Iraq
Giving back perspectives
Situation report
Iraq is a country caught between war and peace, between construction and destruction, between diversity and emptiness. Even years after the official end of the last war, power struggles are still taking place, the weak are discriminated against and many are looking for lasting perspectives and true peace. Violent groups hinder the reconstruction of destroyed towns and villages and curb peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
The recently formed new government has made many positive steps, but must work to satisfy different sides: Iran, Türkye, the US, the autonomous region of Kurdistan as well as the central government in Baghdad all have different interests which they are trying to assert. The government is also combatting the still widespread corruption and nepotism.
According to UN figures, there are still more than 1.1 million IDPs in Iraq. Despite decreasing international support, their need remains high. Due to the security and economic situation, many still have no hope of leading an independent life in Iraq or making a new start in their original home.
Minorities continue to suffer from their marginalized position in Iraqi society. They are often neglected in their region, meaning that they have reduced access to public goods such as electricity or water. In 2023, Iraq unfortunately remained a country in which individuals and militant groups were more concerned with maintaining their power than with addressing the pressing needs or working on reconstruction. Many people, especially members of minorities, continue to suffer as a result.
1. Emergency Relief for IDPs
Due to the continuing great need of many IDPs and those left behind, Anugerah helped local teams in the distribution of food. More than 12,800 food parcels were distributed at regular intervals throughout the country. The food parcels consisted of basic foodstuffs, providing an essential stock of food for the recipients. In addition to the material aspect, the food parcels were a sign to the recipients that they were not forgotten in the midst of their need.
2. Trauma Recovery and Medical Aid
With its trusted partners, Anugerah was once again able to provide valuable medical assistance to IDPs and members of minorities this year. The Anugerah-funded mobile clinic traveled to remote mountain villages where minorities live as well as camps for IDPs in order to offer consultations. The inhabitants of the villages and camps usually have no other access to quick and basic medical help. Every month, more than 500 patients were treated on three days per week.
Moreover, Anugerah continued to support the trauma center which was already supported last year. Young women and girls suffering from trauma found a place here where they were assisted in dealing with their experiences. They worked through their experiences and were handed life-affirming tools to encourage them in everyday life and in the event of relapses. In addition, the participants were given introductions to tailoring or hairdressing at their own choice. On the one hand, this helped raise their self-esteem, and on the other, they received the means to support their families financially with the new skills. The majority of the participants in the trauma courses came from the Yazidi minority. Members of this minority were particularly persecuted by ISIS: Many of the women and girls were abducted, sold, forcibly married and raped. The burden of their trauma is huge, but the Anugerah-financed trauma center is meeting this challenge courageously and confidently.
3. education and income support
As described above, members of minorities in Iraq sometimes experience neglect in their region. This occurs, for example, in the organization of school transports, which reduces the educational opportunities and thus also the future prospects of children from the respective minorities. Anugerah carried out a project in cooperation with the local partner so that children from these minorities were able to attend school after all. In total, more than 600 children and young people benefited from this transport during the last school year.
Project Conclusion
Looking back on its involvement in 2023, Anugerah can draw a positive conclusion. Many received help in their time of need in a wide variety of areas: school education, trauma recovery, mobile clinic and food distributions. Despite adverse circumstances, and in the hope of an improvement in the overall political situation in the Middle East, Anugerah is grateful for the results achieved. Finally, we would like to thank our partners in Iraq, the local authorities and our supporters for their trust and good cooperation.