A young boy bakes bread for a community in Erbil in northern Iraq. Flour for the bread is provided in the monthly food ration baskets. (Photo Sonia Dumont/UNOHCI/OIP)

What can you do to help?

The world is full of organizations that have devoted their time to understanding the conflict in iraq and figuring out how to keep Iraqis healthy and safe. Check out this list of organizations, click around their Web sites, and deepen your understanding of the conflict and its consequences.

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• Humanitarian Information Center for Iraq
  Agoodplacetostart.org is, you guessed it, a good place to start. It's run by the Humanitarian Information Center, a branch of the UN that provides information about humanitarian services in Iraq.
• World Health Organization (WHO)
  The Switzerland-based WHO is one of the biggest health organizations on the planet. Their slogan is: Find out what to do, what not to do, how best to prepare and how best to respond.
• World Food Program (WFP)
  The WFP is the main UN group that deals with food emergencies. Right now, it's busy getting food to Iraqis.
• United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
  During the war, the UNHCR estimates that 600,000 Iraqis fled their homes for other countries. These people are called refugees—and this UN organization focuses on getting them home safely.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
  The IFRC is a network of agencies around the world dedicated to humanitarian work. And they've got a Web site just for students—it's a great place to find ways to help people who really need help.
• American Red Cross
  The Red Cross (not the same thing as the International Red Cross, above) is an American organization that helps victims of disasters. They have a special Web site where you can find your local chapter and figure out what you can do to help.
• Doctors Without Borders
  This group was founded more than 30 years ago by a group of French doctors who believed that everybody in the world has the right to medical care. They provide perform surgery, rebuild hospitals, run nutrition programs, train people to provide important health services, and much more.
• Oxfam
  The Oxford, England-based Oxfam has been in the helping business for more than 60 years. Their Web site has a page with ways to get involved.
• Refugees International
  
• American Refugee Committee
  
• UN International Refugee Year
  
• Care International
  
• Save the Children
  
• American Council for Voluntary Action
  
• Catholic Relief Services
  
• Department for International Development, United Kingdom