Rising Unemployment

Unemployment in the town continues to rise, and as a consequence hunger is becoming more visible. Current estimates put unemployment and under-employment in Falluja at 60 percent.

Restoring Hope

As a sign of hope and regeneration, Islamic Relief initiated a clean-up and tree planting project in Falluja, and created a small park using local labour.

"This is a pioneering project,” announced Najah Bashir, IR-Iraq Falluja Project Manager. “As well as improving the environment, the project will provide income for 240 unskilled labourers,” he explained.

Over the summer this year Islamic Relief recruited an average of 220 men each day, from the poorest levels of society. In addition, garbage collection trucks, tankers, cars and equipment were hired or bought locally in order to benefit local businesses.

Local women were also employed to cook lunch for the workers, which helped to spread the benefits and include the whole community in the effort.

Project Success

"Workers are happy with what they earn at the end of the day and are competing to keep their names on the labourers list for the next day," Bashir stated.

The hard work of staff and locals has ensured the success of the scheme. Falluja city hall members expressed their gratitude in a letter of thanks sent to the IR-Iraq office, and also suggested that the project be expanded into other areas.

A Place to Play

The central areas of the streets were bare, creating dust in the summer and mud in winter. However, Islamic Relief's team of planters have transformed these areas into oases of green shade.

After weeks of cleaning up and planting, residents now have a beautiful little park to enjoy. A well has also been dug nearby to ensure that the plants and trees can be regularly watered.

One Falluja resident expressed his approval of the work, saying, "Now our children can go out to play on the grass and under trees nearby."