Garbage Dwellers

Nov 19, 202411 min read

Life in the camp, in all of the refugee camps dotted across the Duhok province, has always been hard. At the moment, it is fair to say that it is especially hard. Many of the bare minimum facilities and services have been reduced to zero as an indirect but hard hitting way to edge the tent dwellers into leaving, either to return to Shingal ( Sinjar ) or to housing outside the camp.

Areas affected in particular are medical services with health facilities such as they were, being closed, and the collection of garbage. The two somehow go hand in hand and we are looking at the potential outbreak of disease in the very near future not just in our camp, but across the region. For those of you who remember the delightful Aziz who wrote the glorious farewell letter recently, and also Yasser who received two prosthetic legs, their fathers were our garbage collectors. They have now returned to Shingal, and we collect our own garbage and remove it from the camp.

The Hope Medical Clinic, whilst small and low profile is highly sought out, even more so in these times when medical care is lacking in the camp. I have asked Nurse Salah and some of the student nurses that he is training ( a win - win, as we need more staff, and they need both theoretical and practical training ) to share their thoughts, concerns and recent camp experiences with us today.

“There is beauty in the journey, regardless of the outcome. Let’s grieve and hope and fight together.”

M. White

Nurse Salah

"Since opening our clinic doors we have received over 2000 patients from within the camp, all suffering from chronic conditions that require continuous monitoring. We are the only health care providers inside the camp offering comprehensive care during this challenging period. Due to the closure of government health services, demand for assistance is growing by the week. We conduct visits to patients both inside the camp, and to those living in tents which are dotted around the village.

Our team is dedicated to providing the best possible healthcare, to continually update and relieve as much concern over health issues. We do all we can to meet the increased community needs of this period. Given the heightened medical issues faced by camp residents at this time, it is essential that we enhance our support. We will continue to face every challenge thereby meeting the needs of our people who can not once again be left to fate, this time inside a camp that was constructed for their protection.

I would like to discuss the current situation of the camp in depth. As head nurse and director of the Hope Medical clinic, I oversee our facility both inside the Hope Centre, in the camp and also make regular visits to our Syrian community in War City, providing primary health care in all locations.

As a resident of Shariya camp I witness the daily struggles firsthand. Support for our community on every level, both medical care, psychological and educational is needed now more than ever. I and my team are committed and dedicated to provide them with a better quality of life and to alleviate the imprint of years of suffering that they have endured. It is impossible to pass by someone suffering in the camp, without stopping to listen and connect with them and to try to leave them with a smile and some joy, to bring peace to a mind full of fear. This is a duty to take care of our neighbour. His concern has to be my concern. I can not pass by.

Every tent dweller has his own story of pain and struggle. My desire is to be open and available to whoever needs a listening ear. I am always moved by the warmth and openness of the tent people, despite their ongoing pain and suffering. We are always invited into the tent, or gather together outside for chai, for lunch or home made cookies. They treat us as royalty, always giving that which they genuinely don't have. One thing that I hear all the time is that they feel safe with us both from a medical perspective and as a grassroots organisation which has lived amongst them for ten years and functioned for them.

We always chat, the social interaction being a vital part of their mental and physical health. One of our recent subjects of discussion has inevitably been the return to Shingal. Interestingly, even though there are few medical services there, it has been our less abled patients who have returned, but as they have shared with us, their decision was not their own, but based upon other abled family members who are their support system.

Despite the appalling conditions, our patients are very hesitant to leave the camp. They are concerned about the lack of conditions and services in Shingal for both old and young. They are concerned about the lack of infrastructure throughout the region of Shingal. They have no money, even with a government grant to rebuild their destroyed homes. They are even more concerned about the political parties/ militia in control and for their safety and security. They say with one voice that it is a dream but one that is still far off. Those who were taken into the captivity of ISIS or still have family missing do not consider returning to Shingal, they value the safety and security of the Kurdish Region of Iraq, and even though there are times of tension, they are assured that the KRG will protect them.

In the past six months or so, Springs of Hope Foundation has received a steady trickle of special needs patients, both orphans, and older people. I now supervise the medical aspect of a growing equine therapy programme for men with cognitive issues, even partial paralysis, and children with autism and Down's Syndrome. The word is now out that we work alongside the special needs community, extending our tent calls and availability to these wonderful people.

I am in constant touch with medical and nursing professionals in the province and in Mosul Hospital so as to be aware of developments in this field that can affect our community, such as the outbreak of winter flu, disease, etc. I conduct live calls with patients and am in constant mobile touch with all who need help or reassurance at any hour of the day and night.

As a nurse I raise my voice today and ask for your help. I know that the world is bowed down with grief and suffering, I know that everyone lives on emotional overload, but I still come to you and ask for your help. I ask you not to forget us. I ask that you allow your heart to be filled with compassion and to not look away. I ask you to help us provide them with a healthy life for as long as they live in their tent here in the camp.

In closing I would like to share with you one short story, something that happened this week during my camp rounds. A ten year old girl named Shirin approached me. “Doctor, please may I talk with you, Sir?" she enquired. "Will you please promise me that SOHF will stay in the camp and that you will come to visit. Dear Doctor, I need you to promise me that." I asked her gently why she needed that promise. She took my hand and led me to her grandmother who was suffering from chronic diabetes and had not received any medical care for several months. After I visited with the family I gave Shirin my answer. "If God wills dear daughter, if God wills. I hope that he does."

