| The Collateral Repair Project in affiliation with International Humanities Center Micro-projects for Iraqi Refugee Fathers - June 08 That have been funded through your generosity |
| Home |
Hamid
Hamid holds an intermediate education certificate and when he lived in Iraq, he worked as a bus driver between Baghdad and
Jordan. Hamid lived with his parents in Baghdad province where they had a stable and secure life.
He moved to Amman in 1996 to find stable income to support his parents in Baghdad. International sanctions imposed on Iraq
had made earning a viable living in Iraq almost impossible.
In 1997 he married Hanan. They have three girls and a boy: Amena - 10, Assal - 6, Thoo Al-fiqar - 4 and the baby, Wattan, is 1
month old.
After the invasion of Iraq, Hamid returned to Iraq in 2004 to seehow his parents were faring. He'd only been back for one week
when a big battle took place between the American troops and a group of resistance in the area of Hamid's family's house. The
American forces began shooting randomly and the house was destroyed. Hamid was badly injured and his arm damaged,
forcing him to remain in Baghdad for a month to undergo treatment.
When he returned to Jordan he had surgery on his arm. The cost of the surgery was over $ 1400 - well beyond his ability to pay.
An NGO funded Hamid with a portion of the cost and some people who know Hamid very well have donated the rest of the
surgery cost.
This family's only income is a grant of $166 per month from and aid organization that they have been receiving for only the past
two months.
Hamid learned the art of making pickles from his father and he would like to carry on with the tradition. Pickles are a staple in
Iraqi food and he can sell his pickles to neighbors and local restaurants so that he can feed his family.
Hamid holds an intermediate education certificate and when he lived in Iraq, he worked as a bus driver between Baghdad and
Jordan. Hamid lived with his parents in Baghdad province where they had a stable and secure life.
He moved to Amman in 1996 to find stable income to support his parents in Baghdad. International sanctions imposed on Iraq
had made earning a viable living in Iraq almost impossible.
In 1997 he married Hanan. They have three girls and a boy: Amena - 10, Assal - 6, Thoo Al-fiqar - 4 and the baby, Wattan, is 1
month old.
After the invasion of Iraq, Hamid returned to Iraq in 2004 to seehow his parents were faring. He'd only been back for one week
when a big battle took place between the American troops and a group of resistance in the area of Hamid's family's house. The
American forces began shooting randomly and the house was destroyed. Hamid was badly injured and his arm damaged,
forcing him to remain in Baghdad for a month to undergo treatment.
When he returned to Jordan he had surgery on his arm. The cost of the surgery was over $ 1400 - well beyond his ability to pay.
An NGO funded Hamid with a portion of the cost and some people who know Hamid very well have donated the rest of the
surgery cost.
This family's only income is a grant of $166 per month from and aid organization that they have been receiving for only the past
two months.
Hamid learned the art of making pickles from his father and he would like to carry on with the tradition. Pickles are a staple in
Iraqi food and he can sell his pickles to neighbors and local restaurants so that he can feed his family.
| “I’m ever so thankful for the people who are helping me to let my kids live better and let them go to school again because they had no chance to go before, God bless all the helper” Hamid |
Ali
Ali is an electrical engineer and his wife, Enas holds a bachelors degree in English. They lived in Baghdad, where
Ali had his own business. They have four children, 2 boys, and 2 girls. Eilaf is age 10, Abdullah is 9 and twins Sayf
and Salsabel, are 7.
The family moved to Jordan in 1998 seeking a job opportunities due to the deteriorating situation in Iraq
brought on by the UN imposed Sanctions on Iraq. The house they rent in Amman is very simple and rents for
less than $100 a month.
In 2004 Enas’s brother returned to Iraq after graduating with a Masters Degree from a Jordanian university. He
had been appointed to a lecturer position at Baghdad University. But, academics are often targeted by sectarian
militia in Iraq and he was killed the following year.
