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LDS CHARITIES IN IRAQ: 'SHARING YOUR PAIN'
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
January 11, 2015 Sunday
By Sarah Jane Weaver, LDS Church News
HOWESK, IRAQ
Kohar Mardiros was going blind.
She needed surgery to save the sight in one eye; she was combating
an infection in the other.
But her village, located just outside of Duhok in the Kurdistan region
of northern Iraq, had limited medical resources.
"I was afraid I would lose my sight," she recounted.
Her family and community pooled money - and found outside resources to
assist them. She received the laser surgery that would save her vision.
Mayor Murad Wartanian says in Howesk residents take care of each
other - and others in need.
That's why when the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq targeted many
living in the region last August, they literally opened their homes
to some of the thousands of internally displaced people in need.
Howesk is home to 115 families, most Armenian Catholic, in Northern
Iraq. In August, another 82 families - some Catholic, some Yezidi -
moved into the community. Many were able to find space in the homes
of local families, others moved in to the school or community center.
War and internal tensions and divisions continue to polarize Iraq where
more than 1 million people have fled their homes. LDS Charities - the
humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -
is partnering with the local government and other organizations to
help those impacted by the crisis.
In addition to assisting with medical needs - including the surgical
instruments and equipment at the Duhok Eye Hospital - LDS Charities
has provided food, milk, clothing, bedding, sanitary products and
blankets to those in Howesk.
The internally displaced people "were forced to leave everything
behind," said Mayor Wartanian. "We received them as our brothers and
sisters. We share our bread with them."
Mayor Wartanian said each family who took refuge in the village had a
unique story to tell. Most lost all their money, cellphones and even
their wedding rings.
But they could not turn those in need away. "History records
everything," he said. "We would love that our names would be mentioned
in the history in a good way."
Most in the village had also once been refugees. Howesk was built in
1928. For decades, residents made a living in agriculture. However,
the village was destroyed during Saddam Hussein's reign in Iraq -
leaving many homeless. About a decade ago it was rebuilt.
Mayor Wartanian said his grandparents - and the grandparents of many
others in the village - built the community and would want them to
look after modern refugees.
Cold weather has made helping the internally displaced people even
more important. "Our winter is very cold, a very perishing weather.
Sometimes it snows here in the village," he said.
He is very appreciative of the support from LDS Charities.
"There is an old saying that says, 'One hand does not clap alone.' So
a human needs his human brother. He needs him in everything. ... He
needs him for guidance."
When organizations from far away countries - like LDS Charities -
offer help, it "cuts the distance" between foreign lands, he said.
"You feel like you are not alone, you have your human brother who
is sharing your pain, sharing with you your circumstances and is
serving you."
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619187/Sharing-your-pain.html?pg=all
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
January 11, 2015 Sunday
By Sarah Jane Weaver, LDS Church News
HOWESK, IRAQ
Kohar Mardiros was going blind.
She needed surgery to save the sight in one eye; she was combating
an infection in the other.
But her village, located just outside of Duhok in the Kurdistan region
of northern Iraq, had limited medical resources.
"I was afraid I would lose my sight," she recounted.
Her family and community pooled money - and found outside resources to
assist them. She received the laser surgery that would save her vision.
Mayor Murad Wartanian says in Howesk residents take care of each
other - and others in need.
That's why when the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq targeted many
living in the region last August, they literally opened their homes
to some of the thousands of internally displaced people in need.
Howesk is home to 115 families, most Armenian Catholic, in Northern
Iraq. In August, another 82 families - some Catholic, some Yezidi -
moved into the community. Many were able to find space in the homes
of local families, others moved in to the school or community center.
War and internal tensions and divisions continue to polarize Iraq where
more than 1 million people have fled their homes. LDS Charities - the
humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -
is partnering with the local government and other organizations to
help those impacted by the crisis.
In addition to assisting with medical needs - including the surgical
instruments and equipment at the Duhok Eye Hospital - LDS Charities
has provided food, milk, clothing, bedding, sanitary products and
blankets to those in Howesk.
The internally displaced people "were forced to leave everything
behind," said Mayor Wartanian. "We received them as our brothers and
sisters. We share our bread with them."
Mayor Wartanian said each family who took refuge in the village had a
unique story to tell. Most lost all their money, cellphones and even
their wedding rings.
But they could not turn those in need away. "History records
everything," he said. "We would love that our names would be mentioned
in the history in a good way."
Most in the village had also once been refugees. Howesk was built in
1928. For decades, residents made a living in agriculture. However,
the village was destroyed during Saddam Hussein's reign in Iraq -
leaving many homeless. About a decade ago it was rebuilt.
Mayor Wartanian said his grandparents - and the grandparents of many
others in the village - built the community and would want them to
look after modern refugees.
Cold weather has made helping the internally displaced people even
more important. "Our winter is very cold, a very perishing weather.
Sometimes it snows here in the village," he said.
He is very appreciative of the support from LDS Charities.
"There is an old saying that says, 'One hand does not clap alone.' So
a human needs his human brother. He needs him in everything. ... He
needs him for guidance."
When organizations from far away countries - like LDS Charities -
offer help, it "cuts the distance" between foreign lands, he said.
"You feel like you are not alone, you have your human brother who
is sharing your pain, sharing with you your circumstances and is
serving you."
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619187/Sharing-your-pain.html?pg=all