighbours, and to recover from unspeakable trauma.

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

From the northern mountains of Sinjar to the ancient city of Mosul, to the plains of Ramadi, Fallujah and Kirkuk, UNDP is working with families, entrepreneurs, health care providers and communities to provide a pathway out of conflict and instability.

The US$1.88 billion Funding Facility for Stabilization has completed more than 3,741 projects that have rebuilt schools, hospitals and courts, and restored water and electricity. It has improved the lives of nearly 9 million Iraqis.

Here are a few of their stories of strength amidst adversity.

Sinjar

The Yazidi Genocide Memorial in Sinjar stands near the site of a mass grave. It was funded by Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad.

Iraqis rebuild

When ISIL arrived, Samia Qasem Melhem, 29, found safety with her brothers on Sinjar Mountain.

“We ran from Sinjar to the mountain with nothing. Some of my close family were killed, and we could do nothing. There was no one here to protect us. Four of my close school friends, Yazidi girls, were taken, and we have never seen them since. There’s still so much pain, but we have to move on,” says Samia, who after graduating from Mosul University, runs a UNDP-supported counselling centre for children.

“We get our strength from the suffering. I am proud to say I am a Yazidi woman but remember, there are still 2,700 who are missing or dead. We must find the tools to cope with the past and help prepare these children for the future.”

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Kurti Khalaf Haso, 50, also fled to Sinjar Mountain. After significant personal loss, including the death of one of her children, Kurti returned to Sinuni in 2016 and started a tailoring business with an old sewing machine. In 2021, Kurti received $2,521.86 from UNDP, along with business management training. She updated her sewing machines and expanded her shop, providing much-needed stability for her family. Her fashions are in demand from Yazidis who live abroad.

Mosul

"We came back from the dead."

-Sayf Al Ashgar, Secretary General of the Libraries at Mosul University

Iraqis rebuild

The library at Mosul University once boasted one of the most comprehensive book and manuscript collections in the region. The Islamic militants destroyed most of the 1.2 million books and rare manuscripts during the 14 months when the library was their headquarters. Fortunately, some 30,000 books and artifacts were eventually saved by brave volunteers.

‘We came back from the dead,” says Sayf Al Ashgar, 52, who holds the distinguished title of Secretary General of the Libraries at Mosul University.

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

“When ISIL made this building their Mosul headquarters in March of 2015, we knew that our library would never be the same. During their occupation and the subsequent airstrikes that were used to clear them out, we lost over 90 percent of the library contents, including a priceless Qur’an from the 8th century.”

Sayf fled with his family and spent a year in Duhok. His father was killed by a booby trap when he returned to the family home.

“After the five-year reconstruction project of the badly damaged library building, we finally reopened in February 2022 and now have around 1,200 students visiting the library daily.”

Ramadi

“When ISIL came, we stayed at the plant and kept the water flowing. We had to!”

-Ali Mohammed, Ramadi Water Station manager

Iraqis rebuild

Ali oversees a team of long-serving engineers who maintain the 45-year-old facility.

The militants arrived in February 2014, and a few months later, as the violence began to spiral, threatened to kill Ali and his crew if they didn’t leave.

“When the power grid stopped, our main problem was keeping the generators running the pumps. That day in April 2015, when I went to check on one of the generators, is when the rocket landed near me and knocked me down.”

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

“His right leg was missing, and he was losing a lot of blood,” says Haider, who picked up his colleague and put him in a truck and took him to one of the few remaining medical facilities.

“They saved my life,” says Ali, pointing to his homemade artificial leg, “I made this myself because, at the time, there was no way to get something better.”

Nine years later, Ali and his crew are a tight-knit family who have seen everything.

“We will always keep the water running, whatever happens. We love Ramadi, and this is our job.”

Hawija

“I’ve been here all my life, and we grow crops, maize and wheat and rear goats, sheep and cows. I have a big family with lots of mouths to feed.”

-Hussein Mahmood

Iraqis rebuild

Hussein Mahmood, 76, has farmed for as long as he can remember.

The ISIL invasion brought tragedy. Not only were 48 people in the town killed, Hussein lost both of his sons.

“My first son was in the Iraqi military and was killed by ISIL in Ramadi. They found out that he had burnt the Islamic State flag, so they cut his throat and sent me the video of them killing him."

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

“My other son was here at the farm but got very sick. ISIL wouldn’t allow him to go to the hospital.”

Hussein keeps the video as a warning to the next generation. “To remind them what they are capable of. What ISIL did was terrible, but now we all work harder to prevent anything like this ever happening again.”

Tikrit

“It all started here for me, as I was born in this hospital. This is where I belong.”

- Dr. Ali Wissam

Iraqis rebuild

Dr. Ali Wissam, 28, is the senior ENT resident at Tikrit Teaching Hospital.

“It all started here for me, as I was born in this hospital,” he says. “This is where I belong.”

When ISIL arrived, he was studying in Jordan. “It was the most terrifying time of my life. I lost contact with my family for an entire month.”

“I knew my parents were ISIL targets, as they were government-paid doctors. My mother was a gynaecologist, and my father was dean of medicine.”

After a terrible month of worry, Ali finally got a call. He wept when his father told him they had escaped to Kirkuk and were safe.

After completing his studies in 2021, he returned to Tikrit and immediately started working at the hospital where he was born. UNDP enables the hospital to provide 460 beds and high-quality treatment at low prices.

“We are a united family again, and the hospital work keeps me busy. The nightmare of ISIL has made us stronger and more determined to serve the people of Tikrit. Training other doctors and helping my people is what I live for now,” Dr. Ali says.

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

Iraqis rebuild

The work is ongoing

Many challenges remain. One million displaced people need to find homes. Nations are not restored to health by infrastructure alone, and the work of repairing social cohesion and community reconciliation will take time. UNDP remains committed to ensuring peace, dignity and social unity across all of Iraq.

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© 2026 United Nations Development Programme

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