DORCAS and REACH partner under the IHPF

Since the 10th of June 2014, Mosul, the second largest city of Iraq, has been under control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). During this time, the continuing escalation of violence has resulted in the forced displacement of over half a million people. It is estimated that around 1.2 million people are still living in the city and 800,000 others are residing in the surrounding villages along the Ninewa province.

In March 2016, the Iraqi military forces stated their intention to gain control over the surrounding areas of the city in order to attempt a big impact military offensive against ISIL and liberate Mosul in the months after. It is highly likely that this anticipated operation will result in mass casualties and fatalities among civilians, as well as the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands and their arrival to areas in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

The military offensive on Mosul will have a devastating impact on the civilian population. It is expected that up to 1.5 million people will be affected. It is foreseen that civilians being forcibly displaced during the liberation offensive in Mosul will be highly dependent on humanitarian assistance delivered by international and national organizations.

Additionally, it is expected that the people able to escape Mosul, will have to leave their possessions behind, leading to immense humanitarian needs in terms of health, WASH, emergency shelter, Non-Food Items (NFI) and food security among others.

The Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund is a multi-donor humanitarian financing instruments managed by UNOCHA. The Mosul Flash Appeal was launched in July 2016 as a call for partners to ensure a rapid and adequate response to the expected Mosul displacement. Dorcas and REACH were selected by UNOCHA as partners and received 496,000 dollar to conduct preparedness activities to ensure the NFI, health and food needs of the 44,295 newly displaced Mosul IDP’s will be addressed.

Dorcas and REACH will procure food parcels ensuring 22,320 individuals with essential food support. These food parcels will be ready to be distributed upon beginning of the military offensive on Mosul as first-line response within the emergency phase. The partners will support 10,500 individuals with NFI support through the acquisition and preposition of 1,750 comprehensive NFI kits including winterization items. 11,475 individuals will be supported by the Mobile Medical Teams, providing 13,500 consultations. Preparing to respond with medical mobile teams is highly needed, as the IDP’s will have limited access to hospitals or health clinics.

Dorcas Project Manager Efrain Guzman says: “It is a pleasure to establish good working relationships with REACH and together support the people in need. Joining forces between organisations (international and national) is an added value for both parties since we can learn from each other, complement each other’s activities and therefore provide better quality support for people fleeing from Mosul.”

Both Dorcas and REACH have extensive experience in humanitarian action in Iraq. The activities under the IHPF build on the past experiences of both organizations and facilitates the expansion of the services provided to the people in need. Dorcas and REACH aim to prepare and preposition resources in order to ensure a rapid response, thereby alleviating the suffering of newly displaced people.

10 November 2016