Practical information Iraq

169236  sq.mi

The air embargo imposed on Iraq makes things difficult for international flights. The closest airport is in Amman (Jordan); from here you can get to Baghdad by bus in 15 hrs. The road is dangerous, it is preferable to travel during the day in a convoy. London-Amman: 8 hours. Time difference: GMT + 3hrs, summer and winter.

28952000 hab.

Airports open again.

The Foreign Affairs Minister strictly advises against travelling to Iraq, exception in three northern provinces: Dohouk, Erbil and Suleimaniyeh. However, there is limited peace and security in northern Iraq. The risk of being trapped in an attack or falling victim as collateral damage is very high. Hotels and restaurants including establishments only Iraqis go to are frequently bombarded or attacked. No screening or protection device found around these hotels should be trusted fully.

The official languages are Arabic, Kurdish and Aramaic. English is used in business.

Since July it has again been possible to submit a visa request, though it is still difficult to obtain one and it will cost around ?46.
You will need to get it ready 45 days before you leave for Iraq, and it takes 2 days to process after the invitation or authorisation has been received.

97% of Iraqis are Muslim. There are a few Christians.

The local currency is the Iraqi Dinar (IQD). £1 Sterling = 2,000 IQD.

The road linking the capital to the airport is the site of deadly attacks almost everyday (bomb explosions when vehicles are passing, gunshots or rocket firing), and one of the most dangerous roads in the country. It is highly recommended to take this road on board vehicles in which passengers might not seemingly be coalition members (as a general rule, do not use a 4x4, especially on this road.) You are advised against driving in convoys where vehicles are close to one another, giving the impression it is an official convoy.
Note that no road is safe. Banditry, armed robbery and kidnapping are rampant. Each day, there are 10 to 12 armed operations against coalition armies and at least twenty serious attacks and victims are Iraqi and foreign civilians.
Air traffic is equally risky. Though Baghdad airport only receives limited business flights since April 2003, civilian flights taking off from Baghdad have been targeted by bombers who forced them to land in emergency. The airport is frequently bombarded by shells and missiles.

No particular vaccine is required, however it is wise to get vaccinated against tetanus, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, typhoidr, hepatitis A and B, as well as rabies.
Avian influenza epidemic disease: the Health Ministry recommends travellers to avoid all contact with poultry and birds, meaning not going to farms or to poultry markets.
In terms of health centres, there is no real reliable hospital to take care of emergencies and major surgeries. In case of a need for sanitary evacuation to another country by plane, permissions for medical transport planes to fly over the territory can take up to forty-eight hours. The embassy says that no sanitary evacuation from this province is done by air.
Saint-Raphael Hospital: (01) 719 60 81 (uncertain phone number, due to the telephone network situation). The hospital's administration phone number is 0790 135 68 14.

Voltage is 220 V. An adaptor is needed for the very few electrical appliances that have three pins.

Unknown.

Service is not included in the bill, the custom is to leave a 12% tip.

The call Iraq from the UK: dial 964 before the number of the person you are calling.
Iraq to the UK: dial 00 + 44 + the number of the person you are calling without the initial 0.