Through their eyes (English)

THROUGH THEIR EYES: DISPLACEMENT IN IRAQ

International Organization for Migration - Iraq

‫ اﻟـﻌـﺮاق‬- ‫اﳌـﻨـﻈـﻤـﺔ اﻟـﺪوﻟـﻴـﺔ ﻟـﻠـﻬـﺠـﺮة‬ IOM OIM

‫اﻟﻌﺮاق‬ Iraq

THROUGH THEIR EYES:

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DISPLACEMENT IN IRAQ

The displaced are shouting for their voices to be heard.

” International Organization for Migration - Iraq

Written and designed by: The International Organization for Migration (Iraq Mission) Main Office in Baghdad UNAMI Compound DIWAN 2 International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq Tel: +3908 3105 2600 ext. 5857/5928 http://www.iomiraq.net iraqpublicinfo@iom.int IOM Iraq, June 2015

‫ اﻟـﻌـﺮاق‬- ‫اﳌـﻨـﻈـﻤـﺔ اﻟـﺪوﻟـﻴـﺔ ﻟـﻠـﻬـﺠـﺮة‬ IOM OIM

‫اﻟﻌﺮاق‬ Iraq

FOREWORD

T

he stress of living for long, undetermined lengths of time in cramped quarters with little privacy and few personal belongings can be just as distressing as the original event of displacement. In response, IOM Iraq has joined with USAID OFDA to offer psychosocial support to displaced Iraqis.

Since October 2014, IOM Iraq has reached more than 6,000 beneficiaries through the support of three psychosocial mobile teams. IOM Iraq’s psychosocial programme offers individual counseling and cooperative group activities to address the devastating experiences of those who fled violence and lost their homes, livelihoods and, in many cases, loved ones.

As part of this initiative, IOM offered a photography course for 20 displaced youth in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, along with the opportunity to show the world their experiences through a photojournalism exhibition.

The youth chose the photos to be showcased, and through their own words present the situation of Iraq’s most vulnerable displaced. It is their hope, and IOM’s, that those viewing their work will better understand the lives and experiences of the individuals who make up the more than three million displaced in Iraq.

Dr. Thomas Lothar WEISS

Director-Chief of Mission, IOM Iraq June 16, 2015

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These children are thirsty not just for water, but for a normal life.

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Displaced children play in an unfinished building in Erbil.

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Displaced children from Qarakosh and Mosul at Mart Shamooni Church.

Displaced children living in al-Hikma School.

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Displaced children passing the time watching television.

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A displaced woman in Ozal City.

Displaced persons attending worship in Erbil.

You can see how many worries she has, how frustrated she is. Who knows what she is thinking about?

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A displaced woman from Qarakosh living in Mar Elya camp.

A displaced child from Qarakosh living in Mar Elya camp.

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These images reflect the pain and tragedy of an entire people far from home.

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A displaced boy in Ozal City crossing between window and balcony.

Displaced children from the Mosul area near their caravans in Ainkawa.

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Freedom and childhood have been taken from these boys. When will they have them back?

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This little girl put her toys aside and began to clean the floor like an adult. She is so much older than her age.

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A displaced girl at alHikma School in Erbil

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With nothing else to do, the children turn to games to pass the time together.

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Displaced youth passing the time by playing dominos at al-Hikma settlement in Erbil.

Displaced girls in Erbil.

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These children are waiting for hope.

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Displaced children living at Ishtar School bathing together.

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The innocence and joy of children stands out in even the most difficult of circumstances.

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These children used to have more of everything. Now they are forced to make do with what they have.

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Displaced girls playing with water on a hot summer day in Ainkawa.

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Displaced children from Qarakosh working at a vegetable stand near Karama Camp.

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It’s tragic that these displaced children have to work after school instead of studying in order to help their families.

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A displaced youth from Qarakosh working in Ozal City.

A displaced man and his son passing time on a laptop in an unfinished building in Erbil.

A displaced girl from Qarakosh studying in Derwaz Camp, Erbil.

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It can be difficult to live in an overcrowded place while still fighting for success.

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A displaced woman from Qarakosh in her kitchen baking bread.

A Syrian refugee selling balloons on the street near the Citadel in Erbil.

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You can feel his anger, sadness and strength.

He may be supporting his family by selling such balloons, and people just walk past him.

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Displaced children from Qarakosh playing in Ozal City, Erbil

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Studying together in the dark not only represents the tragedy of their displacement, but also their determination to succeed despite their conditions.

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PHOTOGRAPHERS John Namrowd Nashtiman

Ragheed Afreem Nashtiman Nassar Mubarak Darwaza

Ziyad Matti Ozal City

Baedaa Behnam Ozal City Nuha Youssef Ozal City

Rami Sideeq Aeoon Erbil

Fadya Kamal Aeoon Erbil

Afnan Elias Ashty 189

Rania Jacob Ashty 189

Lowiza Youssef Ishtar School Mofeed Beboo Ishtar School

Omar Khorsheed Ishtar School Amer Matti Ainkawa

Sarmad Najem Ainkawa Maysam Alqas Ainkawa

Shamaa Gorge al-Hikma

Stephana Raad al-Hikma Maysam Salim Erbil

Youssef Saad Ozal City

Special thanks to Taryn Fivek and the IOM Iraq Public Information Department

International Organization fo

‫ اﻟـﻌـﺮاق‬- ‫ـﻴـﺔ ﻟـﻠـﻬـﺠـﺮة‬ IOM OIM

‫اﻟﻌﺮاق‬ Iraq

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