US Sanctions Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq Amidst a Rising Mental Health Crisis
In an escalating response to recent attacks, the United States has imposed sanctions on six members of the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah. These sanctions, which include the blocking of US property and bank accounts, are a clear message against the alleged perpetrators of at least 60 attacks on US and coalition military facilities in Iraq and Syria. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has stated that the Kata’ib Hezbollah group is supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a designation that is echoed by the State Department’s classification of the group as a terrorist organization.
Mental Health Crisis in Iraq
Meanwhile, in a country battered by conflict, the mental health care system in Iraq is in a precarious state. The struggles of Raghad Qasim, a 34-year-old women’s rights activist, are emblematic of a larger crisis. Despite her desperate search, Qasim was unable to find a psychologist in Baghdad, ultimately resorting to online consultations with a Lebanese therapist. It was through these sessions that she began to recognize the deep-seated impacts of war and the 2003 American invasion on her mental health.
Understaffed and Underfunded
With only two mental health workers per 100,000 people, Iraq falls significantly below the global average. Institutions such as the Al-Rashad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, established in 1950, are severely understaffed. They cater to patients with chronic and serious mental illnesses but face a severe shortage of specialized doctors. The hospital’s director, Firas Al-Kazimi, has voiced concerns over the overwhelming patient-to-doctor ratio, a testament to the strain on the country’s mental health sector.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite these daunting challenges, the perception of mental health is slowly changing in Iraq. More people are seeking help, and organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) are stepping in to offer psychological services along with physical therapy. Stories of individuals like 30-year-old Zainab Abdul Wahab, who experienced significant improvements in her mental state through these services, offer a glimmer of hope in a landscape marked by conflict and struggle.
No comments:
Post a Comment