SYRIA. BRIDGES OF SOLIDARITY
We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic fire that broke out during a wedding in a small town in northern Iraq, resulting in the loss of so many innocent lives. At least 100 people are reported killed and more than 150 injured, some with very serious burns. We have been working in Qaraqosh for more than 10 years, since before theoccupation by Daesh (Islamic State), alongside religious minorities with peacebuilding programmes, rebuilding schools and health facilities.
In these hours we have received a request for support from the 'Al Horuk' hospital in Mosul, the only public facility in the Nineveh Governorate that specialises in treating burns. We are already supporting this facility and just yesterday we finished equipping the hospital's two emergency rooms, which are overflowing at this time.
In coordination with our partners, we are checking what else we can do in the emergency response. At the moment, our local staff is distributing masks and gloves, and inviting all our contacts to donate blood, which is urgently needed. Fortunately, none of our local staff were affected, but several of their loved ones were.
On this day of sorrow and sadness, we wish to express from Italy our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to all those affected by this terrible tragedy. All our sympathy to the Iraqi people.
