Medical Mission to Iraq

In May of 2007, ISPHR’s president, Dr. Saren Azer and executive secretary, Lynn Foster travelled to the Kurdish region of Iraq to deliver medical treatment.  With
200 lbs of medicines supplied by Health Partners International Canada, donated medical equipment, children’s clothes and the good wishes of many Canadians, Lynn and Saren visited hospitals, clinics and refugee camps assessing the situation and doing what they could for the ill and the poor. Over six weeks, they saw almost 1,500 patients. 

It was a start – the start of what we hope will be an annual medical mission staffed with Canadian professionals volunteering their time in the fields of medicine, nursing, counselling, teaching and economic development.  If you are interested in learning more about this critical initiative, please email Lynn Foster at fosterlf@shaw.ca

To read more about the assistance from Health Partners International Canada, please visit the following link to view an article on our 2007 mission:
http: //www.hpicanada.ca/pdfs/healer_autumn07.pdf

(Please click the following images to enlarge)

Dr. Azer seeing patient in refugee camp near Dohuk Vital medicines from Health Partners International Elderly survivor of Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons attacks in late 1980s
Dr. Azer and Lynn Foster enjoying a visit with villiage children Waiting patiently to see Dr. Azer

Bags of Hope Campaign for the Women of South-East Turkey

In the summer of 2007, ISPHR launched the Bags of Hope Campaign to support abused women of the impoverished region of southeast Turkey.  Working with an incredible organization called KA-MER (www.kamer.org.tr), ISPHR is collecting bags filled with the basic toiletries needed by a woman fleeing the violence of her home, and shipping them directly to the organization for distribution.

Calgarian ISPHR members with
filled bags of hope

Our challenge is to get goods to and from Turkey. While possible, it is very costly. If anyone has suggestions to offer, we would love to hear from you. The contact for this project is Naz Gurbuz (evin_sanaa@hotmail.com).

As of September 2007, we have collected almost 150 bags of hope – M.A.C. Cosmetics alone donated 75 bags!  We’re looking for new ways to support the women of KA-MER such as selling their exquisite cultural crafts at venues in Canada.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, things aren’t going to get better.  They’re not."  - The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Refugee Rights Day

On Saturday April 6th, the International Society for Peace and Human Rights was thrilled to be invited to speak in Rimbey, Alberta in honour of Refugee Rights Day. The event was organized by Rimbey's Amnesty International group and the Church in the World committee of the United Church. Dr. Saren Azer spoke about the plight of the Kurdish population in Iraq and ISPHR's humanitarian work in the region.

Over 75 people attended the event and offered great support to ISPHR's efforts.  Rimbey holds a special place in the hearts of ISPHR members and it is always a pleasure to visit such a progressive and hospitable corner of central Alberta.

Many thanks to Annette Boorman and fellow Amnesty volunteers for organizing the event and to Florence Stemo who wrote an article promoting the event in the Rimbey Review (click the image below to read).

20th Anniversary of Halabja Bombing

March 17, 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of the chemical bombing of Halabja, a Kurdish city in Northern Iraq, by Saddam Hussein's forces. Five thousand citizens were killed immediately from the effects of the gasses, many more would be dead by the end of the year, and to this day thousands of people of Halabja suffer from the long-term effects -- the rates of cancer, respiratory disease, congenital disease, and miscarriage far surpass the national average.  ISPHR's President Dr. Saren Azer was part of the first medical team into Halabja after the gassing. Please click the image below to read his letter to the editor which appeared in the Globe and Mail on March 18.

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