QRCS Distributes Winter Aid For Displaced Iraqis

Doha, 14 Jumadal Awwal 1437/ 22 February 2016 (MINA) – Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) mission in Iraq is proceeding with relief efforts to help internally displaced people (IDPs) withstand the cold winter, with new winterisation aid distributions worth $69,300 (QR 252,258) as part of the Warm Winter 2015-2016 campaign.

Executed in partnership with the Al Amal Al Manshood Organisation for Relief and Development, the project involved distribution of 4,950 blankets to 1,650 families (10,000 people) in IDP camps in Al Anbar Governorate — Amiriyat Al Fallujah (3,750 blankets) and Khalidiya and Habbaniya (600 each). The beneficiaries were selected from the most vulnerable groups of IDPs, widows, orphans and the destitute who fled the violence in their home towns.

Among challenges that faced the project team were having to transport the blankets in stages, using new trucks each time, and incurring redoubled cost due to insecurity in the hot zones but QRCS personnel conducted the work and delivered the aid to target families.

During distribution, the beneficiaries praised QRCS efforts to provide them with the aid in time to protect their lives against the severe cold.

Because of the war in the hot areas, the numbers of Iraqi IDPs has increased to three million — 75 percent of whom women and children — according to latest official statistics.

Most IDPs have no source of income and live in substandard camps and structures and are vulnerable to chronic diseases due to the too low temperatures.

A few weeks ago, QRCS distributed $494,000 (QR1.8 million) winterisation aid, including blankets, winter clothes and heating material to 6,500 families (39,000 people) in several cities and IDP camps.

QRCS is conducting other relief projects for Iraqi IDPs in Kurdistan, including a water and sanitation initiative to establish a water storage and distribution system in Ashti Iraqi Refugee Camp, Sulaymaniyah, serving 1,312 families (7,900 people) of the camp.(T/hna/ R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)