One of the biggest tragedies resulting from the 2003 invasion of Iraq has been the creation of approximately 2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). These Iraqis became IDPs due to violence that forced them to leave their homes and cities and move to other areas within the country. That’s nearly 10% of the country’s population. What’s more, three quarters of Iraq’s IDPs are women and children.
Many have only found fields and schools to live in. Those who are luckier have been able to find shelter with relatives and friends, but because of the high unemployment rate in Iraq--around 50%--the heads of these families are usually unable to find jobs that would allow them to adequately take care of their families.
Since early 2005 LIFE has been providing assistance to displaced families in Fallujah, Al Qaem, Al Anbar, Tal Afar, and Safwan in an effort to aid the hundreds of thousands living without adequate shelter. LIFE depends on its donors’ generous contributions to distribute food, tents, hygiene kits, clothes, water tanks, and blankets in an attempt to ease the difficulties that these families must now face.
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