Mosul: Handicap International extends its emergency response

For four months, Handicap International’s teams have been providing assistance to people displaced from Mosul and its surrounding areas. Every day, dozens of physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychosocial workers and risk education agents visit camps and communities where displaced people live. In recent weeks, the organization has also extended its emergency response to include post-operative care-management for conflict casualties.

“More and more people are returning to the east of Mosul, in addition to several hundred thousand people not displaced by fighting. Daily attacks continue to affect this part of town and fighting is likely to intensify shortly in the west, increasing the number of casualties.” As the fighting continues to rage in Mosul, people’s needs are no longer being met: “Hospitals are overcrowded and casualties only stay a few days. No one is currently able to provide a physical rehabilitation service capable of preventing severe complications in recovering patients,” says Fanny. Most casualties have to leave hospital within two to three days without the post-operative care they need.

“Health facilities that care for casualties after stabilization are currently in areas close to town but should soon launch operations in Mosul itself. Despite the unstable security situation and access problems, it is vital to provide local care in densely populated areas. One of our physical therapists is already working daily in Qayyarah hospital, where many casualties from Mosul are treated. He assists people with reduced mobility, provides rehabilitation sessions and donates equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs, and so on. Our teams will be beefed up over the coming weeks to ensure a presence in other hospitals. Psychosocial works and psychologists will also be there to help patients and their families during the rehabilitation process.”

Once areas are retaken by the army, families who fled try to return. Handicap International will therefore also expand its risk education activities to alert returnees of the dangers they will be facing. “The aim is to raise people’s awareness before they return to their homes, where they still risk being injured by explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices. Much of our work to protect people is done upstream, during these sessions,” says the head of mission.