Disability Rights Syrian Arab Republic Project #33983

Supporting Syrian refugees in Iraq

by Peace Winds America

Project Report | Feb 6, 2020
Addressing Challenges of Winter and Livelihoods

By Peace Winds America | Program Manager

The challenges of winter in Northern Iraq continue making lives harder for the Syrian refugees living in camps. Some 18,000 people have arrived in refugee camps in northern Iraq since October. To escape the violence that has destroyed countless homes and lives, Syrian families take a dangerous journey to safety in northern Iraq. But for many, the struggle continues in the camps. Though they have escaped the bombs, they still want for immediate necessities like medicine, hygiene kits, blankets, and a source of income.

Peace Winds is adapting to changing circumstances in northern Iraq and is responding to the most pressing need as the lead implementing partner of the United Nations: providing shelter to the newly arriving refugees. Since October, Peace Winds has prepared shelter sites, installed more than 3,000 temporary tent shelters, and connected them to water and electricity. As the temperature drops, Peace Winds is also providing kerosene for heating homes and addressing other needs as they arise.

As CEO Wayne Nissly says, “In the fragile settings we work, every day brings new opportunities and fresh challenges. We work alongside community members to restore livelihoods, empowering the most vulnerable to create enduring pathways to stability.”

Northern Iraq has long been home to refugees and Peace Winds has served here for more than twenty years. We’re proud to have your support and prouder still of what it has meant to displaced Syrians in northern Iraq this year. Responding to this crisis, in 2019, Peace Winds has:

upgraded 801 tents and other structures into semi-permanent shelters, with funding from the U.S. Government, Department of State;
generated short-term income for 2,345 refugee laborers through a Cash for Work program as part of the U.S. Government project;
installed more than 3,000 tents for newly arriving refugees; and
provided kerosene to help keep residents warm in the approaching winter

Peace Winds is also focused on helping to address the need for livelihoods and income generation, particularly for women. We have begun a new partnership with a local organization in Kurdistan, the Judy Organization for Relief and Development (JORD) to train women to sew, use sewing machines, and use their skills to generate income. Donations made through GlobalGiving have helped fund this training and to provide sewing machines to the women who participate.

Sewing training for women

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Nov 4, 2019
Providing Shelter to Kurdish Refugees From Syria

By Patrick Hurley | Program Manager

In Bardarash, all tent plots have WASH facilities.

Since Turkey invaded Northern Syria on October 9th, over 13,000 Kurdish refugees have fled from Syria to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Approximately 75% of new arrivals are women and children and some of the children are unaccompanied. On average 1,200 refugees have arrived per day over the past week and are in great need for shelter, food, water, blankets, and other basic hygiene and household items.

Peace Wind’s Duhok office has been responding to the crisis in close coordination with local authorities, the UN, and other NGOs.

As an implementing partner of UNHCR, Peace Winds has been setting up emergency shelter and tents in Bardarash Camp, which has been hosting the new arrivals. Peace Winds staff worked long days and nights to complete 2,049 shelters in Bardarash in just eight days before that camp reached its full capacity of 11,000 refugees.

Bardarash Camp was established as a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for displaced Iraqis in 2014. After the return of IDPs and integration of several camps, Bardarash Camp has been unoccupied for more than two years. As a result, there are various needs including the rehabilitation of toilets, showers, water tanks, pipes, etc. Adding to the list of issues, winter season is arriving in northern Iraq, and the temperature rapidly decreases at night. Peace Winds and other humanitarian organizations are coordinating daily and working hard to improve the situation and address the gaps as quickly as possible.

One man who spoke English fluently told us his story. “Back in my home in Qamishli, Syria, we heard a lot of close bombing sounds. We were anxious and we couldn’t sleep. I worked in the government as an agricultural engineer, but I left all of my properties and my job and we desperately fled to the border. Tomorrow, my mother and sisters will arrive and I need to find a job.” Although the life in the refugee camp is not easy, he seemed relieved by the refuge and assistance provided in Bardarash Camp.

With Bardarash Camp at full capacity, Peace Winds has now begun setting up emergency tents, electricity hook-ups, and lighting in Gawilan Camp which will also begin hosting new arrivals. The Peace Winds staff has been working through the weekend to prepare the sites for the increasing number of new arrivals and plans to set up 1,588 emergency shelters in Gawilan, but that camp too is expected to quickly fill to capacity.

According to UNHCR, approximately 180,000 people have been displaced in northern Syria. Over 50,000 are expected to seek refugee in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the coming months.

Peace Winds has been in northern Iraq for over 25 years and remains deeply involved and committed to assisting refugees, IDPS, and host communities in Kurdistan and Iraq.

Peace Winds built 2,049 shelters in eight days.

Children carry water in Bardarash.

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Sep 24, 2019
Constructing 80 more shelters for refugee families

By Chuck Aanenson | CEO, Peace Winds America

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