Ali worked as a house painter but lost his job. The family has since been surviving on Enas’ small and insufficient
salary as a primary teacher. Their situation is very bad and they need additional support to start their lives again.
Ali wanted to start a tile cleaning business. Your contributions purchased the machine he needed
Ali is an electrical engineer and his wife, Enas holds a bachelors degree in English. They lived in Baghdad, where
Ali had his own business. They have four children, 2 boys, and 2 girls. Eilaf is age 10, Abdullah is 9 and twins Sayf
and Salsabel, are 7.
The family moved to Jordan in 1998 seeking a job opportunities due to the deteriorating situation in Iraq
brought on by the UN imposed Sanctions on Iraq. The house they rent in Amman is very simple and rents for
less than $100 a month.
In 2004 Enas’s brother returned to Iraq after graduating with a Masters Degree from a Jordanian university. He
had been appointed to a lecturer position at Baghdad University. But, academics are often targeted by sectarian
militia in Iraq and he was killed the following year.
Ali worked as a house painter but lost his job. The family has since been surviving on Enas’ small and insufficient
salary as a primary teacher. Their situation is very bad and they need additional support to start their lives again.
Ali wanted to start a tile cleaning business. Your contributions purchased the machine he needed
| "I am very happy and grateful for you giving me this chance to support my family to give them a better life " Ali |
Ibraheem
Ibraheem has a graduate degree from the Institute of Oil in Iraq and
after graduating, he was in charge of a gas and oil refinery station.
He is married to Suzan. The couple has two daughters: Auj - 9, and
Sarah, 5 years old. Before fleeing Iraq, they lived a comfortable life
in Baghdad. Suzan is 7 months pregnant with their third child.
In 2005 Ibrahim received death threats from a militia, warning that
he and his family would be killed if they did not leave their home.
Then these militia stole his car and beat Ibraheem very badly - so
brutally that he required two surgeries.
Ibraheem's brother also received death threats because he was a
witness to the militia killing his friend. So, Ibraheem took his
family, including his parents and brother, and fled to Jordan in
2006.
This family face many difficulties in Jordan. They receive no
assistance from any aid organization and must rely on the small
retirement salary of his father to support them all. They were found
eligible for a small cash grant of $170 a month through CARE
organization but they have not received anything yet. Often it takes
months after eligibility is established before families receive
assistance.
Their daughter, Sarah, has heart disease. She was being treated in
Iraq at a huge expense, but she is not getting care for her condition
in Jordan as they do not have the resources to pay for it.
A lawyer in their neighborhood will pay now pay
Ibraheem to print his documents because your donations
bought a computer & printer for him so he can support his
family
Ibraheem has a graduate degree from the Institute of Oil in Iraq and
after graduating, he was in charge of a gas and oil refinery station.
He is married to Suzan. The couple has two daughters: Auj - 9, and
Sarah, 5 years old. Before fleeing Iraq, they lived a comfortable life
in Baghdad. Suzan is 7 months pregnant with their third child.
In 2005 Ibrahim received death threats from a militia, warning that
he and his family would be killed if they did not leave their home.
Then these militia stole his car and beat Ibraheem very badly - so
brutally that he required two surgeries.
Ibraheem's brother also received death threats because he was a
witness to the militia killing his friend. So, Ibraheem took his
family, including his parents and brother, and fled to Jordan in
2006.
This family face many difficulties in Jordan. They receive no
assistance from any aid organization and must rely on the small
retirement salary of his father to support them all. They were found
eligible for a small cash grant of $170 a month through CARE
organization but they have not received anything yet. Often it takes
months after eligibility is established before families receive
assistance.
Their daughter, Sarah, has heart disease. She was being treated in
Iraq at a huge expense, but she is not getting care for her condition
in Jordan as they do not have the resources to pay for it.
