Integral raised a Disaster Alert for the growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq on 12th August 2014. To date Integral has hosted seven teleconferences in order to facilitate Members sharing their operational and communication activities in the region.
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A settlement hosting approx 255 displaced Yazidi families in Sorya, Battel district, Kurdistan, northern Iraq. Tearfund is planning to carry out WASH activities here. Photo: Medair/Stella Chetham |
Currently 13 Integral Members have joined together for this response: CEDAR Fund (Hong Kong), Food for the Hungry (US), Integra (Slovakia), Medair (Switzerland), Mission East (Denmark), SEL France, Tear Netherlands, Tearfund Belgium, TEAR Fund (New Zealand), Tearfund (UK), Transform Aid (Australia), World Relief (US), and World Renew (US/Canada).
Out of those, three Members are operational and are gathering teams for their intervention in this crisis; a further two Members are supporting a common partner in northern Iraq working with Kurdish refugees and all have launched fundraising campaigns in their respective countries.
Jan Eyre, Integral’s Disaster Management and Programme Coordinator, says; “Being part of this Integral response means that Members can share information and communication resources on our dedicated website. The aim of this increased coordination is to see if we can work on a common strategy that will leverage more funds for our Members. The Integral Disaster Relief process also enables those without direct field contact to launch fundraising appeals in their own countries and consider seconding staff. It is undoubtedly the case we can achieve more together than as single organisations.”
Mark Screeton, Medair’s International Director says, “In response to the present needs, Medair teams are preparing to quickly distribute 8,400 emergency food rations and more than 2,000 emergency family kits, including mattresses, blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, floor mats, pillows, ropes, buckets, laundry soap and hand soap, to affected families. Being part of a global Integral response means that we can send more resources to where they are most needed with the aim of assisting more people, particularly as colder weather approaches. When faced with such immense need in a very challenging operating environment it becomes even more important to work together to maximise our individual responses.”
The United Nations estimates that there are 1.8 million displaced people in northern and central Iraq. Many are seeking refuge in construction sites, schools, or makeshift shelters scattered around the cities. The need for humanitarian assistance grows daily as fighting continues and human rights violations persist particularly for the country’s minority groups (source and more info here).
Integral Alliance is a WEA affiliate and has served as a global partner to the WEA in the field of relief and development since 2006. Integral contributes to the WEA’s goal of fostering Christian unity around the world through working with its Members on a more integrated and collaborative strategy in disasters.
All Integral Members sign up to the Red Cross Code of Conduct and Sphere Standards, and Integral has developed an agreed Quality Standards Statement amongst its 19 Members.
Integral’s website: www.integralalliance.org
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INTEGRAL
Integral has 19 Members who work in over 85 countries and currently fund over 1100 projects in more than 30 sectors. Our Members have a combined income of over $675m USDs and are:
CEDAR Fund – Hong Kong
Food for the Hungry – USA
Integra – Slovakia
MAP International – USA
Medair – Switzerland
Missions Alliance – Norway
Mission East – Denmark
SEL France – France
TEAR Australia – Australia
Tear– Netherlands
Tearfund – Belgium
TEAR Fund – New Zealand
Tear Fund – Switzerland
Tearfund – UK
Transform Aid International – Australia
World Concern – USA
World Relief Canada – Canada
World Relief – USA
World Renew – Canada & USA
The Integral Disaster Relief Process:
Integral Members have developed a collaborative strategy for responding to disasters as Integral, with the Disaster Response Process co-ordinating the emergency activities of its Members. The aim of the Integral DR process is to combine resources to ensure that as many people as possible are reached with the assistance they need.
In disaster situations Integral Members have previously collaborated in:
2014: South Sudan, CAR, Syria, The Philippines (Typhoon Haiyan), Kenya unrest, Iraq
2013: Cyclone Mahasen (Bangladesh), North India Flooding (Utterakhand), Syrian Crisis, and Tropical Cyclone Phailin (East India), Typhoon Haiyan (The Philippines)
2012: South Sudan (displacement), Philippines Flooding, Democratic Republic of Congo (displacement)
2011: Cote d’Ivoire, Libya, North Korea, South Sudan, Japan earthquake, Middle East, East Africa food crisis
2010: Haiti earthquake, Sahel food crisis, Indonesia earthquake, Guatemala Hurricane, Pakistan floods
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