On September 26, a devastating fire erupted at a wedding in Baghdeda, Nineveh Plain, Iraq, leaving a human trail of devastation in its wake. The magnitude of this tragedy cannot be overstated, as it has claimed the lives of 133 individuals and left many others critically injured.

On the very night of the fire, AAS-IRAQ mobilized the AAS Mobile Medical Clinic and pharmacies to deliver much needed supplies to Mosul, Baghdeda, and Nuhadra (Duhok) hospitals. Throughout the initial days of this crisis, our local Baghdeda team created a clinical team to visit the homes of the wounded to clean and replace burn gauze and tend to other emergency health needs. Financial support was immediately approved to support families hosting funerals and for family members accompanying victims transported to Turkey for critical treatments.

Early on, AAS presented a proposal to the local Baghdeda council for a mental health project to serve victims and survivors of the fire. Mental health is area in which we have experience through a ongoing project we have in partnership with the U.S. State Department.

AAS-IRAQ leadership continues to work with the local Baghdeda council and other community members to assess continuing needs and implement various plans of action.

Our Baghdeda fire fundraising campaign on Facebook and Instagram, a joint effort of AASA, AAS-Australia, and AAS- Canada, met with an astonishing response as literally thousands of individuals from around the world donated online, in addition to large figure donations from our friends and partners here in the national Assyrian community, including Assyrian American Association of Southern California, Assyrian American National Federation, Assyrian American Police Association, Assyrian Cultural Foundation, Assyrian Christian Church of Chicago, Assyrian Evangelical Church of San Jose, Assyrian Foundation of America, Assyrian National Council of Illinois, Bet-Eil Assyrian Ministries, DRA II Foundation, Iraqi Christian Relief Council, and Urhai Community Service Center.

While we await full delivery of the donations originating from Facebook and Instagram (which can take as long as 90 days), AASA in September immediately began moving funds for the most immediate relief efforts. These transfers are continuing.

Our people of the Nineveh Plain have exhibited remarkable resilience in rebuilding their ancestral lands following the dark shadow of ISIS. They will endure and rise above this latest adversity as well. As the Assyrian Aid Society of America, it is both our privilege and duty to stand firmly by their side during these challenging times.