About
Iraqi Community Association
The association provides advice and advocacy on immigration, welfare, housing, health, education and training. It also provides services for older people, children and youth, organises social and cultural activities and runs a community news letter.
The Iraqi community in London has developed considerably, both in size and structure over the last 30 years. It is estimated that over 250,000 Iraqis now live in Britain, 60% of whom are in based in London.
Iraqis have been coming since the late 1940s. Britain benefited from this influx, as many Iraqis have set up successful businesses in this country. Household names include Selim Zilkha, the founder of Mother Care, Satchi and Satchi, one of the most successful advertisement agencies in the world, Zuha Hadid, the prominent internationally known architect, and Alan Yentob, controller of BBC1.
The growing Iraqi community in London has made enormous contributions to the British society, for example, we have more than 6,000 medical doctors and consultants in the NHS. Other community members include school teachers and university lecturers. The community has a significant number of qualified professionals, and almost all are refugees and made Britain their new home. The ICA, since its inception in 1987 has been working with and for Iraqis.
In the last 12 years, the wave of Iraqi asylum seekers arriving in this country has increased. During this period we have seen many success stories and are encouraged by the sheer determination of the majority of our community and the positive contribution they have made to the host society.
