Our
team has been back in northern Iraq this past week meeting with local
government, and discussing possibilities of potentially reopening the
emergency room in Hassan Sham U2 camp that would serve all the camps
east of the city of Mosul.
The need is enormous. There are still 15 000 people in zone 1 camps and they have no access to emergency care. Many are unable to return to Mosul as their homes are destroyed and families are gone.
Currently many of the NGOs have left as the war is over, leaving large gaps in services. The government is desperate for help, especially as they will now have to deal with thousands of Kurds fleeing into the country from Northern Syria as well. They’ve welcomed any intervention that would help bridge the gaps.
We will be discussing options over the next few weeks and if we can raise the funds, hope to be able to reopen the facility and recommence emergency services.
It was so good seeing our old patients, friends and colleagues again. Despite all the issues in the region, Iraq is a very special place.
