This report assesses the level of preparedness and response against both natural and human induced hazards and the state of disaster risk reduction in Iraq. The purpose of this paper is three-fold. First, it seeks to highlight the nature and character of Iraq’s hazards and their risk of becoming a complex emergency. Secondly, it reviews the capacities of the current disaster response capacities of key stakeholders in responding to disaster episodes with a comparison to key fundamental requirements when preparing for and responding to Iraq’s natural and human induced hazards. Thirdly, attention is given to practical recommendations for stakeholders to consider in the development of programmes that will contribute to strengthening disaster risk reduction at the central, region, governorate and community levels while also addressing the priority development strategy as defined in the GoI next Five-Year Plan (2010 – 1014).