Dear friends,

 

Urgent Winter Clothes Appeal for Iraq from one of our Mission Partners

 

A report published by Amnesty International on 19th December has highlighted some of the serious gaps in humanitarian assistance for the 900,000 displaced people that are currently sheltering in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).  The overall number of people displaced since January 2014 now stands at more than 2 million according to the UN.

 

Representatives from Amnesty have just returned from KRI where they found that many displaced people are having to endure terrible conditions, lacking the basic items needed to survive winter including blankets, warm clothes and heating.  Refugee Rights Advisor for Amnesty International, Khairunissa Dhala states:

 

"There are shocking gaps in the humanitarian response. People are living in ill-equipped camps or buildings with no walls and no shelter from the cold, wind or rain. Children are running around in thin clothes in the freezing cold.  The international community and Kurdistan Regional Government must urgently make concerted efforts to ensure assistance to those sheltering inside or outside of camps in order to avert a fully-fledged humanitarian disaster."

'Receiving clothes in the building site, where the IDPs live'
 

A Brighton mother, Samara Levy, has been sending lorries filled with winter clothes and shoes to the displaced people in the Dohuk governate of KRI.  After seeing the terrible conditions that Syrian refugees were living in last winter she decided to do something to help.

 

"Raising children in a tent in the snow without being able to give them basic things like clothes and shoes is unimaginable.  I don't know how those mothers are coping with day to day life.  There have been recent reports of newborn babies dying in tents because their families are unable to keep them warm."

 

'Trading flip flops for shoes'

 

"Giving our clothes and shoes is something that all of us can do.  I am urging people to organise collections through their churches, schools and communities which can be added to our next lorry load.  It is easy to do and all the information on how to get started, sort and label everything will be provided."

 

The FRRME has helped with funding some of these lorries and will be partnering with Samara to send more winter aid to Iraq. The UN states that around 40 per cent of the displaced people in the Dohuk governorate live in construction sites and unfinished buildings. Most of these lack walls, windows or doors leaving those inside exposed to the cold, wind and rain. They have no heating, water or sanitation facilities. Samara says:

 

"We are all called to share what we have with those who have nothing, and this is a great way that people can get involved and do something practical to help our brothers and sisters who are facing the toughest winter of their lives." 

 

If anyone has secure, dry storage space that approximately 6m x 6m x 2m, Samara would also like to hear from you. For more information on how to organise a clothing collection or to donate winter clothes and shoes please contact: [email protected] - 07960 937 716. 

 

For up to date lists of items needed see:

www.facebook.com/winterclothesappeal

 

From Brighton to Iraq - The Winter Clothes Appeal arrives

 

 

With many thanks from the FRRME Team and Samara Levy from The Winter Clothes for Iraq project.

 

 

"This is what the Lord says- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19