Supporting Syrian refugees in 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.