A lawyer in their neighborhood will pay now pay
Ibraheem to print his documents because your donations
bought a computer & printer for him so he can support his
family
Natheer
When he lived in Baghdad, Natheer worked in
the public affairs department of the Ministry of
the Interior before the Occupation. He is proud
of his father who was the personal cook of Iraq's
late King Faisal in the 1950's.
He married Sally and the couple lived in
Baghdad, where they began their family. Their
life was secure and the family grew.
With the lawlessness resulting from the US-led
invasion, Natheer, like so many others, began
receiving death threats. He was followed and
chased in his car by militia.
Then the unthinkable happened; Sally, was
kidnapped by militias and poisoned. Sally's
death left Natheer to be the sole parent of their
three children: his daughter, Baan, who is now
20, and his sons, Omar - age 19, and 15 year old
Ali.
After this horrible incident, Natheer took his
children and escaped to Jordan in 2006, leaving
everything they owned behind.
They rent a small house for $150 a month. They
were receiving a monthly cash grant from an aid
organization but when he went to pick it up this
month, they told him that his grant has been
discontinued. He has no savings and will soon
be destitute.
The children, traumatized by their tragedies, are
unable to attend school or to work in any way
because of their shaky psychological state.
Natheer is destitute and this family needs your
help.
Natheer wanted to start a small business making
perfumes from essential oils to support his
family. Now he can, because of you!
When he lived in Baghdad, Natheer worked in
the public affairs department of the Ministry of
the Interior before the Occupation. He is proud
of his father who was the personal cook of Iraq's
late King Faisal in the 1950's.
He married Sally and the couple lived in
Baghdad, where they began their family. Their
life was secure and the family grew.
With the lawlessness resulting from the US-led
invasion, Natheer, like so many others, began
receiving death threats. He was followed and
chased in his car by militia.
Then the unthinkable happened; Sally, was
kidnapped by militias and poisoned. Sally's
death left Natheer to be the sole parent of their
three children: his daughter, Baan, who is now
20, and his sons, Omar - age 19, and 15 year old
Ali.
After this horrible incident, Natheer took his
children and escaped to Jordan in 2006, leaving
everything they owned behind.
They rent a small house for $150 a month. They
were receiving a monthly cash grant from an aid
organization but when he went to pick it up this
month, they told him that his grant has been
discontinued. He has no savings and will soon
be destitute.
The children, traumatized by their tragedies, are
unable to attend school or to work in any way
because of their shaky psychological state.
Natheer is destitute and this family needs your
help.
Natheer wanted to start a small business making
perfumes from essential oils to support his
family. Now he can, because of you!
Yahiya - in his own words:
I am Yahiya Yousef Dagher, 40 years old. I hold diploma degree, and I work in free business, I married to Mayada. She holds diploma degree, she was an architect. I have three kids, two boys and a
girl, my eldest son Ibraheem 10 years old and he is in a primary school, second son Al-Hareth 4 years old, and the girl’s name Aiysha 7 years old she is at the second year of primary school.
Before coming to Jordan we were living at Baghdad Al-Jadeeda neighborhood in Baghdad province, our lives were very happy and secure.
After the American invasion to Iraq our neighborhood was controlled by the militias. These militias killed my brother and his wife survived. I left my house with my family after receiving threat
message, also, the militias wrote my name on the wall of my house(“wanted to kill”) in blood color, so, I ran away with my family to southern Iraq. While I was there, I heard that the American troops
with support of Iraqi police assaulted my parents house in Baghdad to arrest my other youngest brothers. The American soldiers kicked my father with their boots. Two days later my father died
because of the bad injuries and heart attack. ( Yahiay was sobbing and broke down while he was recalling the horrible incident of his father)
So, I decided to flee because the militias could reach me in the south and arrest me. So, I fled to Jordan with my family.
On July-2005 we entered Jordan. We had not enough money, so we lived in a farm with animals. Then some Iraqis rented us a small room in Marka for $70 per month.
