Disaster Response Syrian Arab Republic Project #33983

Syria: Aiding Kurds and other vulnerable refugees

by Peace Winds America

Project Report | May 16, 2023
Happy Mother's Day from Peace Winds in Iraq

By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate

Roshin, a refugee and mother living in Duhok, Iraq

“My mother is my friend, my sister, and everything to me. If we only had our mothers, that would be enough.”

-Nawroz, Syrian refugee living in Erbil, Iraq

In honor of Mother's Day 2023, Peace Winds is proud to bring you the stories of mothers from throughout the camps where we support Syrian refugees in Erbil and Duhok, northern Iraq. These women have supported their children and their families through the process of fleeing their homes and becoming refugees in a foreign country. This often means walking miles to cross the border, sometimes with their children on their back.

Click to hear the stories of refugee mothers and their families in Erbil and Duhok, or click the links at the bottom of the page.

Peace Winds is wishing a happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers around the world who do everything to make sure their children have a bright future. Happy Mother’s Day!

Links:

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Feb 23, 2023
Helping Fire Survivors in Baharka Rebuild

By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate

Nov 1, 2022
A Successful End to Project Year Two

By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate

Syrian refugee family and newly upgraded shelter

Peace Winds is happy to report a successful end to the second year of our Project for Sustainable Shelters, Livelihoods, and Camp Infrastructures for Syrian Refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq!

Our project year began on September 30, 2021, and since then, our teams in four refugee camps in Erbil and Duhok in northern Iraq have improved the lives of 1,074 Syrian families who were previously living in substandard housing. In Duhok, shelter upgrades included renovations to inadequate kitchens, latrines, and showers. In Erbil, Peace Winds’ project focused on improving accessibility for refugees with disabilities, so shelter upgrades included modifications such as wider doorways, wheelchair-accessible ramps, handrails, and more accessible showers and latrines.

In addition to individual shelter improvements, Peace Winds completed 26 upgrades to public camp spaces in Erbil, making them more accessible to people with disabilities. Modifications included coverings across open drainage channels and walkways, wheelchair-accessible ramps, handrails, and increased seating and signage.

Rather than hiring contractors to perform the construction, Peace Winds’ unique cash-for-work program allows beneficiaries to complete upgrades to their own shelters. This way, refugees are more invested in maintaining their homes in the long term, they earn wages, and they build construction skills that they can use to find future job opportunities and further support their families.

Not only have our employees and beneficiaries completed this project, but we are happy to report that 97 percent of beneficiaries in Duhok and 98 percent of beneficiaries in Erbil are satisfied with the results of the project. Impacts on refugees include an increased sense of safety and well-being as well as improved independence and mobility for persons with disabilities.

This project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) as well as support from the U.S. Consulate General Erbil and from your donations! Peace Winds would like to thank our donors, our dedicated employees working in the Kurdistan Region, and our partners, Barzani Charity Foundation and UNHCR.

Example of shelter before upgrade

Example of shelter after upgrade

Example of public space before upgrade

Example of public space after upgrade

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