Iraq

Number of people served: 74,759

There has been an ongoing, widespread issue of human displacement in Iraq since the 1960’s. Currently, 1 out of every 10 Iraqis is internally displaced. Under the Ba’athist regime, many Iraqis, particularly those from Kurdistan were displaced. The Ba’athist regime, the 2003 invasion of Iraq by U.S. military forces, and the rise of ISIS has displaced thousands. At the end of 2017, some 2.6 million people were displaced inside Iraq. 

Our work in Iraq

JRS Iraq operates two community centers in Duhok for displaced Yazidi people. In addition to providing home visits, educational support, and livelihood training, JRS staff provide psychosocial care to the IDPs and refugees in the area, many of whom have serious mental health issues. In the Ankara and Ozal community centers near Erbil, JRS Iraq provides IDPs with art and recreation activities, formal and informal education, psychosocial care and support, and vocational skills training.  

Education Education is a life-saving intervention that helps displaced children and families to see beyond their displacement.
Education
Psychosocial and Pastoral Support Displaced people often experience trauma due to their displacement. These services aim to meet the variety of complex spiritual and psychosocial needs.
Psychosocial and Pastoral Support
Livelihoods Livelihoods programs and opportunities focus on empowerment, self-reliance, and sustainability.
Livelihoods

Sr Raja conducts home visits to assess the needs of the families living in the informal settlements of Erbil.
An Iraqi father spends some time with his children outside their “home” in an informal settlement in Erbil.
Girls attend a class at the JRS center in Kasnazan.

Contact

JRS Iraq Country Director:

Joseph Cassar 

Contact info:

iraq@jrs.net  

Project locations:

Duhok, Erbil 

 

Visit the JRS MENA Website