After visiting our friends at Jinda, a partner NGO in northern Iraq, Karawani Rainer crossed the border into Rojava in northeastern Syria.

Upon arriving in Qamishli, we began distributing the relief supplies together with Taha Khalil, a well-known Kurdish writer and former member of parliament in Rojava. Taha heads our partner organization, Hiro, through which the Austrian Volkshilfe and Caritas also implement projects in Rojava.

Together, they ensure that relief supplies reach the people and organizations that need them most. This ensures that aid gets to where it is needed.

What Arrived with the Aid Shipment

The shipment included, among other things:

• Sleeping bags, shoes, and clothing for people who have lost everything while fleeing.
• Wheelchairs and over 100,000 diapers
• 250 computers and laptops to support NGOs and the universities in Qamishli and Kobane in their important work.
• About two metric tons of school supplies: more than 100,000 pencils, tens of thousands of notebooks, erasers, and rulers for children in refugee camps. School supplies are especially important. Syrian refugee camps often lack even the most basic items, such as pencils and paper. When basic necessities are in short supply, education understandably often takes a back seat. But for children, education is more than just a bit of normalcy. It opens up new possibilities—especially in a situation marked by displacement, uncertainty, and loss.
• And that is why the shipment also included 3,000 to 4,000 stuffed animals and other toys. What may seem less important at first glance can be of great significance to children in difficult situations: something to hold on to, to play with, and to love.

Local Encounters

Rainer’s visit took place during an unusual period. The heaviest rainfall in decades and the holidays surrounding the Kurdish New Year brought public life to a partial standstill.

This also led to some special encounters. Austrian political scientist Thomas Schmidinger was a guest at Taha’s home. Rainer accompanied him as he conducted research for his new book.

Encounters like these highlight how important it is not only to bring relief supplies, but also to listen, observe, and let the local people speak for themselves.

Thank you for your support.

A relief effort like this is only possible because so many people and organizations are doing their part. We’d like to extend a special thank you to Peter Bernscherer from PCs für Alle and Erich Hofmarcher from Kiwanis. Without your support, this relief effort would not have been possible. Thank you for helping to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.