Taking Names – Visas for Iraqi Refugees

Taking Names – Visas for Iraqi Refugees

The truly incredible story of a guy named Kirk Johnson who started a list of hundreds of Iraqis who needed to get out of their country. They were getting death threats, and he was their only hope. Only 26 and living in his aunt’s basement, he had no idea what to do. How Kirk kind of succeeded spectacularly and failed spectacularly at the same time.

For stories of individual refugees, visit https://iraqistories.wordpress.com/.

Arts Classes for Refugees in Amman, Jordan, Summer 2013

Arts Classes for Refugees in Amman, Jordan, Summer 2013, a set on Flickr.

Family Suffers from Baath Regime and Post-Occupation Militia

The Baath regime executed this woman’s husband.

After the occupation, one of her sons discovered an explosive device on a street in Baghdad and reported it to the authorities. The militia threatened vengeance on the son’s family. They then fled to Jordan.

This widow is joined in Amman by her unmarried sister and her two children. The family does not receive cash assistance from UNHCR.

Their economic situation is difficult.

Elderly Iraqi Christian Fled Sectarian Violence, Now Lives Alone

Because this elderly woman is a christian, she was threatened in Iraq and fled to Jordan. There, she lives on her own.

She receives no cash assistance from UNHCR.

This is a picture from her sparsely furnished home.

Militia Threatened Husband and Wife Because They Are Christians

This man lives with his wife. They have no children.

They were threatened in Baghdad because they were Christians. The militia told them they must leave within 24 hours. The man is epileptic and has diabetes. They need medicine regularly, and they can’t afford it. They need help.

They receive no cash assistance from UNHCR.

This is their room.

Militia Torture Mother and Daughter-in-Law

This family consists of a mother, her son and his wife. In Iraq, militia invaded their home. The son was not home. The militia members severely tortured the mother and her daughter-in-law. She lost her baby, and she lost vision in both of her eyes.

In Jordan, she has had an operation which restored vision in one eye. The second operation is schedule in 8 months.

This is a picture of their home.

Family of Iraqi Activist Fled to Avoid Assassination

In Iraq, a young woman was involved in an activist group with people from all religions. An interview with her was broadcast on TV. Afterwards, militia came to her home. A sister was alone with her son. The militia members broke the child’s leg. They told the family that they should leave in 72 hours.

In Jordan, she, her two siblings, her sister’s husband and two children, her parents and her paternal uncle, a total of nine people, live in a small, poorly furnished house.

Her paternal uncle and father are sick.

They don’t receive cash assistance .

Widow Needs Pacemaker

This woman came to Jordan for treatment with her husband. When they went back to Iraq, they found a threatening letter at their home. Militia placed a bomb under the husband’s car, and he was killed in the explosion.

She returned to Jordan and lives without family.

She receives no support from UNHCR. She is elderly and has high blood pressure and diabetes. She has pleural effusion. She has already had one had heart operation. She needs a pacemaker for her heart. The procedure is expensive and she cannot afford it. She lives with one other women and they pay the rent together.

Tortured in Iraq, Suffering in Jordan

In 2005, militia imprisoned this man for ten days because he used to live in government house. After some time passed, the militia detained him and his sixteen-year old son. After three weeks, during which militia members tortured the father, the militia put them in the back of a car and released them.

The father fled with his four children to Jordan. There, a fire destroyed their kitchen and destroyed everything therein. The owner told him that he needs to fix everything by himself. This Iraqi refugee does not have enough money to repair the damage and replace the appliances.

On the Run After Working for USA Military Contractor

A husband with a wife and two children worked with a contractor for the USA military in Baghdad. Militia threatened him. Three times, he changed addresses. Last time, he got threatened in Dora. One morning, he went out for work, and the militia vandalized his wall with graffiti identifying him as a spy.

They then came to Jordan. A grandfather was with them, but he died of cancer. The father suffered a heart attack in Jordan. His wife is sick with diabetes and needs special, expensive treatment which costs 41 JD monthly. Because it is special medicine, she gets no indemnity.

This is a picture of their living room.