In 2024, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah prompted Diaconaat to launch an emergency relief campaign for over a million refugees in the Middle East. Thanks to your generous support, we have since been able to contribute over €60,000 to refugees in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. A peace agreement has recently been reached between the Syrian government and the Kurds in northern Syria. As a result, many refugees have been able to return, though not all. This means, however, that we are now winding down the emergency relief programme.
Results
Local partners and churches provided refugees in northern Iraq with what they needed most: temporary accommodation, food and drink, clothing, blankets, hygiene kits and psychosocial support. The aid reached the most vulnerable, regardless of their background or faith.
Just recently, over 1,200 households received food parcels and 857 households received children’s clothing. It is estimated that the proportion of meals people skip fell from 60% to 15%. In the final part of the grant, the partner funded two items: in June, fuel for a village bakery, which used it to bake bread daily for around 25 villages, thereby reaching over 1,400 families; and in August, five medical procedures for displaced people.
“For the first time in two months, my children have warm clothes and proper meals. I no longer have to make my eldest daughter ask for scraps of bread. This support has given us our dignity back,” says a 34-year-old widow with three children.
Thank you for your support
On behalf of our partner organisations, we would like to thank you warmly for your prayers and your donations. They make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people and give them hope for the future.
We will continue to support refugees through this new project Support for refugee children and trauma care in Kurdistan. Take a look the project page.