ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING

#15: The Changing Landscape of Iraq in Crisis

Podcast (iraqmatters): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:51 — 46.8MB)

The Iraq crisis which began with insurgent violence in al-Anbar during January of this year, has escalated dramatically since the fall of Mosul two months ago. What is the changing landscape of life in northern Iraq? What has become of the Iraqi Security Forces? Will Kurdistan become Independent? And, what moves must Iraq take moving forward?

Tune in to this episode of IRAQ MATTERS to have all these pressing questions answered by Christine van den Toorn, an American researcher based in Iraq who has witnessed the crisis develop from within the nation. Christine Skype called us from Sulaimani on July 22nd and provided an inside look at how the crisis has unfolded in northern Iraq.

JEBEL SINJAR - Many Iraqis fled to the mountains south of Sinjar to escape IS as they moved into the city, and civilians are trapped there without access to food, water, or medical care. — JEBEL SINJAR – Many Iraqis fled to the mountains south of Sinjar to escape IS as they moved into the city, and civilians are trapped there without access to food, water, or medical care.

If you are interested in some intriguing discussion on the situation in cities across Ninevah province, how different groups have responded to the crisis, the political atmosphere in Iraq and more, you are in the right place.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end of the episode for an update on EPIC’s recent field work initiatives TentEd, a project to help meet the educational needs of Syrian refugee children in Iraq, and Photovoice, a photography project with students at at the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani.

Since our interview with Christine there have been rapid developments in the humanitarian crisis due to ISIS’s movement into Sinjar, Zumar, and Wana earlier this week. Here is a OCHA report with the latest numbers, humanitarian actions being taken, and a description of the situation these vulnerable populations are facing.

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TIME INDEX

Intro with Taif Jany and Asha Athman: 00:26

Interview with Christine Van Den Toorn: 04:36

Conclusion with Field work and Humanitarian Updates: 34:11