Dutch aid organisations join forces in Iraq

For the fourth time in four years, seven Dutch aid organisations, united in the Dutch Relief Alliance, join forces to provide aid to displaced families in Iraq and those returning. The organisations have been working together in Iraq since 2015 and for the first time expand their aid to more than 42,000 people in the central and western parts of the country. Paul Wolters of Terre des Hommes: ‘IS seems to have been almost defeated in Iraq, but the humanitarian implications of their terror are still overwhelming.’

In 2018, the Dutch Relief Alliance will provide aid to over 42,000 people in the provinces of Anbar, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salahaddin. People traumatised by war receive mental and psychological aid. Clean drinking water and sanitary facilities will improve health and hygiene conditions. Cash grants allow meeting people’s basic needs: buying food or clothes, paying rent or repairing their houses. Communities that have received large numbers of refugees in the last few years will also receive support.

Humanitarian aid urgently needed
Paul Wolters, Coordinator Humanitarian Assistance of Terre des Hommes: ‘In large parts of Iraq the war is over, but millions of people are still dependent on humanitarian aid. Houses, roads and infrastructure have been destroyed or damaged. There is no employment, no clean drinking water and little medical care. Therefore aid provided by the Netherlands, other countries and the United Nations is urgently needed.

Large-scale crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Iraq is one of the world’s main crises. In recent years, millions of people were displaced due to war violence. Although the latest offensives have almost repressed the terrorist organisation Islamic State in Iraq, it also caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee, like for example during the months-long battle to free Mosul. It is currently estimated that 3.17 million Iraqis have been displaced, as shown by figures of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). But those who have not fled, or those who have returned to their homes in the meantime, are also often still in urgent need of assistance. According to the United Nations approximately 11 million people are affected.

Aid provided to 600,000 Iraqis
Since January 2015, the Dutch Relief Alliance has provided aid to over 600,000 Iraqis. In 2018, we will increase our efforts, together with Dorcas, ICCO & Kerk in Actie, Oxfam Novib, Tearfund, World Vision and ZOA. Terre des Hommes is responsible for the coordination. They will work together with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also ensures funding. Each organisation brings their own emergency aid expertise, thus ensuring partners complement each other. The Dutch Relief Alliance was founded in 2014 to ensure swift and effective emergency aid to victims of international humanitarian crises. The DRA has 16 members and is active in 15 countries, including South Sudan, northern Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.

Dutch Relief Alliance
The Dutch Relief Association (DRA) offers swift and effective emergency aid to victims of international crises. The Alliance is a coalition of 16 Dutch NGOs and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also ensures funding of the relief efforts. Terre des Hommes, Dorcas, ICCO & Kerk in Actie, Oxfam Novib, Tear, World Vision and ZOA carry out the emergency aid activities in Iraq.

The DRA members are: CARE Netherlands, Cordaid, Dorcas, ICCO & Kerk in Actie, Oxfam Novib, Plan, Help a Child, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Tear, Terre des Hommes, Netherlands Refugee Foundation, War Child, War Trauma Foundation, World Vision, ZOA and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here for more information.

06 February 2018