Syria's civil war began in 2011, killing hundreds of thousands of people and forcing millions more to flee their homes. More than a decade later, the Syrian refugee crisis remains one of the largest in the world. While many displaced people remain in Syria, 5 million have fled the country, including to the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq. Peace Winds is working to aid the roughly 250,000 Syrian refugees living there through vocational programs and support for those with disabilities.
Syrians living in refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region (KRI) face a number of challenges from financial insecurity, substandard housing, and isolation from local host communities. These challenges are even worse for vulnerable groups such as refugees with disabilities and female-headed families-groups that are less likely to find stable work. Refugees with disabilities can be particularly isolated from the community, and homes and public areas are often unsafe or inaccessible to them.
Since 2018, Peace Winds has been working to make shelters and refugee camps safer for persons with disabilities by making accessibility modifications to homes and public spaces. We are also working with local organizations to design vocational training courses that help refugees of all abilities enter the local workforce. With your help, Peace Winds is raising funds to distribute wheelchairs to disabled refugees who don't otherwise have access to them.
Syrian refugee camps in Erbil and Duhok are more accessible thanks to modifications like wheelchair ramps, handrails, widened doorways, and accessible toilets and showers. Providing refugees with new mobility aids will ensure they can take advantage of these and safely navigate their homes and communities for years to come.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
