Support Program For Palestinians Arriving in the U.S. From Iraq

Support Program For Palestinians Arriving in the U.S. From Iraq January 15, 2010 Report

Al-Awda Refugee Support Programs Over the past ten years, Al-Awda has organized: • Computer drives for Palestinians in refugee camps in Lebanon • Support for the work of Ibdaa Health Committee in Dheisha camp on the West Bank • An education fund for students in the camps • Support for the Gaza Community Mental Health Program • Support for stranded Palestinians from Iraq • Note that while many Al-Awda members took part in the Viva Palestina U.S. Convoy to break the siege on Gaza, PRRC was not a fiscal sponsor of this effort. The principal fiscal sponsor was IFCO and all donations were made directly and accounted for by that organization.

Palestinians In IraqBrief History and Facts • Approx 34,000 Palestinians lived in Iraq before the 2003 invasion • About 21,000 left the country since • Over 2,500 have been stranded in camps at Al-Waleed, Tanaf, Al-Ruweished and Al-Hol • Al-Ruweished camp in the Jordanian desert was closed in 2007

Al-Awda’s Support for the Stranded Palestinians Began in 2006 Al-Awda raised funds which were used to purchase and transport food and other supplies. Pictures of one such convoy from Al-Yarmouk camp in Damascus to Tanafare shown below.

Support for Palestinians in Tanaf Al-Awda also sent clothes and other items to the Tanaf camp. Pictures below show some residents of the camp wearing Al-Awda T-shirts. Al-Awda’s Media Center also helped with the production of documentaries such as “Twenty Five Thousand Tents” to publicize the fate of Palestinians stranded in the camps. The cover of this DVD is shown bottom right.

Update! - Palestinians In Iraq • 1350 from Al-Waleed camp to resettle in the U.S. • So far, total of 65 families have arrived in the U.S.! • Al-Awda is connected to all 65 families. • Families located in San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, Utica, Schenectady, Buffalo, Boise, Chicago, Houston, Fort Worth, Austin, Memphis, Nashville, Columbia, Cleveland, Atlanta, Orlando, Harrisonburg, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Tucson, New Haven and Philadelphia.

Palestinians from IraqSome of the New Arrivals in Orlando, Chicago, Phoenix and San Diego

Palestinians from IraqSome of the New Arrivals in Cleveland, Houston, Tucson and San Diego

Palestinians from IraqFirst Month • A family of 4 is allocated via the placement and reception agency $625 per person i.e., a total of $2500 • Allocation is used for first month rent and deposit ($1600), rest for furniture ($150 per person = $600) • $300 remaining for household items, food, and cash • Thus, family ends up with little or no cash when it arrives and most often has to wait to receive their food stamps which can take several weeks.

Palestinians from IraqSecond Month • Family is on Welfare by the second month • The amount that a family receives per month varies from state to state. In California, a family of 4 receives $825 per month. In other states like Texas for example, it is much less • Monthly rent for one bedroom apartment for example in El Cajon California is $800, utilities not included. Once rent is paid, family has no money to pay for utilities etc. • Duration of welfare also varies with location. Up to 5 months in some places. In others up to five years. It may be longer with disability • After a few months, refugees are expected to pay the cost of the airfare that brought them here

Placement and ReceptionContracted Support Services • Community orientation, instruction on public transportation, enrollment in social security & food stamps, medical, help with jobs, etc. • Refugees are required to receive immediate medical examination and screening, and support for infants and pregnant mothers • Refugees are enrolled in English (ESL) classes, in some locations at a cost of $10.00 per person per month

Al-Awda’s Strategy and National Action Plan • Connect to newly arrived refugees • Contact and Connect to local communities • Contact the reception and placement agency • Fund raise for cash, household items • Assist with utility bills, other essential household items and needs • Help find jobs

Mr. and Mrs. Mohammad • Couple arrived Houston October 24th; Agency: Interfaith Ministries • Left in dirty apartment with no furniture. Community rescue.

As of January 15, 2010 • First Goal = $250,000.00 • Total cash raised = $71,000.00 • Total spent to date = $10,185.00 • Wish List donated = $6,500.00 (approx) • Grand total to date = $16,685.00 Includes: • Groceries: $3780.00 • Utilities: $2170.00 • Household: $1200.00 • Storage/Moving: $1915.00 • Shipping costs: $1120.00

Oversight Mechanisms • 100% of funds raised are used for refugee support and related work • All work has been totally voluntary without pay • Al-Awda takes no overhead whatsoever from the funds raised • A national finance committee made up of eight members oversees fundraising and expenditures • The committee includes four members of the national coordinating committee including Al-Awda’s executive committee’s chair and treasurer • The committee also includes four other members who are active with this refugee support program • The finance committee has established the guidelines for expenditures and reviews all special requests • The finance committee follows 501C3 and the well-established PRRC guidelines strictly • To contact the finance committee for more information, email rsfinance@al-awda.org

Al-Awda Wish List on AmazonWWW.AL-AWDA.ORG • Kitchen appliances, cookware and tableware • Bed sheets, pillows, blankets and towels • Arabic English dictionary with pictures • Laptop computers • First aid kits • Home appliances e.g. iron, vacuum cleaner • Sewing machines

Palestinians from IraqWish list distribution Below: Al-Awda volunteers organizing the shipment of wish list items. So far over 200 wish-list household items have been shipped to 20 families in twelve cities

Job Prospects • The US today has the highest number of unemployed people in its history • In addition, many refugees suffer psychological and culture shock, trauma, and loneliness away far from their relatives

Palestinians from IraqGetting to Work Nevertheless: • Three in Houston working • One in Atlanta working • One in Arizona fixes neighbor’s cars. • One in Harrisonburg working • Two in Chicago working • Some work from home using sewing machines provided via the Wish List

Palestinians from IraqGetting to Work Um Khaled in El Cajon California demonstrating her skills on her new sewing machine that she received via Al-Awda’s wish list

Palestinians from IraqNeed Your Support • 1350 Palestinian are arriving in the U.S. from Al-Waleed Camp • 65 families have arrived over the past five months with most in the past month • Al-Awda supports each family on average at about $200 per month (utility bills, household items and other such needs) • This means that as of this month we will be spending roughly $13,000 per month • This expenditure will increase as more of our people arrive from Al-Waleed • We need to hire a full-time staff person to coordinate and follow up with families on immediate needs • Help us reach our first goal of $250,000 • You can adopt a family on a monthly basis at $100, $200, $500 or any other amount of your choosing

Please Contribute Generously Help us continue this important, timely and needed humanitarian work • Address your donation to Al-Awda, PRRC • Your donation is tax-deductible

Thank You For Your Support! WWW.AL-AWDA.ORG

Support Program For Palestinians Arriving in the U.S. From Iraq