Building a future for the population in the slums of Hay Tarik

Hay Tarik is part of the slums around the city of Baghdad. Barracks and sheds extend for miles.With a population of about 45,000, 70% of them children and teenagers, Hay Tarik is about the size of a small German town.

Most of Hay Tarik's inhabitants have moved to this area from the southern regions of Iraq and they belong to the poorest part of the population, working as day laborers, un-skilled workers, or shopkeepers.

For the administration of the old regime this area with its 45,000 inhabitants officially did not exist – Hay Tarik is not shown in any city map.Therefore it is not surprising that the living standard of these people is one of the worst to be found in Baghdad and vicinity.

Electricity and water supplies are not sufficient at all. Right now an old water plant supplies a maximum of 15% of the drinking water needed. The hygienic conditions are disastrous. There is no canalization; wastewater flows in open ditches from the houses into the dusty streets.
Children are playing on piles of garbage and waste, and they drink water from dirty pools.

Diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia – easily to be cured in Europe – are the most common causes of death among young children here. Hay Tarik is a high-risk area for the outbreak of epidemics like cholera and tuberculosis, and is considered as an area with an above average mortality rate for children.

We are carrying out the following projects in this area:

In April 2003, we opened an ambulant hospital within the framework of our »Hilfsnetzwerk Bagdad« (Support Network Baghdad). Up to then there was no medical support in Hay Tarik. Thanks to the generous support of the campaign »Ein Herz für Kinder« (A Heart For Children) we are now able to provide medical services in a bigger and better equipped building, and service is guaranteed for another 6 months.
Execution of the project: APN Baghdad
Funding of the project: Campaign »Ein Herz für Kinder«
Duration of the project: July 2003 until June 2004

One of our most important goals is to provide Hay Tarik with clean water and to improve the hygienic conditions. This will help to prevent many diseases. Therefore we are working together with the French relief organization »Enfants du monde / Droits de l’homme« (EMDH) on the following tasks: APN is responsible for the restoration of 8 water treatment plants and the installation of 30 kilometers of water pipes. EMDH carries out a health care and hygienic campaign, distributes hygienic kits and takes care of garbage disposal.
Execution of the project: APN Baghdad
Funding of the project: ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office)

Thanks to our commitment, there is finally hope for the people of Hay Tarik to have acceptable living conditions – clean water, medical services, and a better future.


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