HEKS
Displacement crise in Iraq
Seeds and technical support
As agriculture is one of the main sources of income in Iraq, in general, people who have been displaced several times are the main victims of conflicts, as they lack agricultural resources. «Before we were displaced, we sow up to a tonne of seeds every year,» proudly explains a family of beneficiaries of HEKS’s agricultural support program. Last year, due to lack of rain, the family lost almost all their crops. So they had little money to continue planting. Since March 2021, HEKS has been offering wheat, barley, maize and sesame seeds to returnee families, as well as fertilizers, quality pesticides, and technical support. This allows them to strengthen their autonomy and develop sustainable strategies to overcome difficulties. Although most families already have considerable experience in agriculture, they need constant support to increase their productivity and control the shelf life of their food. They are therefore supported by local agronomists who have solid knowledge of agriculture.
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HEKS/EPER improved access to education for the children through the rehabilitation of the school buildings and premises, which are often not in the condition to receive students.
HEKS through multi assessments pointed the most common problems as following: The lack of desks for the children to sit and whiteboards and markers for the teachers; most schools do not have proper toilets or latrines or, when they do have them, they lack the access to water; Access to electricity is also a problem, as some schools have faulty electric systems, or they are not connected to the main grid altogether; Doors and windows are sometimes missing and roofs in some schools present holes and leaks; Basic IT equipment (laptop and printer), stationery and basic furniture for teachers’ and principals’ offices such as desks and chairs were missing.
All of this makes it very challenging to attend school in winter, as classrooms become very cold and dark without doors, windows and artificial illumination. Considering the extreme heat of Iraq, with temperatures hitting above 35 °C already in April, it becomes very hard to stay in the overcrowded classrooms without ceiling fans, especially when they are in prefabricate structures that very rapidly overheat.
In Iraq, there will still be much to do in the coming years. HEKS will remain on site to help the population, implement other projects and enable families to live in dignity.
Last Update: October 2022
HEKS
With the number of displacements and the lack of support for returning families, Iraq has become one of the most troubled countries in the world. Many of the displaced persons would be willing to return to their villages, but are unable to do so because the infrastructure has been destroyed. In addition, there is constant possibility of further displacement. Although the Iraqi government is currently doing its utmost to encourage displaced people to return to their home, many families at risk cannot return without external assistance.
In February 2018, HEKS assessed the need for assistance in Ninewa province, along the old border. In this region, projects were focusing on rebuilding damaged or demolished infrastructure and restoring livelihoods, so that the most vulnerable families have sources of income again. The aim was also to promote the social cohesion of the different groups of the population.
Between August 2018 and April 2019, HEKS supported the people of Felfel (Ninewa) through cash for work programs and conducted mine risk awareness sessions.
In December 2018, a project was launched in the town of Al Ayadia so that those needed to be protected could return home safely. HEKS has also built 113 shelters in collaboration with Better Shelter, which specializes in temporary housing for displaced people. Families have already settled in these dwellings, which can accommodate up to five people.
In 2019, particularly vulnerable families in the small towns of Ba'aj and Rabia in Ninewa province received remuneration for their work under the Cash for work programs and were supported with accommodation. In addition, sanitation facilities and water treatment infrastructures have been renovated, providing access to safe drinking water. Finally, seeds and agricultural equipment were offered to peasant families so that they could resume their activities and thus guarantee their livelihoods.
In 2020, HEKS distributed cash assistance to 110 particularly vulnerable host community families in Kirkuk region. Each household received 200 US-Dollars. Cash assistance covers part of specific needs of families: access to health care, support payment of rent for their home, payment of school supplies, clothing and food.
In February 2021 and again in June 2021, an HEKS team visited Tuz Khurmatu and Amerli districts, north of Baghdad, to assess the urgent needs of returnees and the measures to be put in place to assist them. There, the need to access water, medical health care and education is enormous, as well as the need of reconstruction. Houses have been ravaged and infrastructure is no longer standing. Families barely have enough to live on.