2026-05-23T22:44:27+00:00
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Shafaq News-
Al-Anbar
A growing
number of vulnerable Iraqi families are turning to social media and informal
aid networks as rising medical costs and limited institutional support widen
gaps in access to urgent care, pushing grassroots initiatives into a central
role in humanitarian response.
Civil and
human rights activist Suleiman al-Kubaisi has been active in this field since
2017, documenting cases of poor families, orphans, widows, and people with
disabilities, connecting them with donors through fieldwork and digital
outreach.
“Social
media platforms have become the main infrastructure for this form of aid,
functioning as both a space to document need and a mechanism to mobilize
donations,” he told Shafaq News, clarifying that the process typically begins
on the ground, through home visits or direct messages from families in need.
Cases are
then verified and circulated online before being turned into fundraising
appeals designed to secure treatment costs, surgeries, or basic living expenses.
Over the
years, his initiatives have contributed to the distribution of more than 800
electric and manual wheelchairs across Al-Anbar, Nineveh, Baghdad, Diyala,
Saladin, Kirkuk, Basra, Dhi Qar, and Al-Qadisiyah. Hundreds of surgical
procedures for critically ill patients have also been supported through the
same network.
Read more: Iraq’s fee-for-service crisis: Citizens pay more while receiving less
Beyond
medical assistance, the work includes monthly food distributions, sponsorship
of struggling families, and housing renovation and reconstruction projects for
displaced and low-income households.
“Funding
remains largely dependent on individual donations within Iraq and online
crowdfunding campaigns,” he remarked, citing that in some cases, support came
from Iraqi officials or political entities.
Medical
expenses, however, often exceed what can be raised. In several cases,
fundraising campaigns fall short, resulting in delayed treatment or incomplete
coverage, particularly for complex surgical procedures.
“There are
cases where fundraising does not cover the full cost,” al-Kubaisi explained,
describing situations where patients are left waiting for additional support or
forced to postpone care, leaving families in prolonged uncertainty.
While
concerns about transparency and long-term sustainability persist, these
grassroots efforts continue to expand as demand for medical and social support
grows. The result, he observed, is a ”fragmented but active relief system” where
individuals, digital platforms, and donor networks intersect to bridge
persistent gaps in care and assistance.
Read more: Iraq’s healthcare system nears collapse: Doctors leave, hospitals overflow