June 19, 2023
News
Kameran comes from a large family, his dad and grandfather were both farmers. Kameran himself has a wife and four children. The entire family had to flee Bashiqa, near Mosul, in 2014 because of the self-proclaimed Islamic State. They found refuge in the Iraqi Kurdistan town of Duhok.
Fleeing ISIS, they lost everything
Kameran and his family are among the internally displaced persons in Iraq who have fled to other parts of the country to escape the rule of the so-called Islamic State. Many have survived difficult years in Iraqi Kurdistan in the north of the country. Some have already been able to return to their original homes, but many more are still coming.
Kameran’s family spent three years in Duhok in the makeshift conditions of a refugee settlement. Like many other houses, theirs was not equipped with furniture, windows or doors. Thus, their entire life took place on floors and simple mats.
In 2017, after their home region was liberated from ISIS rule, Kameran and his family decided to return to Bashiqa. There they found their original house in a ruined state, the upper floor completely destroyed and many things missing.
Our assistance also includes training and mentoring
In Bashiqa, Kameran originally worked in construction, but upon his return he wanted to return to farming, which was his family's traditional profession. He started growing wheat and barley while working, but the yields were not great. Everything changed when he learned about Caritas Czech Republic's program to support farmers in Iraq.
Caritas Czech Republic helps farmers in Iraq who have returned to areas devastated by ISIS to rebuild their farms. We organise training sessions to introduce farmers to modern farming methods and provide them with basic equipment.
Kameran attended our training and also received a greenhouse, which allows him to grow different types of vegetables such as pumpkins and cucumbers. Today, Kameran harvests four times a year and produces a total of approximately 7 to 8 tonnes of vegetables.
How Caritas Czech Republic helps in Iraq
Caritas Czech Republic has been working in Iraq since 2015 and is gradually shifting its activities from acute humanitarian aid to longer-term programmes. We are helping people rebuild their original livelihoods and create new jobs. For those who have lost their homes, we are helping to provide permanent shelter to improve their living conditions. In the Anbar region, we also focus on improving infrastructure, involving local people.
We are helping farmers in Iraq thanks to funding from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
