Yazidi campaigners are urging Iraq to implement a national suicide prevention strategy after 11 genocide survivors killed themselves in 10 days.
Psychologist Dr Jan Ilhan Kizilhan was joined by NGOs, including the UK’s Yazda charity, to call for help for Yazidi survivors.
In January, 11 people took their own lives in a 10-day period, while about 250 Yazidis took their lives in 2020, the majority of them women.
"The genocide of the Yazidis in 2014 by ISIS cost thousands of lives and traumatised the community in the long term," Dr Kizilhan told The National.
“Life in the refugee camps, the political unsettled perspective for a better life, as well as the economic and social problems – also the restrictions associated with the current Covid-19 pandemic – increase the psychological stress, which is why some people, especially young women, commit suicide.
“The Yazidi have not recovered from the genocide and are facing a break in their community, which is also evident in the increase in suicides. It is a signal, a cry for help that is not being heard. Every suicide is a tragedy and suicides are preventable.”
Dr Kizilhan runs a £1 million ($1.3m) project in Iraq, training psychologists to support survivors.
In 2018, he helped 1,100 Yazidis, including Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, to move to Germany for psychological help.
Dr Kizilhan is now calling on Iraq to address the mental health crisis.
“Urgent action is needed. Unfortunately, suicidality is rarely identified as a major public health problem by governments,” he said.
“In addition to a national strategy to prevent suicide, the Yazidi must be given the opportunity to return to their settlement areas and rebuild. They need political, social, religious and legal status with rights as a distinct group in order to rebuild their country and have hope that they can live in Iraq.
“Currently, mental health professionals and care for the people in the refugee camps are needed to treat the mental illnesses and stresses to decrease the number of suicides. Regional health authorities and NGOs must respond and help now.
“Every single life lost to suicide is one life too many.”
His calls for help were echoed by the Coalition for Just Reparations, an alliance of 27 Iraqi NGOs calling for comprehensive reparations for civilian victims of crimes committed during the ISIS conflict in Iraq. It includes the support of Ms Murad's non-profit organisation, Nadia's Initiative.
“The entire Yazidi population is experiencing mental trauma caused by the acts of genocide, and some are displaying severe psychological difficulties,” the coalition said.
“Among those at heightened risk are the women and girls who experienced systemic sexual violence, and the boys who were forcibly recruited by ISIS.
“We are now seeing the tragic results of the failure to address these warnings. The impact of suicide on families and communities is devastating and long lasting.
“We support the calls for the government of Iraq and the Kurdish regional government to expedite the establishment and implementation of a national suicide prevention strategy.
“The underlying risk factors that lead to suicidal acts must be addressed. This includes bringing ISIS to justice for their crimes and ensuring that survivors receive comprehensive reparations.
“We all have a collective moral responsibility to help survivors of genocide and other atrocity crimes by supporting those struggling with mental illness and by working to prevent suicides. Every life is precious.”
Doctors Without Borders had previously raised the issue of a debilitating mental health crisis among Yazidis in Iraq, including the rising number of suicides.
Last year, exhumation of more than 200 mass graves containing about 12,000 victims of the ISIS genocide of Yazidis began.
The first victims identified are due to be returned to their families for burial.
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 3 (Kroos 4', Ramos 30', Marcelo 37')
Eibar 1 (Bigas 60')
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
SPECS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Race card:
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh195,000 1,400m.
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 1,200m.
8.15pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 1,200m.
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 1,600m.
9.20pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 1,400m.
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 2,000m.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