After a while and because of hunger and bad conditions my youngest son, Al-Hareth got a blood cancer. ( Yahiya was crying loudly) I tried my best in order to treat my son, I ask here and there then at
last I received exemption for six months only to treat my son the Medical city hospital. Al-Hareth is still suffering from the disease and his illness needs more money for treatment and for good
nutrition he needs.
We receive a financial assistance $212 from CARE. I don’t have a job although I tried many times to find a job in order to treat my son and to feed the others but I couldn't. So, please could you help me
in order to assist my family and treat my sick son? I appreciated your positive action in this respect and I hope to provide me with TILE CLEANING MACHINE to enable us start our life.
I am Yahiya Yousef Dagher, 40 years old. I hold diploma degree, and I work in free business, I married to Mayada. She holds diploma degree, she was an architect. I have three kids, two boys and a
girl, my eldest son Ibraheem 10 years old and he is in a primary school, second son Al-Hareth 4 years old, and the girl’s name Aiysha 7 years old she is at the second year of primary school.
Before coming to Jordan we were living at Baghdad Al-Jadeeda neighborhood in Baghdad province, our lives were very happy and secure.
After the American invasion to Iraq our neighborhood was controlled by the militias. These militias killed my brother and his wife survived. I left my house with my family after receiving threat
message, also, the militias wrote my name on the wall of my house(“wanted to kill”) in blood color, so, I ran away with my family to southern Iraq. While I was there, I heard that the American troops
with support of Iraqi police assaulted my parents house in Baghdad to arrest my other youngest brothers. The American soldiers kicked my father with their boots. Two days later my father died
because of the bad injuries and heart attack. ( Yahiay was sobbing and broke down while he was recalling the horrible incident of his father)
So, I decided to flee because the militias could reach me in the south and arrest me. So, I fled to Jordan with my family.
On July-2005 we entered Jordan. We had not enough money, so we lived in a farm with animals. Then some Iraqis rented us a small room in Marka for $70 per month.
After a while and because of hunger and bad conditions my youngest son, Al-Hareth got a blood cancer. ( Yahiya was crying loudly) I tried my best in order to treat my son, I ask here and there then at
last I received exemption for six months only to treat my son the Medical city hospital. Al-Hareth is still suffering from the disease and his illness needs more money for treatment and for good
nutrition he needs.
We receive a financial assistance $212 from CARE. I don’t have a job although I tried many times to find a job in order to treat my son and to feed the others but I couldn't. So, please could you help me
in order to assist my family and treat my sick son? I appreciated your positive action in this respect and I hope to provide me with TILE CLEANING MACHINE to enable us start our life.
| Home |
| click on image to read Iraqi fathers telling you their stories, in their own words |
When these men had to flee Iraq with their families, they not only left behind their homes but also their careers & everything they'd worked for to provide for
their wives & children. Iraqis in Jordan cannot work without legal residency. There is no "welfare" for non-residents & although some receive minimal
financial assistance through international aid programs, the funding for refugee needs is woefully inadequate & this assistance is reserved for only some of
the poorest of the poor. Some of the men work doing odd jobs "under the table". This makes them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers
who often pay low wages & insist on unreasonably long hours. Complaining isn't an option; their employer they may notify authorities - putting these
fathers at risk of being arrested and forced to return to Iraq & being separated entirely from their families. Now, confined to small apartments in Jordan and
unable to provide even the basic necessities for their children, many feel helpless & hopeless.
READ THEIR STORIES . SEE PHOTOS OF THEM WITH THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT, READ THEIR WORDS OF THANKS TO YOU
their wives & children. Iraqis in Jordan cannot work without legal residency. There is no "welfare" for non-residents & although some receive minimal
financial assistance through international aid programs, the funding for refugee needs is woefully inadequate & this assistance is reserved for only some of
the poorest of the poor. Some of the men work doing odd jobs "under the table". This makes them vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers
who often pay low wages & insist on unreasonably long hours. Complaining isn't an option; their employer they may notify authorities - putting these
fathers at risk of being arrested and forced to return to Iraq & being separated entirely from their families. Now, confined to small apartments in Jordan and
unable to provide even the basic necessities for their children, many feel helpless & hopeless.
