Winter in Iraq is harsh, especially in the north where temperatures often drop below zero at the higher altitudes. Furthermore most of the IDP’s are living in critical shelter conditions without durable assistance. IBC in cooperation with German Humanitarian Assistance – Deutsche Humanitare Hilfe and German Help, Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. implementing winterization program for most vulnerable IDP groups and host communities in the region by providing food and non-food items, winter clothes and relief blankets.
Refugees, IDPs as well as some parts of host communities in urban locations of Duhok Governorate, due to financial difficulties driven by increases in the cost of living, limited employment prospects and high rents live under very poor conditions. While many Iraqis have found their way to displacement to IDP camps, many of them still living in outdoors such schools, mosques, churches and unfinished buildings. The refugees, IDPs and some parts of poor host communities living in outdoor places, in unfinished buildings are extremely vulnerable due to poor, inadequate food and direct exposure to weather conditions. In the region, the supply of food is still a priority need.
Within the 1st phase of program following objectives have been reached:-
• 1000 children and 300 women received winter clothes including winter coats and boots to secure themselves from harsh winter conditions.
• Relief Blankets that are set of 5, in total 5630 distributed to 1126 IDP and conflict affected families to prevent harsh winter conditions, especially those who live under critical shelter arrangements, non-camp based IDP’s.
The winterization program is concerned to correspond immediate winterization emergency needs including, food and non-food items within the framework of humanitarian assistance for the IDPs and host community members in Northern Iraq, Duhok Governorate who live in border of survival during the winter season.
