Integral raised a Disaster Alert for the growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq on 12th August 2014. To date Integral has hosted seven teleconferences in order to facilitate Members sharing their operational and communication activities in the region.
Photo: Medair/Stella Chetham
Currently 13 Integral Members have joined together for this response: CEDAR Fund (Hong Kong), Food for the Hungry (US), Integra (Slovakia), Medair (Switzerland), Mission East (Denmark), SEL France, Tear Netherlands, Tearfund Belgium, TEAR Fund (New Zealand), Tearfund (UK), Transform Aid (Australia), World Relief (US), and World Renew (US/Canada).
Out of those, three Members are operational and are gathering teams for their intervention in this crisis; a further two Members are supporting a common partner in northern Iraq working with Kurdish refugees and all have launched fundraising campaigns in their respective countries.
Jan Eyre, Integral’s Disaster Management and Programme Coordinator, says; “Being part of this Integral response means that Members can share information and communication resources on our dedicated website. The aim of this increased coordination is to see if we can work on a common strategy that will leverage more funds for our Members. The Integral Disaster Relief process also enables those without direct field contact to launch fundraising appeals in their own countries and consider seconding staff. It is undoubtedly the case we can achieve more together than as single organisations.”
Mark Screeton, Medair’s International Director says,“In response to the present needs, Medair teams are preparing to quickly distribute 8,400 emergency food rations and more than 2,000 emergency family kits, including mattresses, blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, floor mats, pillows, ropes, buckets, laundry soap and hand soap, to affected families. Being part of a global Integral response means that we can send more resources to where they are most needed with the aim of assisting more people, particularly as colder weather approaches. When faced with such immense need in a very challenging operating environment it becomes even more important to work together to maximise our individual responses.”
The United Nations estimates that there are 1.8 million displaced people in northern and central Iraq. Many are seeking refuge in construction sites, schools, or makeshift shelters scattered around the cities. The need for humanitarian assistance grows daily as fighting continues and human rights violations persist particularly for the country’s minority groups (source and more info here).