READ THEIR STORIES . SEE PHOTOS OF THEM WITH THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT, READ THEIR WORDS OF THANKS TO YOU
| " I am ever so grateful to you for helping me and my family in our living" Ibraheem |
| “I express my thanks to the people makes my dream comes true by let me have the support I need to help my daughter her last year of high school “ Natheer |
| " I can not pick up the words to thank you, because I can not find one that really deserves it " Yahiya |
| click on image to see Women who received micro-projects in June |
| click on image to meet More people in Amman who need micro-projects & are waiting for your help |
Sinan
Sinan contributed his story for our " In Their Own Words: Iraqi
Refugee Fathers Tell Their Stories " page that honored Iraqi
dads for Fathers Day. Here is his compelling story:
I'm writing to you my story, one of the stories that is about the Iraqi
people.
I'm from Baghdad. We are a family living in Baghdad consisting of my
father, mother, wife and daughters, Nina, and Mariam. We also have
a brother in Sydney, Australia. He left Iraq in 1995 and he asked for
asylum there, so I have no brother here now. I was working until
1993 as an officer in Iraqi Army. After that I was transferred to the
fighting unit. And after that I was a teacher at the University of
Baghdad. My children were studying in middle school in Baghdad and
it was a very good school, run by the Nuns.
Our lives were very calm until the American forces attacked Iraq. My
brother advised me to move westward because of what was
happening where we were living. My children were terrified because
of the bombing. Then we came back to Baghdad during the
occupation. My kids were still shivering and shaking in the car
because of the bombing and seeing dead people in the streets and
cars on fire. We lived in a house until the militias nailed a notice on our
door telling us to leave or be killed because Iraq has become a Shia
country. You have no choice.
Then, one night they came and they were shooting in the air and my
children were terrified. So I contacted my brother and he advised me
to run away to Syria or Jordan. In the morning the next day we
gathered up our belongings and we carried my sick farther and
headed toward Syria. We arrived at the border and it was closed, so
we headed back towards Jordan. We decided not to go back to Iraq
so we settled in Irbid which is very similar to Baghdad. We started
processing as refugees in Amman on 9/11/2005. After that we heard
they have taken over our home and moved in a Shia family under the
pretext that they were also refugees. And that's where our demise
started in exile.
My father passed away 9/11/2006 and I had no choice but to bury him
in Irbid (Irbid is in Jordan) because I could not go back to my home.
We were in great pain and so were our chidren
On the morning of 11/14/2006 we woke up in the morning to find out
that my oldest daughter could not get out of bed and on her feet. Her
age is 13 and she had no previous medical problems whatever, so we
took her to the hospital. They checked her totally and told us there is
nothing wrong with her except psychological problem. So I decided
to take her to another doctor, a psychologist. He checked her out and
said she is suffering from hysteria, stemming from her grandfather's
death. He gave us some medication and we went back home. In the
middle of the night she was choking so we called an ambulance and
took her to hospital, including my wife and my other daughter
Miriam, 11 yrs old. My wife was 6 months pregnant. They gave my
daughter oxygen and we stayed next to her till 5 in the morning,
when she was choking severely and . she choked to death. We began
praying and crying. And I am writing while I am crying because I am
writing about the incident.
So after that my neighbors helped us carry my daughter next to her
grandfather in Irbid, and we all lost hope and feelings. Up till this
hour I do not know where exactly they buried her and it seems like
death is following us to here.
After that my wife delivered a beautiful baby. Her name is Nuur and
she is one year and 2 months. Our life is very hard being refugees. I
have registered with the United Nations 3 years ago and up till now
nobody has contacted us to tell us if we can go back. I have to prove
to them that I buried two people here in Jordan.
