Iraq, Creative Essay Example

The nation of Iraq has been entangled in wars and military conflicts for generations, from the Iraq-Iran war to the conflicts with the U.S. in the 1990s and the 2000s. These conflicts have left hundreds of thousands of Iraqis suffering from a range of health crises; many of these Iraqis have faced even greater burdens, as they have been displaced from their home countries and have become refugees in other countries. In Jordan, 37,000 Iraqis that are registered with the Refugee Assistance Information Services (RAIS) have been assessed for health issues and many of these refugees are suffering from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

If there are thousands of Iraqi refugees in Jordan who are known to have major health issues, then there are many thousands more who are likely suffering but are not tracked, and may not be receiving health care of any kind. When we think of war, we think of those who are killed or wounded I combat; this is a reminder that the ravages of war affect more than just those killed in combat, and that the problems linger for years after the war is over.