How much do you know about recent Iraqi history?
Many of us remember the nation’s most recent battle against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. But did you know that when Iraqi leaders reclaimed their stolen territory in 2017, that wasn’t really the end?
The effects of the war on civilians were long-lasting and detrimental. People lost their livelihoods, their assets, and their homes. To this day, millions of Iraqis remain displaced.
Then, in 2020, the country went into lockdown because of the global pandemic. Even more people lost their jobs, children could no longer attend school … and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You give people hope for tomorrow by meeting their most urgent needs today
It’s a story we’ve heard time and time again worldwide, but in Iraq, people didn’t have enough time to recover from wartime tragedies to endure what was to come.
To make things even worse, Iraq began to run out of water during the pandemic. Now, people face the worst water crisis the country has ever seen — with over 7 million people who don’t have access to safe, drinkable water.
Reporters for Aljazeera said, “According to the United Nations, 90% of the country’s rivers are polluted, and Iraq will meet only 15% of its water demands by 2035.”
So how did it get this bad?
There are two leading causes. First, Iraq was already experiencing an extreme drought, drying up rivers and streams. Second, Turkey and Syria built dams during the pandemic that reduced the water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. As a result, agriculture is coming to a halt — causing a nationwide famine. Businesses are shutting down, and Iraqis are contracting waterborne diseases from being forced to drink contaminated water.
The outlook is bleak … so it comes as no surprise that people like Yardan are losing hope.
Yardan and his family live in a camp with other internally displaced Iraqis from the war. For this reason, I’ve changed his name to protect his identity.
You demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ when you help people like Yardan!
Due to a crippling disability, Yardan is unable to work. And without a steady income, he can’t provide for his family on his own. They rely entirely on the kindness of strangers to meet their most basic needs for necessities like food, water, clothing, and more … they rely on the kindness of strangers like YOU.
Each day, Yardan hopes for aid that may or may not come to him and his family, knowing that they could starve to death if it doesn’t come.
“I hope you will continue to support us, because we are in dire need of food,” he said.
That’s why it’s so important for someone like you to step in. Your giving will provide Yardan and his family with the physical and spiritual aid they desperately need.
And right now is the BEST time to give!
Normally, every $12 transforms one life by providing essentials like God’s Word, nutritious food, clean water, medical care, and more to someone struggling to survive.
But now, when you give before Aug. 31 to help someone in need, your gift will DOUBLE thanks to a $50,000 matching gift. That means just $24 will provide emergency aid to not two, but FOUR people in urgent need.
Through your generosity, people like Yardan in Iraq will receive the essentials they need to survive. Persecuted Christians will receive copies of God’s Word. Communities in Central America will receive clean water. And so much more!
Please, give your best gift now to provide DOUBLE the amount of help and hope around the globe.