The infrastructure of Iraq’s emergency services was not prepared to accommodate the extreme high level of violence that has been plaguing the country. With a shortage of ambulances and EMTs, many victims of the war die en route to the hospital or waiting for treatment in emergency rooms.

Apart from the community-based first aid and school first aid programs, the Iraqi Red Crescent has limited emergency services and is looking forward to expanding its ambulance fleet to 2000 ambulances throughout Iraq by the end of 2008. The Iraqi Red Crescent ambulance services are voluntary and free for all those injured in the conflict, the poor, and children less than 12 years of age.

To achieve this development, the Iraqi Red Crescent needs to train staff and volunteers to the paramedic level and to equip them with the appropriate facilities and equipment. Some of the training should take place abroad. An emergency education program should also be developed to ensure adequate staffing of the Emergency Medical Services.

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