August marks the 12th year of the beginning of the Yazidi genocide in Iraq. Until now, survivors continue to struggle to rebuild their lives and have to cope with the lack of safety and security which is still a permanent threat – for women and girls in particular. At the same time, funding for humanitarian aid and rehabilitation falls short risking continued protection and progress. CARE is deeply concerned about the ongoing displacement of Yazidi families, many of whom have now been living in displacement camps for years under very challenging conditions like high rates of violence, limited access to education and employment.
“Twelve years after the genocide, the humanitarian needs of many Yazidi families have not ended. Thousands of Yazidis remain displaced, unable to return home because the conditions for their safe, voluntary, and dignified return are still not in place. At the same time, humanitarian funding continues to decline, placing essential protection and support services at risk. Through CARE’s programmes, we continue to work alongside Yazidi led organizations and their communities, provide protection services, psychosocial support, case management, and safe spaces for women and girls. The day of remembrance is not only a moment to commemorate what happened – it is a reminder that the international community must continue supporting the recovery, protection, and dignity of Yazidis who are still living with the consequences of genocide,” said Malek Al Raddad, Interim Country Director, CARE Iraq.
Nearly one million Iraqis remain internally displaced – many of them Yazidi families in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq under dire conditions. For years, Yazidis have been hoping to return to their home region of Sinjar. While around 150,000 have returned, many have not due to security concerns, fear and trauma. Those who did return face a lack of essential services, including healthcare, clean water and infrastructure, while job opportunities are extremely limited. Agricultural land has been decimated with water shortages continuing due to drought exacerbated by climate change in recent years. Rainfall has declined by 40% over the past five years. Villages and towns across Sinjar were destroyed in the genocide. Around 80 percent of public infrastructure and 70 percent of homes in Sinjar were left in ruins and many residents’ homes remain unlivable.
“Security in Sinjar remains fragile and developments in Iraq and Syria continue to require close attention. However, the challenges Yazidis are facing are many: the presence of multiple armed actors, ongoing governance challenges, and the absence of a unified security structure in Sinjar continue to affect the confidence of Yazidi families considering return. Lasting stability will require more than preventing violence—it will require accountability, effective institutions, and guarantees that people can rebuild their lives safely. Furthermore, access to Sinjar communities has remained difficult for INGOs due to administrative challenges, “ said Mohammed Masoud Abbas, Security and Access Coordinator.
CARE demands world leaders to meet their moral and legal obligations to ensure Yazidis can live with dignity and security. Amid severe cuts to humanitarian aid budgets, CARE urges donors to significantly increase funding volume and quality.
ENDS
For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927
Note to editors:
For English-language interviews from the ground, Malek Al Raddad, CARE Interim Country Director in Iraq, is available.
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women that they have long been denied: the ability to earn an income, gain access to their fair share of resources, to lead and participate in decisions that affect their lives, and to be able to withstand the increasing impacts of climate disasters and other crises. www.care.org.au
About CARE Iraq
CARE Iraq works in cooperation with the partner organization The Lotus Flower to provide safe spaces, psychosocial support and protection services for internally displaced women, men, boys and girls. With its partnership approach, CARE supports and champions the leadership and expertise of local NGOs who have long been at the forefront of the humanitarian response in the region.
