COUNTRY / PROBLEM
Iraq is a country in the Middle East, situated on the Persian Gulf. To the north-west, the country borders Syria, where a civil war has been going on since 2011, severely affecting civilians. By the end of August 2013, when the “Domino Effect” episode was produced, more than two and a half million Syrian citizens had decided to leave their country as a result of the conflict. Many of them found refuge in the neighbouring Turkey and Iraq. The Domiz refugee camp was opened in 2012 in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq. Although it had been intended for 25 thousand people, shortly there were 60 thousand Syrians staying there.
ORGANISATION
ACTED (l’Agence d’Aide à la Coopération Technique et au Développement) is a non-governmental organisation based in Paris, established in 1993. Its mission is to help communities affected by war, armed activities, natural disasters, social and economic crises, and to support them in building a better future. ACTED started its operations in Iraq in 2003. The organisation’s activities in this country were initially aimed at improving the health care as well as the sanitary and housing conditions of people displaced due to the conflict. Since 2012, when the first wave of Syrian refugees arrived in Iraq, ACTED has been involved in the planning and development of refugee camps. At the Domiz refugee camp, ACTED focused on programmes related to childcare – establishing, among others, the Child Friendly Space.
PROJECT
Kulczyk Foundation supported ACTED’s childcare programmes by funding a children’s library at the Domiz camp, which also served as a community centre where children could read, do their homework, and spend their free time.
