In Northern Iraq, the government has provided military escorts to the local relief teams supported by donors of the Danish European Mission to get through the many checkpoints during the COVID-19 lockdown. There were also escorts for food purchases and transportation between towns.
The distribution of food and hygiene items is crucial as the government is short of funds and fears social unrest if people go hungry. The Christian relief teams help the poorest of the poor, minorities and Christians in remote areas.
The government wanted the food distribution to continue. In this way, the church can bring hope and contribute to stability in a time of crisis. For several years, the church in Iraq has faced a lot of resistance from Islamists, including bomb attacks and Islamic State brutality - but especially in the Kurdish autonomous areas, the church has a certain freedom, and the authorities see it as a credible and long-term partner, not least in this time.