In the autonomous region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq, THW has been working since 2013 to ensure that refugees from Syria and internally displaced Iraqis have safe places to find shelter. The THW measures are designed to have a sustainable effect, which is why the organisation is training the residents and promoting social involvement.
The priority task for THW mission is to construct and repair infrastructure relating to water supply and wastewater disposal in seven camps. “CMR Teams” (Construction, Maintenance and Repair) see THW operatives working together with local staff to visit households in the camps to find out where sanitary facilities need attention.
Camp Cleaning Days in Qushtapa and Basirma
In addition to its infrastructure work, THW is also promoting social involvement: one example is the monthly Camp Cleaning Days (CCD) that it organises. This involves the residents in cleaning their camps and discovering how they can ensure hygiene and environmental protection standards are upheld. In Camp Qushtapa in mid-February, 74 volunteers from all age groups took part in the CCD. Led by a group of girls wearing traditional Kurdish clothing, the volunteers (men, women and children) set off through the camp’s streets with their gloves, rubbish bags and cleaning materials. These cleaning-up activities also showed how well they can work together.
In Basirma, the February CCD was also a resounding success with some 110 participants. Led by the THW team, the residents readily became involved and helped out voluntarily with the cleaning work. The team was supported by staff from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Italian aid organisation INTERSOS and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
Germany’s Humanitarian Ambassador Abroad
For more than 60 years, the volunteers of THW have been carrying out missions across the world. They are regularly in action for the benefit of suffering people – such as those who had to leave their home regions for political reasons. These humanitarian principles are currently being put into action by THW in the region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. It is working closely with the Kurdish regional government and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
At present, the THW is supporting the following refugee camps in northern Iraq:
• Kawergosk
• Qushtapa
• Basirma
• Darashakran
• Arbat IDP (work here is being completed)
• Arbat Refugee
• Akre