Help for Refugees

On the occasion of International Refugee Day on
June 20th, the alliance organization of Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft Handicap International (HI) 
emphasizes that the aid for refugees and displaced 
persons with disabilities in many refugee camps 
is insufficient.

Vulnerable groups need targeted support
Many have health problems and have to deal with the 
aftermath of bombing raids or accidents, as well as 
traumatic experiences when fleeing.

People with disabilities, pregnant women or the elderly 
need specific support. However, it is often 
particularly difficult for them to get food, relief 
supplies and medical aid.

This is how Handicap International helps refugees with disabilities
"Refugees and internally displaced persons with 
disabilities are often overlooked. They often live 
in precarious circumstances," Managing 
Director of Handicap International Germany emphasizes.

"We ensure barrier-free access to vital services, 
provide wheelchairs or prostheses that have often been 
lost when fleeing, and support traumatized victims with 
psychological help." 

In 2022 alone, HI helped around 380,000 refugees and 
360,000 internally displaced persons in a total of 35 
countries, including Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, 
Pakistan, South Sudan and Thailand, with comprehensive 
rehabilitation measures and projects for inclusive education 
and training as well as with the expansion of barrier-free 
access to relief measures.

Many refugee camps have become permanent
According to the UN, more than 100 million people worldwide 
had to flee from war, violence and persecution in 2022 alone. 
The climate catastrophe, rising living costs, an impending 
global economic recession and protracted conflicts are the 
main reasons for this increase in refugees and displaced 
persons. An increasing number of internally displaced 
persons are also among the refugees.

Many refugee camps have existed for decades and still have 
to take in more people - in many cases they have become 
permanent. The camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, for example, 
have existed since 1997 and are now home to 1 million people, 
most of whom are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

There are seven camps in Gambella, Ethiopia, housing over 
500,000 people as of 2017. The Kakuma camp in Kenya has 
existed since 1992 and is home to 800,000 people.
Nobody flees voluntarily. And everyone has the right to 
protection and security. Our strong alliance of more than 
20 aid organizations helps worldwide.

Thank you for your donation!

Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: Rescue from the first hour
Thanks to your donation, helpers can be there immediately when people suddenly
find themselves in great need. Just like on the Turkish-Syrian border due to 
the devastating earthquakes. In such a situation, every minute really counts, 
so that people who have been buried can be rescued quickly and the injured 
can be treated immediately. Thanks to donations our alliance organization 
provides people in the earthquake area with food, drinking water, emergency 
power and warm accommodation. Not only in the earthquake area, but worldwide, 
donations enable us to help people directly.

In addition, we are currently using your donations primarily here:

• In Ukraine, the partners of our organizations continue to provide important 
winter aid. They provide people with stoves, warm clothing and blankets, and 
repair windows and doors to make buildings habitable again.
• In many East African countries, our alliance organizations support people
 who, after years of drought, are no longer able to bring in their own crops. 
The helpers distribute special seeds that grow even when it is dry, so that 
the farmers can finally harvest again. In addition, together with local partners, 
they are building water reservoirs and new wells so that there is enough water 
available even in dry times.
• In Yemen, which is plagued by civil war, our alliance organizations have 
been providing emergency aid for many years. Families receive medical care 
and are given food and drinking water. Due to mines and duds, there are many 
people with disabilities. They get prostheses so they can walk again. In this 
way, many can again provide for their own livelihood.

Your solidarity with people worldwide gives hope!

Thank you for supporting children, women and men in emergency situations. Sudden 
disasters put people in great distress. Your donation helps show them they are not 
alone! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your commitment.

"When spring comes, we will be lucky enough to have at least six new lambs," says Sanam happily, gently patting one of the sheep on the back. When the single mother returned to her home town five years ago, she was left with nothing. Today she is a successful small business owner and makes the most popular ghee (clarified butter) in town.


Selected as one of 160 families

Sanam is Yazidi and lives with daughter Dilbreen and son Sorgol near the city of Sinjar in northern Iraq. The small family owns a total of 22 sheep and five goats. The family is able to make a living from the sale of the milk and the self-produced yoghurt. Sanam started with almost two dozen animals, some food and building material for a fence. 
As one of 160 families, she was selected by our alliance organization ASB. Above all, the helpers wanted to help widows and people with disabilities with their program in Sinjar to be able to build a self-determined life after their return.

With 15 refugees in one tent

When the Islamic State (IS) attacked the city of Sinjar on the night of August 3, 2014, Sanam and her children had no choice but to flee: they left their house and their livestock behind. Her husband and her brother's sons were killed by IS. The family found shelter in Sardashte, where they stayed in a refugee camp.
They had to share a tent with another 15 refugees for three years. A return was not considered until 2017, when the Kurdish forces had liberated Sinjar from IS. But the once deserted hometown was hardly recognizable on arrival: "Almost all the houses had been destroyed or burned, the streets were devastated and the animals were stolen," recalls Sanam.

  

The best ghee in Sinjar

For the past two years, the ASB, one of our alliance organizations, has been supporting Sanam in expanding her small livestock business. In addition to preserved animals and material, she was able to attend a training course where she learned important basics about starting small businesses, animal husbandry and bookkeeping. Today, Sanam's products are very popular.
Her neighbor Nawaf, who sells agricultural products from the region in a small shop, is enthusiastic about her goods. "Sanam makes the best ghee in Sinjar," he says.


Sanam looks to the future with hope

"I'm very grateful that the ASB and Aktion Deutschland Hilft gives me this opportunity. Finally I don't have to worry anymore that my children have to go to sleep with an empty stomach," says the young mother.
In the meantime, Sanam's business is doing so well that she can save a few things. At some point she would like to buy a piece of land and build a small house for herself and her children. "Although I miss my husband a lot, I look to the future with hope," says Sanam confidently today.

The ASB is part of the alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft.

After war, persecution and trauma in their homeland, refugees experience kicks, beatings and humiliation at the EU’s external borders. Recent media reports document the renewed numerous illegal deportations from the EU at the Croatian-Bosnian border.

“The recent reports of violent push-backs are shocking to many, but just because this time they were captured on video. Around one third of all refugees who flee to the EU via the so called Balkan route come from Afghanistan and have experienced war, persecution and violence in their country. How can it be that these People, Families and women with infants in their arms, are being beaten out of the EU with batons? This violence is a failure of the local authorities, but also of the entire European Union. ” says a member organization of the alliance Aktion Deutschland Hilft.

According to the International Organization for Migration, there are currently around 4,000 refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with at least 1,100 of them reportedly staying in unofficial shelters. The actual number of refugees is likely significantly higher. In 2020 alone, the Danish Refugee Council documented around 16,000 cases of illegal push-backs across the Croatian-Bosnian border.

"With the help of our partner organizations, we distribute food, hygiene kits and drinking water along the escape routes in Bihac and Tuzla, and provide safe shelter for vulnerable people for a short time. But this is barely enough to meet the most basic needs of a few refugees," reports a member organization.

Thank you for supporting the work of our Alliance with your donation!