CRISIS RESPONSE

Veterans Rebuilding Life joined forces with the Iraqi Institution for Development to aid victims of a catastrophic event that killed and injured over 250 people when a fire erupted in a wedding hall in Hamdania, Iraq. The bride and groom survived, but lost many of immediate family members, relatives, and friends to the fire.

Hamdaniya is no stranger to disaster. In 2014, ISIS forced 50,000 residents to flee in a mass exodus within hours. When ISIS was defeated in 2016, less than half of the population returned.

Hamdaniya’s one hospital did not have a burn unit, and was critically under-equipped to meet the sudden demand. IID rushed to the scene, donating blood and driving the injured to hospitals.

Veterans Rebuilding Life donated over 13,000 units of burn ointments, catheters, bandages, antibiotics among other medical supplies to Al-Jumohri hospital, the only facility equipped to treat burn victims.

Dr. Sahar, chief resident of the ER in Al-Jumohri hospital, said: “Had it not been for your supplies today, we would have next to nothing to attend to burn victims.”

We wish to thank our donors for helping the victims of this heartbreaking tragedy to recover and rebuild their lives.