Dugure Resident Details Impact of Nadia's Initiative WASH Project

Fahima and her family fled to Mount Sinjar in 2014 to escape ISIS’ genocide. From there, they journeyed on to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. When they arrived, Fahima found that there were no shelters available, so they waited for an IDP camp to open. After living through a freezing winter and boiling hot summer with only a tent to shield them from the elements, Fahima and her family decided to return home.

When Fahima heard that her village was liberated from ISIS, her family eagerly returned to Dugure — only to find that, once again, there was nothing left for them. Buildings were damaged and public infrastructure, including water and sanitation, was completely destroyed. Residents who could not afford to buy water had no option but to drink from polluted wells. In the wreckage, disease spread quickly. Many children in the village fell ill and did not have access to medical care.

With funding from UAE Aid, Nadia’s Initiative worked with Dorcas Aid International to restore water and sanitation services in Dugure. Now, Fahima’s family and all local residents are able to access clean drinking water and are empowered to keep their community healthy with better hygiene and sanitation.