IRAQ FIELD REPORT - COVID-19 RELIEF PROJECT
Over the years, WCF has provided medical and humanitarian care to Iraqi refugees throughout the region, but last year was the first time we were able to bring a mobile medical team to Northern Iraq itself. We were able to treat 470 patients overall in multiple locations. We worked with an NGO that provides holistic rehabilitation care for Syrian refugees and Yazidi internally displaced persons (IDPs) in various camps. In addition to providing primary medical care, our medical staff worked alongside our partner's staff to do home visits in the camps with various patient families.
All of the new restrictions and lockdowns have caused a major increase in hardships for all the families in the camps. The government has asked the international NGO community to help with basic humanitarian needs as they are overwhelmed.
WCF was able to partner again with local friends to provide Food and Hygiene Care Packages for 65 families in the refugee and IDP camps that they've been able to help over the years through their rehabilitation program
This report is from our friends:
"We have had a very busy week visiting the families in our CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) project and the Food and Hygiene Distribution went very well. This has been a great opportunity to follow up with our clients, check on their progress, and encourage them to continue with their physical therapy exercises. The families were excited to see us and encouraged by our visits. Some of the children with disabilities were filled with joy and laughter when they saw our local staff who they are used to seeing on a regular basis. As we are not able to resume our regular programming due to government restrictions, the distribution was a great way to meet their tangible physical needs and also get to connect with them emotionally, hear their stories, encourage them, and remind them of their value and importance.
The families were moved that people in New York, where the COVID-19 situation is dire, would think about them and give this gift of food and hygiene items to care for their needs in this difficult time. The families expressed their gratitude and send their regards.”
WCF is also working with other ministries in Iraq who are providing Food and Hygiene Care Packages to additional refugee and IDP camps and local villages as well. We will bring an update on this as we can.
Thanks again for joining with us in this important project.
WCF Team
