May 6, 2024
News
After fleeing ISIS's invasion in the city of Sinjar in the north of Iraq, Kaasim found refuge in Duhok in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, where he has settled with his family. Now, Kaasim faces the challenge of rebuilding his life amidst the difficulties of displacement. Caritas Czech Republic supports Iraqis like Kaasim, offering them essential assistance and opportunities for a better future.
After ISIS attacked his hometown, Kaasim had to find new safe haven
Kaasim is a 47-year-old Iraqi who has been displaced from his home for the past ten years. Now he lives in the city of Duhok in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq and shares a home with his three young children, his wife, his parents, sister, and other people.
When the so-called Islamic State invaded Kaasim’s hometown of Sinjar in 2014, he and his family were forced to flee to safety. During this time, ISIS systematically attacked and terrorised the local population. This led to the death of thousands of people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of others, including Kaasim and his wife. In 2024, there are still more than 1.16 million Iraqis internally displaced due to the war. The violence from the war also deeply affected Kaasim's sister. She suffers from mental health issues because of the trauma caused by the shooting and explosions.
After fleeing, Kaasim's family found shelter in a refugee camp in the north city of Zakho near the Turkish border, before arriving in Duhok.
The only thing we really need is work, says Kaasim on the struggle to find stability
The war not only destroyed Kaasim’s home but also his livelihood. When he lived in Sinjar, he made a good income working as a labourer. He used to earn 500,000 dinars per month, which amounts to approximately 8500 Czech crowns or 339 euros.
In the aftermath of the war, it is difficult for him to provide for his family. He is struggling to make ends meet because there are no job prospects. “No one in the family works. My father is looking for work without success,” Kaasim shares with us. Yet, in light of the situation, Kaasim feels safe in Duhok.
Kaasim knew they could not return to Sinjar because of the security situation. The so-called Islamic State also destroyed their home and they had nowhere to come back to. Despite being displaced, they were able to build themselves a house in Duhok. However, they can be evicted at any moment as it is built on someone else’s property. For the time being, they found an agreement with the owner to stay on site.
Nonetheless, they are living in precarious conditions. During the winter, temperatures in the region can drop below zero, with very strong and cold winds. The family cannot afford to equip themselves with materials to heat their home or even to use the gas stove. They only have thick blankets to keep themselves warm at night.
To bring them more comfort and to help equip their home, Caritas Czech Republic provided Kaasim and his family with latrines. We also supplied a repair kit, which they used to build an extra room onto their house. For now, it serves as a storage area.
How Caritas Czech Republic supports Iraq's recovery
Caritas Czech Republic has been working in Iraq since 2015. To ensure good living conditions despite the war, we provided shelter to people like Kaasim, who have lost their homes.
Today, Caritas Czech Republic supports Iraqis to rebuild their livelihoods by creating new jobs, supporting young people with internships to enter the job market, providing financial grants to help professionals develop their activities, and offering training to enhance their skills.
