AFSC work with Iraqi Refugees

PeaceAction Montgomery donated the proceeds of its Peace Luncheon in May, 2008 to the American Friends Service Committee, for work with refugees. Here is a statement from AFSC explaining what the money will be used for:

Iraq has suffered through three wars and 13 years of economic sanctions in the last 20 years. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed since the U.S. invasion in 2003, the entire Middle East faces a refugee crisis with more than 4.5 million Iraqis displaced from their homes. We believe it is a long-term crisis that should have the attention of the peace movement in the United States. With partners in the region, we have identified several projects that include peace building efforts. It is our first step in a broader effort to seek ways to heal the wounds of war, both physical and psychological.

By acknowledging and starting to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the US invasion, we are beginning to put the Iraqi people at the center of our thoughts and actions to stop this war. It is part of a long-term process necessary for future reconciliation in both countries.

Rehabilitation Clinics

Many refugees have lost arms or legs in the war, and there is a significant need for clinics that can manufacture and fit prostheses. We are committed to fitting dozens of refugees who live below the poverty line with needed artificial limbs. However, we believe that it’s not enough to provide a prosthetic limb. So AFSC is also providing the psychological and physical therapy to those injured.

Trauma Healing

Many of Iraq’s refugees have witnessed the killing of family members; they’ve seen friends and relatives kidnapped. There is a massive need for trauma healing. Only limited resources are available in Iraq’s neighboring countries. AFSC is supporting efforts helping to identify those who are suffering from the double trauma of war and displacement and to provide them and their families with wellness workshops and peer support.

Helping Women Earn Livelihoods

Making a living is an almost impossible task for Iraqi refugees, many of whom depleted their savings to flee the country. In addition, many of the households are run by women. AFSC is helping provide training in job skills related to food processing for women refugees. The food they process feeds residents of a women's shelter.

Information on Humanitarian Situation

Global Policy Forum

Peacemakers Trust, University of Victoria, Canada

AlertNet: Iraq in Turmoil

Crisis briefings on Iraq. Started in 1997 by Reuters Foundation, Reuters AlertNet is a humanitarian news network aimed at keeping relief professionals and the wider public up-to-date on humanitarian crises around the globe. It has a network of 400 contributing humanitarian organizations and a weekly email digest.

ReliefWeb:

Published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb is an electronic clearinghouse for information on humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):

The ICRC has been present in Iraq since 1980. ICRC promotes compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). ICRC also works to restore contact and exchange of news between separated family members.

Iraqi Red Crescent Society:

See the work of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society on the website of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Development Gateway: Iraq Relief and Recovery

"An online community that shares knowledge on the post-conflict reconstruction and socioeconomic development in Iraq" including reports, news articles and other resources on Iraq-related development projects. This project was launched by the World Bank but today is an independent non-profit organization.

Humanitarian Agenda 2015

Feinstein International Center, Tufts University, USA. An "evidence-based research project that identifies the key issues that are likely to impact on humanitarian action in the coming decade, along with the practical implications of these issues for agency programming."

NGOs Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI)

Was established in April 2003 by a group of NGOs working in Baghdad to provide a forum for coordination of NGO efforts.

Sphere Project

Launched by a group of humanitarian agencies in 1997, this project aims to improve the quality of assistance to people affected by disasters. The Sphere Project has developed a Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in several core areas: water supply & sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter & site planning and health services.

United Nations Agencies

UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch

UNESCO information on Iraq

UNHCHR, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UNHCR, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF in Iraq

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)