Supporting Syrian refugees in Iraq

Peace Winds continues to support Syrian refugees who were displaced by the nearly decade-long civil war in their home country. Many of those impacted by the conflict fled to Northern Iraq settling in and around Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, seeking refuge until they can return home or restart their lives. Although thousands have found safety, demands for vital resources such as shelter, food, clean water, and medical supplies are ever-increasing due to the consistent influx of refugees and ongoing conflict. Now in the ninth year of the Syrian crisis, Peace Winds has sought to provide more durable shelters for refugee households in the camps by providing building materials and Cash for Work (CfW) with communities self-organizing construction. Moreover, Peace Winds has sought to curb gender-based violence in refugee camps by focusing on women-headed households to provide affordable, safe, and secure housing to these families.

Peace Winds is implementing shelter upgrades in four camps in the Erbil area. The project began in September 2018 and is set to wrap up in August of 2020. Divided into two year phases, the first phase plans to upgrade over 700 tented shelters, and another estimated 700 shelters are planned for upgrades in the second phase of the project. In the first two months of the project, Peace Winds, in collaboration with the Kawergosk and Qushtapa refugee camp managers, conducted door to door assessments to prioritize upgrades. In total, 1,164 shelters were assessed based on vulnerabilities and other factors to determine which would be prioritized. The shelter upgrades recently begun in February and the Cash for Work element of the project is paying refugees to perform the necessary work. In the end, the beneficiaries will receive income for their work and an upgraded shelter that they helped create.

To continue making an impact in there camps, Peace Winds seeks additional funds to further provide Syrian refugees with dignified housing, resources, and care. We thank those who have already contributed, and welcome support to increase our impact for refugee communities in Northern Iraq.

Peace Winds continues to assist Syrian refugees in Iraq displaced by the brutal conflict and civil war.  Many refugees fled to northern Iraq where they are struggling to restart their lives.  With more families settling into camps, the demand for shelter is increasing.  Refugees are also struggling with finding employment and income to help maintain the needs of their families.

Many refugees live in tents or partially built structures.  Peace Winds is constructing and upgrading shelters for families, focusing on women-headed households.  Structurally sound homes provide stability and protection from the area weather and elements, and help protect women and girls from gender-based violence.

Lack of access to affordable, safe housing exacerbates gender-based violence.  Traditional gender norms mean women and girls typically remain at home maintaining the household by cooking, cleaning, and raising children.  Tents do not have environmental controls and are difficult to secure.  Shared housing situations can cause tension between tenants.  Peace Winds is providing security and stability through structure upgrades, offering individual families housing opportunities, and implementing productive construction planning to mitigate risks to refugee women and girls living in the camps.

Peace Winds is partnering with the U.S. State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and UNHCR to assist refugees with housing and employment in four refugee camps in northern Iraq.  This two-year State Department project provides shelter upgrades to over 1,500 households and offers construction training to support income opportunities for refugees.  Peace Winds seeks funds to provide additional resources to refugees in the camps, including food, water, blankets, clothing and other supplies, as well as education and training programs.

Peace Winds and the Syrian refugees in northern Iraq appreciate your support.