Salam Aleikum!
(Peace to You)
More than six years since the March 2003 invasion of their country, Iraqis are in increasingly more desperate straits. The violence and lack of security have forced more than 4.5 million of Iraq’s population of 25 million to flee their homes and towns to other perceived safer areas within Iraq or to other countries, primarily neighboring Syria and Jordan.
Despite this chaotic environment, tens of thousands of brave and patriotic Iraqis have served vital, indispensable services to U.S. military and civilian employers as interpreters/translators, guides, and drivers, and in other capacities. Because of their work with U.S. employers, many of them, and their families, have been threatened with death, and many have been kidnapped or killed.
We feel it is our obligation to help them find safety. Because the U.S. government has been very slow to recognize and adequately fund this huge humanitarian crisis in Iraq, we are trying to do as much as we can through grass-roots efforts and joining with other support networks to help them find safety and navigate the long process toward resettlement in the United States.
Consequently, we have not had the time to keep this website updated. We hope you will look over our site to find resources, ways to help, and more information about Iraq and its brave and steadfast people.
And please contact us if you can help, especially with:
- Housing for new refugee families. We especially hope to hear from communities/community or faith organizations who would be willing to “befriend” two or more Iraqi families, so the newcomers have a “built-in” support system as they begin their new lives.
- Jobs for Iraqi translators who are fluent or near-fluent in English. Most of them have undergraduate or advanced degrees in various fields.
- Financial support (See “Donate” section). Every penny donated goes directly to help refugees; we have zero administrative costs, as we are volunteers and pay for all expenses out of our own pockets.
- Research, especially locating faith groups or community groups who would be willing to help, per #1 above.
- Pro bono or very inexpensive legal work on behalf of the new immigrants.
- Donations of automobiles in good working order (needed only in certain states/areas); good gas mileage only, please.
As time permits, we will be adding to this site, particularly summaries of each state’s assistance (as we have done for New York State) available to our Iraqi friends as they resettle in the U.S. So, please check back from time to time for updates.