On the morning of Tuesday, June 10, 2014, the world was shaken by violent reports that Mosul in Iraq had been seized by the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Around 200,000 Assyrians were forced to flee for their lives, many wearing only the clothes on their backs. Basic necessities and needs remain as long as the refugees are unable to return to their homes.
Since 2014, Assyrians Without Borders has supported Assyrians in Iraq with food and hygiene supplies, mattresses, pillows, blankets, gas canisters, and more. Together, we have helped and provided relief to tens of thousands of Assyrian families who have fled to the Nineveh Plains in Iraq, an area where many Assyrians have sought refuge. Assyrians Without Borders cooperates with the Assyrian Aid Society in Iraq (AAS-I), which helps implement the humanitarian aid efforts.
In 2015, Assyrians Without Borders launched a long-term project aimed at helping refugees live a healthy life. A mobile medical team has provided healthcare and medicine to over 8,500 refugee families in and around Nohadra (Dohuk). The team consisted of a doctor, a nurse, and a driver. The team was based in Iraq and partially recruited from among the refugees themselves. This work included visits to villages 2–3 times a week.
During 2018–2019, Assyrians Without Borders implemented a youth project called “Empowering Assyrian Youth as Change-Makers”, in collaboration with AAS-I. The project was based on human rights principles and aimed to help young Assyrians develop a sense of ownership over their Assyrian heritage as the indigenous people of Iraq. For Assyrians Without Borders and AAS-I, this also meant enabling Assyrians to remain in their homeland rather than fleeing political persecution. The project was funded by Swedish development aid via Forum Syd.
In 2023–2024, Assyrians Without Borders, together with partner Shlama Foundation, carried out a project for students in Ankawa, Erbil, Alqosh, and Tesqopa. Assyrians Without Borders contributed by covering housing rent costs for university students for one year and providing textbooks for both university students and schoolchildren.
Another project carried out in 2024, also in collaboration with the Shlama Foundation, was the restoration of a water well in the 128 Quarter in Erbil, Iraq. For years, the community had faced water shortages, with some households going weeks without access to water. The well, which had been out of service for years, was restored after drilling down 550 meters and installing new water pipelines.
In 2025, Assyrians Without Borders carried out a project in collaboration with Assyrian Aid Society in Iraq and Assyrian Aid Society in Sweden, aimed at meeting the basic needs of three Assyrian schools in the Duhok Governorate: Nohadra Primary School in central Duhok, Shameil High School, and Shiyoz Primary School in the village of Shiyoz. The project included the installation of air conditioning units in administrative and teachers’ rooms, replacement of staffroom furniture at Nohadra Primary School, provision of A4 paper to support teaching activities, and replacement of toilet doors at Shmouel High School.
