RI began operations in southern Iraq in April 2003, and within one year had built and repaired key infrastructure in the educational, agricultural, municipal and water-supply sectors—areas that had been damaged during the war and from years of neglect. In an effort to build the capacity of civil society in Iraq, Relief Iraq was founded in 2005 as a local counterpart to RI. Over the course of five years, RI will turn over programming, fundraising and accountability responsibilities to Relief Iraq, which will become a wholly independent local organization. Relief Iraq is addressing the needs of vulnerable people in Iraq in the areas of livelihoods restoration, returnee monitoring and protection, and the development of new grassroots institutions.
