ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The European Union has allocated €100,000 in humanitarian assistance to support people affected by recent floods in the Chamchamal district of Sulaimani province.
"This EU funding supports the Iraqi Red Crescent Society in delivering much-needed emergency assistance, including essential household items, food assistance, winter supplies, hygiene items, cash support, and basic health and water services," the EU said in a statement on Wednesday.
Around two weeks ago, the Kurdistan Region and several parts of Iraq were hit by three consecutive days of heavy rainfall, triggering widespread flash floods. Chamchamal, located in western Sulaimani province, was the hardest-hit area, where two people were killed and 12 others injured.
The EU said the humanitarian funding will “directly benefit more than 16,000 people whose homes, livelihoods, and access to basic services were severely disrupted by the floods.”
According to the statement, the assistance is part of the EU’s broader contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
A preliminary report by the Kurdistan Region’s Joint Crisis Coordination Center (JCC) indicated that the floods caused at least five deaths and 19 injuries, while damaging more than 2,200 homes across the Kurdistan Region and neighboring Kirkuk province.
The JCC reported that around 1,607 homes in Chamchamal were damaged, along with the destruction of approximately 200 vehicles. Additionally, 115 shops and workplaces were affected, and damage was recorded at 450 public and private projects.
More than $8.7 million has already been raised for flood relief, primarily through donations from Kurdish businessmen, with fundraising efforts still ongoing. A dedicated website has been launched to allow the public to track donations in real time.
A significant share of the funds - exceeding 7 billion Iraqi dinars (about $5.3 million) - was raised through Rudaw’s flagship fundraising program Lagal Ranj (“With Ranj” in Kurdish), hosted by renowned Kurdish media figure and Rudaw lead anchor Ranj Sangawi, who launched the campaign shortly after the disaster.