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Iraq: Voices from Mosul

Published on Thursday 6 December 2018

Since the fall of ISIS in July 2017, Mosul families and services have poured their energy into rebuilding the city. However, scars of three years of occupation remain, slowly shying away from the public eye. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is present around and at the heart of the devastated city since January 2017.

 

Bashir has lived in his house in Mosul for the past fourteen years and refused to leave it during the three years of ISIS occupation. However, war has taken its toll on the family.

In 2017, with the frontline advancing inside the city, Bashir fled with his family. He came back a few months later to find his house looted.

When asked what they need the most, Bashir immediately thinks of his son. Tahar, six years old, has been deeply traumatised by the conflict. He is unable to attend school, having already lost three years of education during the occupation. His parents had refused he attend ISIS schools.

Bashir is thankful for the help he has already received. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has repaired the public water network in his neighbourhood and connected his house to it, providing a tank and plumber.

  • 43.5 million inhabitants
  • 121st out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index
  • 27.749 helped people

Rama looks older than 57. She lives in West Mosul, with her son, his wife and their two kids.

Rama and her family were used as human shields to deter coalition bombings. Her grandson Abdullah has developed a bone condition from the lack of sun and decadent living conditions at this early age.

When Rama came back to her house in Bab Likish, she found a pile of rubble. She is waiting for compensation from the government for her house but harbours little hope. Rama prefers to focus on her family’s immediate needs.

 

Both Bashir and Rama, wish for the children in their care to have better education and lives. All of them ask for help, underline the terrible effect three years of ISIS occupation has had on their lives. It is SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s duty to not only provide relief for families such as theirs, victims of the times, but also to listen to them, and make sure their voices are heard.

 

Both Bashir and Rama, wish for the children in their care to have better education and lives. All of them ask for help, underline the terrible effect three years of ISIS occupation has had on their lives. It is SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL’s duty to not only provide relief for families such as theirs, victims of the times, but also to listen to them, and make sure their voices are heard.

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Photos : Marion BARREAU / SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL