Middle East

Iraq

Location

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait.

We strongly advise against travel to Iraq. Should you consider your presence in Iraq essential, you should seek professional security advice. Extreme risk from insurgents. Kidnapping is a major threat to all Westerners. Do not travel to Iraq unless it is absolutely necessary. Armed protection is strongly advised. Local militia groups, weapons (various), ballistics danger areas, mines, booby traps, vehicle security, vehicle convoys, personal security, ambushes, kidnappings, bandits / corruption, gunfire / snipers, legal / illegal checkpoints, armed robberies, general travel, navigation, off road driving, building / office security, cold weather injuries, hot weather injuries, personal hygiene, sanitation / sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, helicopter safety, terrorism, cultures / customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Use bottled water only.

Mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey.

Mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq.

Dust storms, sandstorms, floods.

Avian influenza, bilharzia, dehydration, Crimean Congo fever, hepatitis A, malaria, polio, rabies, typhoid, visceral leishmaniasis, yellow fever.
WHO representative: 26 Yanbu' St. Um Uthaina, PO Box 3044, Amman, Jordan

Government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of an-Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification.

Road travel remains highly dangerous. Fatal roadside bombings, fatal and premeditated violent attacks on convoys. Rise in the number of false vehicle checkpoints, ending in kidnappings.

Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) (5 days)
Centurion's flagship Hostile Environments and Emergency First Aid Training (HEFAT®) course is for people who operate world wide, particularly in areas where there may be personal health or safety concerns. It is extremely effective for "frontline" organisations.

Passengers flying out of Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) are not allowed to take the following items in their carry-on baggage:
1. Weapons of any type or parts thereof / ammunition / tear gas
2. False explosive devices
3. Cigarette lighters
4. Lighter fuel of any type
5. Tools including leathermans
6. Hairspray exceeing 3oz
7. Aerosol deodorant exceeding 3oz
8. Toy guns
9. Bleach products
10.Razor blades
11.Swords
12.Scissors
13.Lotions, creams, toothpaste and other toiletries in excess of 3oz each
14.Home made liquids
15.Strike all matches
16.Throwing stars / handcuffs / batons
17.Fishing poles
18.Pool sticks
19.Bows
20.Metal nail files.

The following items are not allowed in checked baggage:
1. Weapons / parts of any type that are not approved prior to arrival
2. Ammunition of any type
3. Detonators, fuses, grenades, mines or any kind of explosive
4. Cooking oil
5. Kerosene, gasoline, methanol
6. Oxugen canisters, propane, butane
7. Fireworks, magnesium, firelighters, flares
8. Explosive components to include blasting caps
9. Flammable paint aerosols
10.Flammable liquids
11.Commercial corrosives; bleach, caustic soda
12.Medicinal or commercial isotopes
13.Rat poison, infected blood
14.Any item conceived as a threat to the aircraft.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.