Mariam from Iraq is 23 years old, widowed, mother of four children - fled Islamic State while pregnant

Image above: Happy children with bread

Image right: Iraqi refugees - like the 23-year-old widow - receive emergency aid

She smiles bravely despite her frozen hands as she shares her story of how she escaped - and her gratitude for the help.

"It was the middle of the night when we had to leave our house in Mosul. Even though we were prepared and had packed some things for an emergency, I couldn't carry more than my children, and they are the most important thing I have."

Escaped while pregnant

"My husband, my father and my three brothers were killed. My mother died on the road. I don't think she could take the pain anymore. I was pregnant at the time, but I had to be strong for my children. At first we didn't even have a place to stay, so we slept in the open air in a park. We only had the clothes we were standing in. We slept on sand floors.

Image right: It's cold in the mountains - good thing babies can get clothes to keep them warm.

After we were registered as refugees, we finally got a place in a school. We slowly got used to living in such squalid conditions and in improvised, informal dwellings such as construction sites or classrooms. construction sites or classrooms. When you come from a wealthy family and are used to living in a villa, it's a big change!

But we are grateful for the generosity of the strangers who help us and provide us with daily necessities.

People from the church donated three mattresses and four blankets for my family. It gave us a sense of security to be able to wrap ourselves in the blankets and not have to sleep on the bare floor.

Had to leave the schools when winter came - deported to the mountains

When the Kurdish schools finally opened late in December, we all had to leave the school building. Together with 200 other families, we were relocated to a small village in the mountains. We were deported, luckily not knowing yet that aid was not being sent to such remote places.

Sometimes it seemed like we had been forgotten. Some of the 200 families moved into a construction site in an unfinished house with no windows and had to sleep on icy concrete floors. Others found shelter in flimsy tents. But at least we had our mattresses. It was OK as long as it didn't rain. But as soon as it started raining, everything got wet and we had no way to dry our stuff.

As it got colder in the mountains, we became even more vulnerable as we were living high up there in the cold mountains. For days we had no help. We felt abandoned and desperate.

We got clothes, warm blankets, stove and fuel

Finally, a truck arrived. The children got excited and started shouting as they ran towards the truck. We were so happy that someone had finally taken the time to rent a truck and, despite the long distance and the difficult mountain roads, had come to bring us food and water. We also received winter clothes, jackets, shawls and warm blankets. We were given a stove and fuel. Just in time, as we soon realized that the large relief organizations were concentrating on the big cities, but that the refugees who ended up in small villages and remote areas were being neglected.

We don't lose heart

The Christian relief workers who finally came to help us was a sign from God that He had not forgotten us or abandoned us, and He sent His angels in the form of these men. So we would not lose heart!

"17 children died in a single night"

But soon there was another challenge: the snow started to fall thickly. The steep mountain roads were covered in ice and very slippery, making it impossible for the truck to move forward. For many days, there were no food supplies.

Later we heard from my sister who lives in another village nearby: "17 children died in a single night due to freezing temperatures and lack of food". No one can understand what these parents must go through. The loss and pain is unbearable. Winter is especially hard for refugees because it's so cold. Children and the elderly get sick. Tents and houses need to be protected from the elements.

Image right: You help bring smiles to the faces of these beautiful children.

We are grateful for the help

Thick, warm blankets, waterproof sheets, stoves and fuel and other winter supplies are needed. We need food, better shelter, warm clothes, clean water and medicine to get us through the many challenges of this first winter away from home. But we are very grateful for all the help we have received!

Facts and figures

Donors to the Danish European Mission have made significant contributions to Christians and other minority refugees in Iraq. The Iraqi refugees are deeply grateful for this support. Between September and January, around 8,000 refugees have received regular emergency aid thanks to the loving support from Denmark.