So I ask you, why are we paying the price? Where is humanity? I lost
my father and we buried my daughter. Where is humanity every
passing night and every night we sit and cry and scream. Now I find
my wife is speaking to herself all day long and I am still trying to
contact the UN. and all I get is lip service. What do I do now? I am
living on handouts. Please help me.
Sanin
Sinan contributed his story for our " In Their Own Words: Iraqi
Refugee Fathers Tell Their Stories " page that honored Iraqi
dads for Fathers Day. Here is his compelling story:
I'm writing to you my story, one of the stories that is about the Iraqi
people.
I'm from Baghdad. We are a family living in Baghdad consisting of my
father, mother, wife and daughters, Nina, and Mariam. We also have
a brother in Sydney, Australia. He left Iraq in 1995 and he asked for
asylum there, so I have no brother here now. I was working until
1993 as an officer in Iraqi Army. After that I was transferred to the
fighting unit. And after that I was a teacher at the University of
Baghdad. My children were studying in middle school in Baghdad and
it was a very good school, run by the Nuns.
Our lives were very calm until the American forces attacked Iraq. My
brother advised me to move westward because of what was
happening where we were living. My children were terrified because
of the bombing. Then we came back to Baghdad during the
occupation. My kids were still shivering and shaking in the car
because of the bombing and seeing dead people in the streets and
cars on fire. We lived in a house until the militias nailed a notice on our
door telling us to leave or be killed because Iraq has become a Shia
country. You have no choice.
Then, one night they came and they were shooting in the air and my
children were terrified. So I contacted my brother and he advised me
to run away to Syria or Jordan. In the morning the next day we
gathered up our belongings and we carried my sick farther and
headed toward Syria. We arrived at the border and it was closed, so
we headed back towards Jordan. We decided not to go back to Iraq
so we settled in Irbid which is very similar to Baghdad. We started
processing as refugees in Amman on 9/11/2005. After that we heard
they have taken over our home and moved in a Shia family under the
pretext that they were also refugees. And that's where our demise
started in exile.
My father passed away 9/11/2006 and I had no choice but to bury him
in Irbid (Irbid is in Jordan) because I could not go back to my home.
We were in great pain and so were our chidren
On the morning of 11/14/2006 we woke up in the morning to find out
that my oldest daughter could not get out of bed and on her feet. Her
age is 13 and she had no previous medical problems whatever, so we
took her to the hospital. They checked her totally and told us there is
nothing wrong with her except psychological problem. So I decided
to take her to another doctor, a psychologist. He checked her out and
said she is suffering from hysteria, stemming from her grandfather's
death. He gave us some medication and we went back home. In the
middle of the night she was choking so we called an ambulance and
took her to hospital, including my wife and my other daughter
Miriam, 11 yrs old. My wife was 6 months pregnant. They gave my
daughter oxygen and we stayed next to her till 5 in the morning,
when she was choking severely and . she choked to death. We began
praying and crying. And I am writing while I am crying because I am
writing about the incident.
So after that my neighbors helped us carry my daughter next to her
grandfather in Irbid, and we all lost hope and feelings. Up till this
hour I do not know where exactly they buried her and it seems like
death is following us to here.
After that my wife delivered a beautiful baby. Her name is Nuur and
she is one year and 2 months. Our life is very hard being refugees. I
have registered with the United Nations 3 years ago and up till now
nobody has contacted us to tell us if we can go back. I have to prove
to them that I buried two people here in Jordan.
So I ask you, why are we paying the price? Where is humanity? I lost
my father and we buried my daughter. Where is humanity every
passing night and every night we sit and cry and scream. Now I find
my wife is speaking to herself all day long and I am still trying to
contact the UN. and all I get is lip service. What do I do now? I am
living on handouts. Please help me.
Sanin
| " I am very happy and very glad and like to thanks the people who helped me by giving me this chance so I could do better life to my family with all the miserable circumstances that we had before. Thanks a lot for every one " Sanin |