Nurse Salah

Sidra Fahim, Nursing Student

"The situation in the camp is challenging yet the residents display incredible patience, strength and resilience as they continue with their daily life. As a student nurse I appreciate this opportunity to be a medical health provider and a recipient of their gracious hospitality. It is encouraging to see how much respect is given when they see our badge saying SOHF. I live in the village so this is opening up a new world for me, one which is vital for me to be a part of.

By being in the camp and doing our rounds we have met patients who were undiagnosed and just by sitting and talking over a chai, they then allowed us to do basic medical checks. I am so grateful that we were able to meet them. I am sure that there are many amongst the thousands who are similarly undiagnosed. As much as we would like, we can not reach everyone.

I am very proud to be a part of this wonderful work, to meet these pure hearted people who are doing their best to make life continue. All the plants around the tents, and the food preparations are such a sign that they love life and are determined to do their best despite the very trying conditions. I am proud to meet them, and to leave their tents knowing that we have given both medical aid and some hope."

Sidra Fahim. Nursing Student

Kamo Haji

"Thank you for keeping the Hope Clinic open when others have gone, you stayed, and thank you for coming to visit me when I am unable to come. I am very worried about all the garbage spread over the camp. There are many rats now, and we have had enough to deal with, the Coronavirus, fires and floods, and now rats which will spread disease. We have no more ability to deal with these things. We are all very afraid, afraid that this will be a winter of much sickness, maybe even to death. God help us."

Kamo Haji, 57 years old. Section B4, Shariya Camp.

Asia Jasso, Nursing Student

"My first visit inside the camp shocked me. The filth, the shared bathrooms, the garbage spread all over the camp, it is so dangerous especially for the young and the old. We are spending even more time educating both our students and patients on nutrition, hygiene, and protection from diseases.

I learned that the people inside the camp are very beloved. They speak in a direct and honest way, they are respectful and kind. They all want more and more time to spend with us in talking, in sharing their problems. Yes, of course they discuss their health issues, that is first and foremost, but they freely share their family problems, and concerns for their future. In every tent there is at least one person who is sick and apart from us, has no access to treatment.

It may be hard to believe but after ten years there are still people inside the camp who have no knowledge about healthy eating, or how best to take care of their health. They know nothing about sickness prevention, how to feed their children, or protocols for sleep which is hard inside a camp with continual noise.

They need us a lot today and we will do our very best for these beloved people."

Asia Jasso, Nursing Student

Haji Peso

“Firstly and then secondly I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for everything that your medical team does for the families in the camp. You are our only source, we trust only you. I especially appreciate your support during my eye surgeries, you always answered me and responded promptly when I called. Thank you for being there for us.

Regarding the issue of the garbage. It significantly affects our mental health, and our physical health. We are living in a garbage dump. Think about that. We appreciate efforts to fix this but we see another pandemic breaking out this winter if the situation is not resolved. We have enough health problems as it is, without adding to them. We can't even go for a walk these days without walking through trash.”

Haji Peso, 68 years old, Section A4, Shariya Camp

Khalida Omer, Nursing Student

"I live in the camp. I am a student nurse with SOHF, my name is Khalida. I want to share my opinion as one who has lived in a tent for ten years. The camp is not good. It is very bad and it gets worse day by day. It is hard for me to say this, because the camp provided us with a place of refuge and safety, without the camp I do not know what would have happened to us. The camp has served us well but honestly it is evident that we have run out of air and have shortness of breath at this time.

I have lived as one among thousands for ten years. Everyone has his own problem. Everyone has something and despite everything, they remain in this battle for life. Right now, no one has peace, everyone is worried and no one has any answers to anything.

More people are sick than are well. That’s a fact. Sickness and disease is on the increase. The only place inside the camp that provides health awareness and care is Springs of Hope. The Hope Medical Clinic can not provide people with medicine for example for heart care, those who can not afford to buy medicine…

The eyes of the world have turned away from us again, but we are still here and need help. I hope that the relevant parties will help SOHF who are the only ones helping our people."

Khalida Omer. Nursing Student.

Amal Aedo, Student Nurse

The eyes of the world have turned away from us again, but we are still here and need help. I hope that the relevant parties will help SOHF who are the only ones helping our people."

Amal Aedo, Student Nurse.

It’s painful to watch the deterioration of the camp. To watch the warp and weft of fragile life being once again pulled to the limits.

We weatherproofed the roof of our stables this week, which meant covering the roof with heavy weight plastic, filling bags with rocks and spreading the bags over the roof. Protection such as it is against the leaks, and floods that the rains inevitably bring.

The tent dwellers will be preparing their tents this week. Same sytem, plastic over the torn tents weighted down with stones, bricks whatever can be found. Just this year when the rains deluge down, the garbage will most likely be washed into their tent. They won’t just be bailing out water, but stinking miasma that will linger with its disease, long after the water has receded and dried.

The days of relative "glory" of a sparkling clean camp have long gone. We ask you to help us keep our boots on the ground, amidst the garbage, for the sake of these "pure hearts" and "beloved people."