The Issues
We help those displaced by conflict and violence to heal, recover, and begin to rebuild their lives
Conflict and the takeover of large areas of Iraq by ISIS have created a humanitarian emergency.
Thousands of civilians have been murdered and thousands more enslaved by ISIS’s genocidal campaign.
Close to one million people have fled to Kurdistan in search of safety, and now reside in camps and host communities across the region.
Many of those who have made it to Kurdistan witnessed the murder of family members, and have loved ones still in ISIS captivity. Trauma is therefore widespread among displaced men, women, boys and girls.
On top of this, decades of conflict in Iraq have resulted in population-wide trauma.
Local capacity to provide assistance is overstretched, and expertise in mental health is in short supply.
The shame and stigma that exist around mental illness make it even harder for those in need to seek help.
The situation for women and girls is especially difficult because of the violence and discrimination they commonly face.
In many cases, they are not even allowed to leave their tents.
This makes them very isolated, and makes accessing mental health and psychosocial support services very difficult.
