When Alam was born, he was deprived of oxygen, and the doctors insisted that he wouldn’t live past his first few months. 9 years later, and Alam struggles to walk, gasps for air when he speaks, but couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he tried. Alam is one of many children with disabilities who attend the Child and Youth Friendly Spaces that ACTED, with support from UNICEF, runs in Darashakran and Qushtapa Syrian refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan.Having fled Syria to Darashakran Refugee Camp in Erbil governorate in early February 2014, he used to spend his days being home-schooled by his mother. Recently enrolled in Grade 2 at school, Alam is now able to continue with his favourite…

From May 30 to June 3, 2014 ACDI/VOCA worked with four Marla Fund implementing partner CSOs (Haraa Humanitarian Organization (HHO), Al-Murshed Center for Economic Development (AMC), Amal Al-Watan Center for Development (AAW), and Al Malwiya Relief Foundation for Development (ARFD)), to provide training to victims of violence in small business development. The Marla Fund assists innocent victims of military operations or terrorist activities from Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninawa, and Salah ad Din provinces. The recent training provided seven such victims from each province (28 in total) with the tools they need to become successful small business owners and managers. As well as training in bookkeeping, inventory control, logistics, management, local sources of microfinance and other key business skills, a former Marla…

PROTECTION ASSISTANCE AND REINTEGRATION CENTER (PARC) IN CAMP & NON-CAMP AREAS/ UNHCR PROGRAM PARC team did 3 filed visits in non-camp area for 22 families and their needs were identified. PARC referred 10 different cases of SAS and old refugees to different institutions that Harikar has coordination with for providing them with assistance and services. Legal assistance has been provided for 17 cases of camp and non-camp Syrian Asylum Seekers and Turkish refugees. PARC CSA with UNHCR/Erbil colleagues conducted a focus group discussion in Duhok/ Shakhke for 20 individuals (10 Males & 10 Females). The topic was about how to get information on registration and NGOs. CSA visited a vulnerable family in Duhok/ Grebase which was recommended by UNHCR for…

Mercy hands for Humanitarian Aid had conducted 3 days training for school directors and teachers of rehabilitate and reform house / Palestine Str./ Baghdad in city council hall From 10 April 2014 to 12 April 2014, aiming at training participants about how to deal with dropout children , this is one of activities of learning a child program in partnership with UNESCO and ministry of Education.

On the 28th of May,2014 Mercy hands for Humanitarian Aid conducted Media Conference in Ruken Kahramana Hotel (Baghdad – Karadah ) for " Educate A Child " initiative in collaboration with UNESCO and coordination with Ministry of Education , Many representatives attended from Baghdad provincial council, ministry of Public Education ( the advisers , ministry of Education , ministry of planning , ministry of labor and social affairs) and representative of the UNESCO , UNAMI with number of non-governmental organizations and satellite channels (educational Iraq , Iraqi second , Radio Sawa) the conference included speaking for UNESCO representative – MOE representative and mercy hands for humanitarian Aid programs director followed by demonstration of the program Activities by the program manager…

Waterkeepers Iraq has just released two important reports on the water quality of rivers in Iraq. The Tigris River Flotilla report documents the increasing pollution seen in the Tigris River observed in a trip down the Tigris River from Southeast Turkey to southern Iraq that took place in the fall of 2013. Also the RiverWatch 2013 Report Card is the first effort of its kind in Iraq or the region to grade rivers in northern Iraq based on their water quality. This report noted an alarming decline in water quality in just a four year period. Both reports are available at www.iraqwaterkeeper.org. Both reports are currently in English but translated versions are under preparation. Waterkeepers Iraq is a major program…