After fleeing homes to the mountains and beyond, the Yzidi people have found refuge in N. Iraq (Kurdistan). They shelter in abandoned warehouses, tents, old shipping containers and empty buildings where kindhearted Kurds have allowed them to stay. Terrorized by memories of rape, murder and destruction, the Yzidis have experienced more than any human should. The Kurds have limited resources, but opened their hearts to shelter the Yzidis. You and I can help with basics: food, hygiene, education
The Yzidi people are a culture outside of the Muslim or Christian faiths. Their beliefs and ethnicity have long been terrorized by extremists. The attacks in 2014 were horrific and brutal with little recourse but to flee. Those who didn't run, were captured or killed. Many continue to escape from the bonds of terrorists and make their way to Kurdistan to find their families. Women and girls have been raped, many multiple times. Now, they live in borrowed shelter with little or nothing.
Our teams already working with the Yzidis, offer counseling, provision and educational resources for children. They work to help the Yzidis find sustainable methods to survive in a land where resources are stretched. Providing tools for gardening, water and other immediate needs are empowering the Yzidis to make a new life where they currently are planted. We provide training, education and resources to launch sustainable living for this transplanted community.
The long-term impact will be a healed people, important for when and if they might return to their homeland. The Yzidis will also possess skills to overcome any hurdle in the future. Agricultural understanding allows them to provide food in most circumstances for their families. Educating children will prepare them and hopefully, allow them to pursue university studies in the future. Impact will also alleviate the financial strain on the country providing shelter, as it has been stretched.
