Helping displaced people survive the brutal winter in Iraq

April 15, 2023 Iraq -

20 years on from military incursion and subsequent years of occupation, Iraq continues to face significant humanitarian challenges.

The country is continuing to feel the effects of decades of violent conflict with an estimated 4.1 million Iraqis in need of humanitarian assistance.

There are around 1.2 million internally displaced Iraqis

Nearly 5 million formerly internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their homes in recent years. More often than not these returnees live in substandard conditions and require assistance to meet basic needs.

On top of this, there are still around 1.2 million Iraqis who remain internally displaced. Approximately half of all people displaced inside Iraq are children.

The winter months are the most difficult for displaced families, as many live in makeshift shelters or temporary settlements that offer little protection from the harsh winter conditions.

The winter months in Iraq can be brutal, with temperatures in the country often dropping below zero leaving millions at an increased risk of contracting conditions such as respiratory diseases, frostbite and hypothermia.

 

A precarious situation

Over 10,000 individuals have benefitted from this project

Baridya struggles to cover the costs of feeding her 6 children. Based in eastern Al Anbar Governate, she lives and works on a farm and receives alimony from her ex-husband. However, with the spiralling costs of products and medical bills to cover treatment for one of her daughters who suffers with a congenital disease, Baridya can barely afford to make ends meet.

Although Baridya lives on the farm where she works and has access to toilet facilities on site, conditions are still tough, with herself and her family relying on a nearby river for drinking water.

Bardiya is unable to afford health services so her daughter can get the treatment she needs. The family’s precarious financial situation has also forced several of Bardiya’s children to drop out of school.

As last winter approached, Baridya was increasingly concerned with how she would keep her family warm.

Providing winter necessities 

Islamic Relief’s winterisation project was operating in Al Anbar Governate and Baridya’s family was among those that received life-saving kit comprising of mattresses, blankets, a Kerosene heater and fuel for the heater.

The Islamic Relief life-saving kits comprise of mattresses, blankets, a Kerosene heater and fuel for the heater

“I was worried that I would not be able to provide winter necessities because of the inflated prices and the difficulty of finding a job that would meet my family’s needs,” Bardiya says.

“However, this material completely satisfied my needs. It also provided me with an income that enabled me to buy clothes for my children.”

Through our seasonal Winterisation project, Islamic Relief have been able to reach over 2,200 families in Iraq alone and provide them with the basic materials they need during the cold season.

Over 10,000 individuals have benefitted from this project, including families in the highly vulnerable Halabja Governorate, where a limited number of humanitarian agencies, including International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs), are implementing their programmes to deliver aid to the people most in need, with support from Islamic Relief.

Significant hurdles

Despite Islamic Relief’s support, the Iraqi people continue to face significant hurdles.

Among displaced people, the lack of access to civil documentation is a huge challenge. With the huge levels of migration and displacement in Iraq over the past 20 years, many individuals lack the necessary documentation to access basic public services such as education, healthcare, and social security benefits.

Islamic Relief have been able to reach over 2,200 families in Iraq through our winterisation project

Missing civil documentation, a concerningly common problem in Iraq, provides roadblocks for displaced Iraqi’s when accessing the already brittle infrastructure, lack of basic health services and scarcity of economic opportunities. These are major obstacles for families trying to make ends meet and can so often lead to secondary or tertiary displacements, exacerbating the problems faced by IDPs.

This has had a significant knock-on effect with hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis unable to return home.

Islamic Relief has been operating in Iraq since 1997 and was one of the few international aid agencies that continued supporting communities throughout military incursions and conflict.

Over 2 decades we have provided emergency aid, as well as longer-term support, helping people to get back on their feet.

By donating, you can help us support Iraqis to resume their lives after years of violent disruption. Donate today.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.