
The Ongoing Crisis in Basra: Interview with Benedict Robin-D’Cruz – Part 2
Protests and political violence continues to plague Basra, Iraq’s southernmost province. The province is largely populated by Iraq’s Shia majority, which has dominated Iraq’s post-2003 political order. Basra’s oil fields are the primary source of Iraq’s oil exports and proven oil reserves and Basra is home to Iraq’s only port.… Read more

Violence in Southern Iraq & Shia Politics: Interview with Benedict Robin-D’Cruz – Part 1
Away from the limelight, violence continues to rage in southern Iraq in the form of tribal clashes, pro-government militia infighting and criminal violence. This violence often affects unarmed bystanders and makes life in Basra, which is already challenging due to government neglect, lack of services and rife unemployment, even more precarious. Although most residents of southern Iraq are Shia, Iraq's current political elite, which claims to represent the Shia community, has failed to address the needs of the south.

Interview with Yazidi Activist Hazim Avdal on Post-Genocide Peace and Justice
In 2014, the Iraqi Yazidi community, a small ethno-religious minority residing mostly in the area of Sinjar, a mountainous region in Ninewa, northwestern Iraq, was subjected to a campaign of massacres, mass kidnappings and enslavement of women, boys and girls at the hands of ISIS. Between 2,000-5,000 Yazidis lost… Read more

Learning to Better Treat Mentally Traumatized Patients in Iraq
This month, a group of Iraqi medical professionals, social workers and psychiatrists gathered in Mosul for three days to undergo intensive training on integrating the provision of mental health care in primary health care centers and hospitals. The professionals in this group work at 16 different facilities and organizations across… Read more

After the Guns Fall Silent
Today in Mosul, Sinjar, Ramadi, and other war-torn areas across Iraq, the guns have also fallen silent.

Music from Iraq for the Holidays and Everyday
This holiday season, the team at EPIC is listening to some great tracks from young and innovative Iraqi musicians across the country, Middle East, and globe.… Read more
Overwhelming Need
“We need to maintain the flow of water and food. Basics only, inexpensive but continuous and lifesaving.” – Hala al-Saraf, Director of our Soccer Salam partner, the Iraq Health Access Organization
Iraqi Security Forces and their allies are quickly making gains in their efforts to clear the city of Mosul… Read more

Rally 4 Refugees – This Sunday!
Join us on Sunday, August 28, 10 AM at the Washington Monument for DCRally4Refugees!
The event seeks to raise awareness about the magnitude of the global refugee crisis, encourage advocacy and U.S. support for relief efforts, and demonstrate solidarity with refugees and displaced people worldwide.
Several Iraqis and many… Read more
Discriminatory “SAFE Act” Fails in Senate
The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 fell short of the required votes for cloture in the Senate yesterday, effectively bringing the discriminatory legislation to a halt.
The SAFE Act would have required the FBI to conduct a redundant investigation into the background of any individual seeking refugee… Read more

Reassessing the Global Refugee Crisis
“Conflict is natural. The issue is how well we manage conflict and attempt to not allow it progress to violence.” – President of USIP, Nancy Lindborg
In a globalized world, it is nearly impossible to be completely insulated. There are faster planes, faster trains, and faster bandwidth. However, what has… Read more