Supporting Syrian refugees in Iraq

In 2023, Peace Winds staff in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq worked with more than 600 Syrian refugee families to upgrade their homes. These upgrades make shelters more accessible for family members with disabilities and the elderly by widening doorways, installing wheelchair ramps and handrails, and making latrines and showers more accessible. 

Now, Peace Winds is well on our way to beginning a new round of construction upgrades for nearly 700 additional homes for Syrian refugee families. Our teams have assessed refugees’ homes to prioritize those most in need, and they have begun orientations to let families know what to expect throughout the process.

Additionally, registration for Peace Winds’ “cash-for-work” program has begun. Rather than just hiring contractors like many aid organizations do, this unique program pays refugees in cash to complete their own construction to upgrade their homes. This allows them to earn temporary wages and hone construction skills that they can use to find future job opportunities. 

Peace Winds is also excited to announce that it is opening a new workshop space for refugees in Erbil! The new building will add to the existing workshops and tool centers that Peace Winds and Barzani Charity Foundation operate across seven camps in Erbil and Duhok. Refugees can borrow tools and use workshop spaces to make home upgrades and repairs or work on personal projects. They also take courses on tool use and safety, gaining skills that help them find employment. Peace Winds aims to serve an estimated 26,000 Syrian refugees through the tool centers and workshops this year. 

Finally, Peace Winds is working hard to make public spaces in the refugee camps in the region more accessible for disabled refugees. In 2024, our teams will complete 40 infrastructure upgrades that will improve safety and accessibility. These include modifications to public facilities in the camps such as additional seating and signage, wheelchair ramps, handrails, and coverings over open drainage channels. 

Our work supporting Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is made possible by the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the U.S. Consulate General Erbil, and contributions from our supporters. Peace Winds is grateful for your continued support.