Livestock
Before the war, many Yazidis who fled the Sinjar Mountains were shepherds.
They owned flocks of hundreds of sheep which were all killed by ISIS. They have lost everything they had and today they live in terrible conditions in IDP camps.
At the beginning of 2018, in cooperation with the Child and Family Foundation, we purchased sheep, goats and chickens for four families and built shelters for the animals.
Thanks to this, their diet was enriched with eggs, milk and yogurt, which are very important in the difficult conditions in which they live. The results were very satisfactory, and the people themselves praised the project, emphasizing that this is the first real help they have received.
This is material support, combined with giving them activity, which is also of great importance. At least for a moment they can forget about the tragedy that happened to them and try to start living normally.
A few months later the Department of Humanitarian Aid of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland financed the purchase of livestock for 80 families.
The poorest families in Khanke and Sinjar received 2 sheep, 2 goats and 4 chicken each. Most of them are single mothers as well as large families. They survived captivity but were living in extreme poverty in makeshift encampments, with no chance of improving their living conditions. That has changed. The animals give milk and eggs. Dairy, such as milk and yogurt, can be produced adding more nutrition to the families’ diet, which is important especially for children.
A few months later the Department of Humanitarian Aid of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland financed the purchase of livestock for 80 families.
The poorest families in Khanke and Sinjar received 2 sheep, 2 goats and 4 chicken each. Most of them are single mothers as well as large families. They survived captivity but were living in extreme poverty in makeshift encampments, with no chance of improving their living conditions. That has changed.
The animals give milk and eggs. Dairy, such as milk and yogurt, can be produced adding more nutrition to the families’ diet, which is important especially for children.
Project development in 2019.
Owning a herd, which requires constant care, raises duty and breaks out of stagnation. Regular care of animals makes routine appear in life, badly needed to survive the toughest moments.
In 2019, support in the form of the purchase of farm animals along with the construction of the shelters and feed supply was received by 160 families from Sinjar, Khanke, Bashiqa and Karnjook (Nineveh Plain). The herds grew rapidly. After a few weeks, the first young were born (some of the animals were pregnant), which greatly increased the effects of the project.