Canadian doctor Dr Zainab Najarali joined a mission to distribute Orphan Trust rations in Kerbala. This is her first-hand account:
“After surviving years of devastating war, Iraq stands optimistic, yet obviously fractured. I had the opportunity to visit Iraq during what is a heartbreaking time for its people. What I saw was a country attempting to rebuild itself, yet plagued by the war’s aftermath – security checkpoints every few blocks, orphaned children and single women, unemployed youth, poor sanitation and destroyed infrastructure.
“Cue organizations like The Orphan Trust, an NGO whose aim is to provide aid to the most disadvantaged populations of the country. Presently, The Orphan Trust raises money and uses it to provide food to widows and orphaned children in Kerbala, Iraq. To make the process transparent, an Iraqi local is primarily in charge of the ground work and sees that families who qualify are the ones who receive aid. It is a fundamental principle of The Orphan Trust that food is delivered to them in a timely and systematic manner.
“The Orphan Trust is also very future oriented and hopes to expand its reach. Talks are underway about providing vulnerable populations with medical aid, again targeting those in most dire need. My aim is to bring fellow colleagues and friends who are doctors to visit next year to carry out free medical check-ups for these orphan families.
“In a country that is in desperate need of assistance, organizations like The Orphan Trust are paramount. It was a privilege to witness its work on the ground, and it would be an honour to advance my involvement with The Orphan Trust in the future.”
Dr Zainab Najarali
