Image: Despite widespread destruction, the rising generation has hope for the future
However, many of the homes and villages of Christians and other minorities were either heavily damaged or destroyed during the Mosul offensive, leaving the refugees with little to return to. That's why the Danish European Mission is launching this project to make it possible for the displaced to return home.
According to UN estimates, there are currently around 3.3 million refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq. Most of the internally displaced people have found refuge in the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq. Since the beginning of the retaking of Mosul in October 2016, another 150,000 people were forced to flee the combat zone.
Migration to the West or rebuilding communities?
Many refugees living in UN camps and informal shelters in northern Iraq are extremely challenged, both financially and personally. The most important decision they have to make in this situation is whether to try to emigrate to the West or return to their hometowns as soon as possible. Emigration is not an easy option as learning a country's language, becoming part of society and gaining a foothold in the labor market can take a long time. However, if they choose to return home, they can resume farming around the villages they were displaced from and become familiar with the local language and culture.
Crucial to this decision is whether it is safe to return to their cities, which is now possible. The first ethnic minority that has shown a willingness to return home as a group are the Caka, one of the smallest of the many displaced minorities in northern Iraq. Hopefully, the courage of the Kakais to return can motivate and inspire others to return home and their desire must be supported in every way.
Image: The most important decision they have to make in this situation is whether to try to emigrate to the West or rebuild their hometowns with our help.
There are currently around 1500 Kakai families, equivalent to around 10,500 people, temporarily staying around Erbil in northern Iraq, and their desire for a swift return to their homeland was encouraged by the progress the Iraqi army has made in fighting Islamic State terrorist forces, who have now been driven out of the Kakai villages east of Mosul.
However, the desire to return home risks crumbling as the first returnees have reported widespread destruction of their homes, infrastructure and public buildings. Amidst the devastation, it's encouraging that local Christian relief and development workers we support will help the displaced rebuild the liberated villages.
Action plan
The repatriation plan includes three phases:
- Repair of access roads to and within the villages of Tell al-Laban, Kuzahkan, Wardak and Al-Majidia, as well as electricity and water supply.
- Strategically important buildings are refurbished:
a. five schools
b. and two smaller medical clinics. - Families are provided with building materials to repair or rebuild 750 homes.
Timetable
The timeline for these three phases is: Phase 1-2 will be completed between June and September 2017, being the period between the end of the school year, where the families have taken refuge, and the beginning of the new school year, where they hope to have moved back to. Phase 3 will last until the end of 2017.
Budget
The total cost of the entire project is DKK 8.68 million, which means that it costs an average of DKK 827 to ensure that a displaced Iraqi can return home. Every gift, big or small, makes a positive difference in their lives. You can help refugees return home and warm the hearts of people who have been through so much.
For Christians and displaced people from other backgrounds, the local Christian relief and development workers we support are lighting a light in the darkness ISIS spread - a hope to return home and rebuild their communities where they have lived for generations.
