Societies across the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many local organisations have stepped in to support their communities and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the virus. The organisation “Nawat Al-Usra” (The Family Nucleus) has played a vital role in supporting local communities in the Iraqi city of Samarra. They have collected donations from local communities and supported vulnerable individuals by launching a number of initiatives.
The organisation has established a mask manufacturing workshop. Producing more than 500 masks and approximately 4,000 medical gloves every day, the facility has provided job opportunities for local residents and met the city’s need for masks and personal protective equipment (PPE).
The organisation also launched the “Blank Page” project in May, in which the team worked to pay off the debts to shops and bakeries owed by families to shops and bakeries that had lost their sources of income due to the pandemic.
The organisation’s initiatives have also supported service workers in public hospitals. In cooperation with the community police, Nawat Al-Usra distributed 50 food baskets to workers at Samarra Public Hospital and distributed PPE to hospital workers and visitors.
The organisation has also honoured healthcare providers, particularly local emergency response teams, for their efforts in combating the outbreak and saving lives.
Nawat Al-Usra also launched a COVID-19 awareness campaign in al-Khansaa IDP Camp. Members of the organisation distributed leaflets and PPE to residents of the camp and participated in disinfection efforts.
