The current situation in Iraq is bleak. According to UNOCHA, 7.8 million people
need access to essential health services. 4.1 million need access to water
sanitation and hygiene, and 4.4 million require food assistance. 45% of
these people are children. Many are unaware of the full extent of
this crisis, and those that do will read the newspaper or listen to National
Public Radio with a grave look on their faces, but then return to the everyday
routine of their daily lives. Some may choose to get involved by donating to a
charitable organization that has invested time and effort into providing aid to
the many vulnerable Iraqis currently displaced by the violence of the Islamic
State Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). An incredibly small percentage of people will
risk their lives to actually travel to Iraq, roll up their own sleeves, and get
involved in the situation themselves. Hala Al Saraff is one of those few
people.
Iraqi herself, Hala is an impressive woman with a decorated
career in international development. She is both the founder and director of Iraq Health Aid
Organization (IHAO), which has been running for the last seven and a half
years. IHAO is a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing projects that
benefit Iraqis on the ground—IHAO currently works to deliver aid to those who
have been displaced by the violent acts of ISIS. In past years, Hala worked for
the World Health Organization (9 years), and was a Fulbright Scholar at the US
Embassy in Iraq (2 years). She received her Masters Degree from Columbia
University, and received her Masters in Public Health, Health Policy, and
Management.
I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Hala at my first
meeting as an EPIC intern. As I filed into the café behind Erik, EPIC’s founder
and executive director, I took a seat beside him, and exchanged my
commuter-friendly Birkenstock sandals for professional flats (one must wear
comfortable shoes if ever walking with Erik, extraordinary speed walker). I set
my notepad and pen on the table as I prepared myself to meet this humanitarian
extraordinaire.
Hala is a delicate woman for someone whose actions and words
are so powerful. She speaks with such passion, such dedication, that it is
impossible to ignore. I found myself listening intently to her every word,
leaning closer to ensure that I heard all she has to say. She speaks with the
power of first-hand knowledge—from having travelled to Iraq herself,
experiencing the dire situations displaced people are facing, and connecting
with people on the ground. In fact, Hala herself has a home in Baghdad, where
she lives with her husband when she is not in the U.S. As I listened to her
stories—my head rested on my palm, clearly entranced—Hala painted a picture of
current IDP camps in the heart of Baghdad: for a population of 800 people,
there are only six available bathrooms, and, perhaps more astonishing, only
three water coolers. Two to three families live in each tent, and 60% of
the camp population is children. These statistics would be
horrendous to the ears of anyone, yet the deeply pained look on Hala’s face
expresses how much farther than the average person her concern goes.
Hala’s organization (IHAO) is taking active steps to
alleviate the suffering. IHAO is collaborating with Soccer Salaam to provide
humanitarian aid to camps like these that she describes. Soccer Salaam is
dedicated to providing necessary humanitarian aid, including soccer balls, to
Iraqi children and families escaping conflict—recognizing that play is a
crucial part of childhood that should be accounted for as much as food and
water. So far, Phase I of Soccer Salam has delivered 5 tons of soccer balls and
emergency winter aid to more than one thousand displaced Iraqi families at
multiple camps and locations across Baghdad. Now, Phase II is ready to be
launched, in which Soccer Salaam will be purchasing tents, water and air
coolers, and providing and installing water filters. In addition, Soccer Salam
will be delivering “Peace Baskets” for Ramadan, which contains emergency food
aid. IHAO has already begun implementation in Iraq, with Hala leading the way.
Hala is an inspiration to humanitarian workers
everywhere–regardless of the cause or the place. She is clearly incredibly
dedicated to her cause, and is determined to deliver impactful
aid to those in need. I think that many can learn from the role model that
Hala sets, although I do not believe it is necessary for all
to travel into dangerous war zones to create change. But perhaps she is a
reminder to us all that although the work may be tough, and we may have to
roll up our sleeves, we can all do a bit more to get involved in working
towards a more sustainable future.
If you would like to get involved with Soccer Salam, please join our mailing
list, donate, or show your support by shooting a video of your best soccer skills.
Blog post by Tarai Zemba
pewresearch