Shortcuts

The Ground Truth Project

The Ground Truth Blog

Intern or Volunteer

Donate

 

 

 

The Year of the Ballot

[January 30] On Saturday in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, millions of Iraq's citizens will head to the polls to elect new provincial councils. Some 14,400 candidates are contesting 440 seats. Additional votes scheduled for later this year include municipal and district councils before August, a national referendum on the U.S.-Iraq security agreement in July, and a new national parliament in December. While ballots are overwhelmingly chosen over bullets, there are still incidences of political violence. Yesterday, three candidates running for provincial council seats were assassinated. [Read More].

Give the Gift of Peace

NPR's Deborah Amos joins EPIC Celebration in New York City

Deborah Amos of NPR speaks with EPIC supporters at EPIC's Dec. 4th National Benefit for Humanitarian Action in Iraq (Photo by Shravan Vidyarthi/EPIC)[December 5] Last night our friends at the Pomegranate Gallery in NYC hosted EPIC’s Annual Benefit for Humanitarian Action in Iraq, bringing together EPIC supporters new and old. It was an unforgettable evening with many highlights. Legendary singer and oud master Rachid Halihal and drummer Najib Bahri (Darabuka) warmed the room with soulful Iraqi music. Award-winning NPR Foreign Correspondent Deborah Amos spoke candidly about the deepening crisis she is seeing among Iraqi refugees. EPIC Vice President Selma Turgut, a resident nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital, presented a clip from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s powerful documentary “The Lost Generation” about Iraqis who have taken refuge in Syria and Jordan. EPIC board member Rebeen Pasha, a former refugee himself from Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, stressed that Iraqi families simply cannot move forward without our help. EPIC Board President Nathaniel Hurd, a Government Relations Officer with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), shared firsthand accounts of EPIC’s vital leadership in the humanitarian community. As Nathaniel puts it: “EPIC’s lifesaving advocacy works.” It's not too late to join the celebration. Give the gift of peace this holiday season. In New York, we raised nearly $4,000 in support of EPIC’s lifesaving advocacy. Now a generous funder is challenging us to go even further. If we successfully raise $5,000 by year's end, he will match it dollar for dollar! Please help us reach our goal through a tax-deductible donation today.

EPIC Joins Groups Working to Alleviate Crisis at National Symposium

Panel II: Vulnerable & Displaced Iraqis: What Needs to Happen/What Is Being Done. Bob Carey, Vice President of the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Resettlement Department, addresses the audience about the challenges that newly arrived Iraqi refugees face in the U.S. Bob also chairs Refugee Council USA (RCUSA). To the left of Bob are Emily Gish of Mercy Corps, Hilary Ingraham of the U.S. Department of State, and Sana Hardina of Refugee Council USA.[October 24] This month EPIC helped Iraq War veteran Kevin Murphy and fellow students at Rutgers School of Law in Newark, New Jersey, organize IRAQ AT THE CROSSROADS: Protecting Refugees, Rescuing our Allies, and Empowering Iraqi Law, a national symposium addressing the plight of millions of vulnerable Iraqis affected by the war. Attended by 150 students, faculty and advocates from across the country, the gathering addressed one of the greatest global humanitarian challenge facing the next President of the United States. The bestselling author of Imperial Life in the Emerald City Rajiv Chandrasekaran delivered a powerful keynote address about the Green Zone's "neoconservative terrarium" and other early U.S. failures in Iraq. Speakers also included EPIC Director Erik K. Gustafson, Iraqi Judge Ra'id Juhi of the Saddam Hussein trial, Emily Gish of Mercy Corps, Bob Carey of International Rescue Committee, Sam Parker of the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Hilary Ingraham of the U.S. State Department. To learn more about the event, the speakers, and their recommendations for the next U.S. Congress and administration, visit the Rutgers Law Record and read our posts about the event at EPIC's Ground Truth in Iraq blog.

Experience IRAQ FORUM 2008

[August 13] EPIC is pleased to announce the release of our online version of IRAQ FORUM 2008. Explore perspectives from United Nations and government officials, human rights advocates, aid workers, and leading experts from Iraq and the region. IRAQ FORUM 2008 was part of IRAQ ACTION DAYS -- a joint initiative of more than 20 organizations -- which brought hundreds of constituents to Washington, DC to demand humanitarian action for peace in Iraq. Special thanks to the Institute for Middle East Studies at The George Washington University for hosting this historic gathering. All videos are produced by Rouane Itani of Aflama, LLC. Become part of the experience. Watch IRAQ FORUM 2008 now.

EPIC Commends Congressmen Hastings, Dingell and Shays for their Humanitarian Leadership on Iraq

[July 17] Last night, Congressmen Hastings, Dingell, and Shays reintroduced H.R. 6496, the "Iraq Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement, and Security Act," a comprehensive, multi-year regional plan to address the humanitarian needs of Iraqi refugees, IDPs, and other vulnerable populations affected by the war in Iraq. It is a strong bill which confronts all aspects of the humanitarian crisis. According to Congressman Hastings, “The plight of Iraqi refugees and IDPs is worsening by the day. It is heartbreaking to hear the stories of families who fled for their safety, are now unable to work and have subsequently depleted their savings in order to survive. Irrespective of one’s view on the Iraq war, I believe that the United States has a moral obligation to address this humanitarian crisis." Stay tuned for update on the bill and to learn what you can do to help. Read the Full Text of the Bill

Can't find something? Visit the EPIC Archives