Barzani foundation sends aid to flooded IDPs after Mosul mayor's request

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – After the mayor of the Iraqi city of Mosul requested that Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani provide immediate humanitarian assistance to camps housing internally displaced persons (IDP) and area residents affected by flooding, a convoy carrying emergency relief was sent from Erbil.

On Friday, the tents of multiple IDPs in camps in the districts of al-Salamiyah and al-Nimroud, along with the houses of nearby villagers, were damaged either partially or completely by flooding caused by heavy rains. Many of those in the path of flood waters fled.

There have been no reports of human casualties in the immediate area, but significant and widespread damage has been documented to camp tents and villagers’ houses to the south of Mosul, as well property and food stores being washed away.

“We appeal to you in the name of humanity to request the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) to provide humanitarian aid to our people in these camps and villages with relief items such as blankets, and food supplies,” Mayor Zuhair al-Araji stated on his official Facebook page, addressed to Masoud Barzani, former president of the Kurdistan Region and current leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

In late November, the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), based in Erbil, sent aid to dozens of families in the town of Shirqat in Salahuddin Province after torrential rains flooded many houses there.

“You are a person of humanity,” Araji stated, referring to Barzani.

Following Araji’s call, Barzani instructed the BCF to send a large convoy of emergency relief aid to the area, according to Rizgar Obeid, the head of the organization's office in Mosul. 

Mayor Araji also mentioned that many had been evacuated to “safer places” for the time being, though he did not specify where.

Salamiyah and Nimroud camps are located in the town of Hamam al-Alil, south of Mosul. Hundreds of families who have fled from Mosul since the military campaign kicked off to liberate the city from the Islamic State (IS) currently reside there. 

Editing by John J. Catherine