April 24, 2023
News
The Nineveh region in northern Iraq is one of the most fertile in the country. But the conflict with the self-proclaimed Islamic State has devastated much of the area and people who have returned to their homes after the war are having to start from scratch. We are supporting vulnerable communities in the region to get back on their feet.
Female-headed households are among the most vulnerable
Wafaa Samir left her home region when it was invaded by the so-called Islamic State. She fled with her family to a safer part of Iraq. After the war, she decided to return home, but upon her return she struggled to support herself and her family. Wafaa is a single mother and her whole family depends on her. "When I came back, I couldn't find a job, so I started thinking about starting my own business," recalls Wafaa. Through a friend, she learned about Caritas Czech Republic’s project to help Iraqi communities learn business skills and set up their own businesses. "I applied and was accepted into the course," Wafaa says happily.
During the four-week training, Wafaa learned how to estimate demand and create her own business plan, budget and overall business strategy. Ms. Wafaa is one of twenty women in the city of Qaraqosh who participated in our training and received funding to start their own business. Female-headed households are not rare in this region. But they are also among the most vulnerable groups. We are therefore helping women in northern Iraq to increase their income so that they can provide for themselves and their loved ones.
War and climate change pose a major challenge
The Nineveh region in northern Iraq is still struggling heavily with the effects of war. The area was devastated during the conflict, and people returning to their homes are now faced with destroyed homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. Nineveh is also the area with the highest number of internally displaced people and returnees in all of Iraq, which only compounds the lack of livelihoods and high levels of poverty. Despite being a very fertile area, Nineveh is not exempt from the effects of climate change and the region is suffering from a huge water shortage, which is having a dramatic impact on local farmers.
Returnees have not forgotten their past or their pre-conflict occupations and are working hard to rebuild what has been lost. Caritas Czech Republic is helping them to do just that, thanks to the financial support of Czech Christians who have contributed to the church collection.
Caritas Czech Republic is supporting local communities in northern Iraq in three areas. In addition to the aforementioned support for women's self-sufficiency, we also focus on strengthening the resilience of farmers affected by war and drought and facilitating access to education.
The impact of climate change on farmers
The war has also been a disaster for Iraqi farmers. The self-proclaimed Islamic State has left behind devastated fields and farms and destroyed businesses. The impact of climate change, especially the severe drought, is complicating efforts to rebuild their farms. Caritas Czech Republic is helping farmers to adapt to the changing climate and maintain production. We provide farmers with practical training, as well as large-scale irrigation systems and other equipment, including drought-resistant seeds.
Khalil Boulos Yono is one of the 30 farmers supported. He comes from a family of farmers and generations of his ancestors have been farming. He is now passing on his knowledge to his children. "When the area was liberated from the Islamic State, we ourselves had no chance to regain what we had lost. That's why I was so excited when I heard about Caritas' project," says Mr Khalil happily. He particularly praised the professionalism with which the project was conducted and its social impact. "I learned a lot during the training, but most importantly I was able to share my experience with others. Thanks to the help of Caritas Czech Republic, I can now provide for my family's basic needs and start farming again."
Education increases chances of employment
The complicated situation in the region and the limited possibilities to secure a sufficient source of livelihood have also had an impact on the local students. Especially those from vulnerable families cannot afford the costs of university studies, which include food, transport and other necessities related to their studies. Through scholarships and transport allowances, Caritas Czech Republic supported 41 vulnerable students at Mosul University. Thanks to the financial contribution, the students are able to provide for their basic living needs and continue their studies.
Caritas Czech Republic staff in Iraq work closely with representatives of the local church in Qaraqosh, particularly in identifying the needs of the local communities and selecting specific beneficiaries. This has helped to ensure that the support provided goes to those most in need. The representatives of the local church expressed their sincere thanks for the Czech assistance to the Christian communities in Iraq. The Caritas Czech Republic team plans to continue its work in the region in the years to come, helping to sustainably rebuild the affected villages and towns.
We are helping vulnerable communities in northern Iraq thanks to the support of the Czech Bishops' Conference.
