Reclaimed Cities

Written by Stephanie Hammond, Policy Advisor for Conflicts and Disasters and
Julie Stewart, Humanitarian Policy Intern

As the battle to retake Mosul continues, urgent action is needed to allow children to resume their educations. Take action by sending an email to Congress now [action expired].

Following two years of war in Iraq, many conflict-affected villages lie in ruins. As the operation to retake cities from ISIL continues, many reclaimed areas remain ghost towns; their former occupants are seeking refuge in camps or host communities. A destroyed school in Hassan Sham, in the country’s north. The town was retaken from ISIL more than one year ago, yet today it’s a shell of its former self, without functioning electricity, water, or education services. Just 15 families have returned home. Abandoned schools today bear the scars of sniper fire (upper left), bombs, and airstrikes. Hamaad*, 13 years old, has been riding his bicycle around his abandoned school grounds since returning. He says: “I’m happy to be back in my village, but I’d like to see the school come back to life. I want to finish my education and become a doctor, but there aren’t any teachers left — they’ve all run.” He’s been out of school for more than two years and would have been in sixth grade today. More than four million people are currently displaced by conflict in Iraq. As cities continue to be retaken from ISIL, families hoping to return home fear their children will uncover hidden grenades and explosive devices. In 2015, Iraq had the third highest civilian casualty rate from explosive weapons, behind Syria and Yemen. At least 7,515 civilians were killed and another 14,855 were injured. Mohammed Abas*, Hamaad’s father, says: “He’s a bright boy. I’m still hopeful he can achieve his dreams.” The family lived with a “generous host community” since August 2014 when they first fled ISIL’s advance on the village. They returned just last month. “We’re thankful that so many people made sacrifices to look after us when we fled our homes,” Mr. Abas says. “But we had to come back — this is where we belong.” Today, it’s estimated that one in every five children in Iraq is not able to go to school. More than two million school-aged children are currently outside the education system, and roughly 600,000 have missed out of more than a year of schooling. Children have increasingly been caught up in the battle. There are reports that boys as young as 12 have been recruited to support the fighting, and that children are also being used as human shields. Other children have witnessed horrific events during the conflict, including the death of loved ones. Aaron Moore, World Vision’s Program Manager in northern Iraq, says: “Children in Iraq are being shaped by this conflict. Thousands have been out of school for years and haven’t been able to play games with their brothers and sisters. We’re at a tipping point where we urgently need to support them in camps and host communities with learning opportunities to help re-introduce them to the basic joys of childhood.” At Zelican refugee camp, World Vision’s Child-Friendly Space is providing much-needed relief from the chaos. Children are offered games, football, drama, and drawing under the gentle guidance of trained child protection specialists. For many of the children, it’s the first time they’ve accessed learning opportunities — or held colored pencils in more than two years. As more families arrive at the camp daily, hundreds of children are now accessing support at the Zelican Child-Friendly Space.

Information about the ongoing military campaign to retake the city of Mosul, Iraq is not leaving news outlets. Regained territory from ISIL is full of villages that are now emptied, destroyed, and abandoned. Cities once teeming with people have been decimated. For several reasons, families have difficulty returning home.

Some homes and buildings have been completely destroyed by the fighting. Many families are concerned about safety. There is a high likelihood that their homes and towns are booby-trapped with hidden grenades and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) — bombs constructed in a unique fashion and well disguised. In 2015, Iraq saw nearly 8 thousand civilians killed and 15 thousand injured by IEDs.

Hassan Sham is a village in Iraq that has been a ghost town for one year, but 15 families have now returned, including the family of 13-year-old Hamaad*. Life is exceptionally challenging for them because there is no electricity, water supply, or functioning schools — services that are the backbone of communities. For many, these problems alone would be reason enough not to come home. Without electricity or a good water supply, routine tasks such as bathing and cooking become problems that must be solved. Other tasks like getting a good education are even more difficult.

Hamaad has been out of school for over two years. He does not have the option to learn in his village because there are no teachers. Schools in Hassan Sham have been bombed and bear the marks of battles.

World Vision is actively working in the Kurdish Region of Iraq to support the many internally displaced persons (IDPs) — families just like Hamaad’s. World Vision, as a partner with the World Food Program, is the largest provider of food aid in the region. Additionally, World Vision has programs for clean water systems, hygiene kits, registering IDPs, and special assistance for children in emergencies. There are currently over 3 million IDPs in Iraq.

World Vision also recommends that the United States Congress prioritize critical humanitarian funding. It is key that the long-term needs of IDPs are addressed in this fragile context. Iraq has been involved in a hard fight, and they need support to help their citizens recover and rebuild their homes. The United States can help the government of Iraq rebuild what has been lost in the fighting so that families can move back home. Iraqi citizens need good governance, education, housing, and infrastructure. These reconstruction programs are important to restore peace and social cohesion.

Hamaad is just one Iraqi citizen, a child who needs an education because he wants a future. He would like to become a doctor. His father believes in him and hopes that there will be a way for Hammad to finish school. Currently, because his school is not functioning, his life is on hold. Advocates like you can speak out and help Hammad realize his dreams. Act now [action expired].

Watch this video to learn more about the current situation in Iraq:

*Names have been changed to protect identities

Photo: © 2016 World Vision/ photos by Kayla Robertson and Max Greenstein