UNICEF receives $1.8 million from Isle of Man gov't to support Syrian refugees in Kurdistan

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – UNICEF has received $1.8 million from the Government of the Isle of Man to increase access to quality and integrated Child Protection and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services for Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the UN organization said.

Overall, over 49,995 refugees will be reached through the program, including 21,950 children (50 percent boys and 50 percent girls), 27,900 parents and community members (almost two-thirds female), and 145 social workers and government and partner staff (also two-thirds of them female), UNICEF confirmed.

"The project will reach 12,500 girls and boys with psychosocial activities to help them process their experiences and strengthen their resilience for the future. This support will be provided through community-based centers by trained psychosocial service officers in targeted locations."

"Parents and caregivers will also be supported to identify and manage their own stress and 1,200 men and women will receive parenting education to support protection and care of children," UNICEF added.

"Finally, over 30,000 individuals will be reached through sustainable and community-based child protection and gender-based violence awareness-raising campaigns to mitigate protection risks for children."

Over 241,000 Syrian refugees reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, primarily Syrian Kurds. Women and children represent 68% of the overall registered refugee population in Iraq.

"80 percent of children in Iraq have been exposed to some form of violence. This is alarming and calls for urgent action", said UNICEF Representative in Iraq, Ms. Sheema SenGupta.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation for these children, with these funds we will be able to reach the most in need children with critical services thanks to the Government of the Isle of Man," she added.

The Kurdistan Region hosts over 900,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and refugees. In mid-October 2020, the federal government of Iraq announced a plan to close displacement camps across the country.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said camps in the Region would remain in operation for as long as they were needed. However, it said it required increased international funding to do so.

The necessities for many residents of these camps are provided by the UN, various international organizations, and Iraq's federal government. Still, most of the costs are covered by the KRG.

Iraq has not contributed enough to the displaced person and refugee camps. Despite this, the KRG has continued supporting these facilities.