Baghdad: The Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience (GFCR) has announced a series of projects in Iraq, carried out in collaboration with the government, aimed at addressing extremism and aiding the return of displaced persons.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Nizar Al-Laz, GFCR’s Regional Director for the Middle East, emphasized the Fund’s strategic partnership with the Iraqi government, which began in 2022. This collaboration focuses on two main objectives: combating extremism and facilitating the return of displaced individuals from camps in northeastern Syria. The initiatives are supported by funding from regional and Arab donor countries.

Al-Laz highlighted that the efforts are concentrated in the Anbar, Salah al-Din, and Nineveh governorates, where the primary focus is on facilitating the return of displaced persons. The current projects are designed to span two to three years, during which success stories and areas requiring improvement will be assessed for continuous development. The projects are being executed in coordination with the federal government, local authorities, the Iraqi National Committee, and several ministries, including Migration, Labor, Higher Education, and Health. The initiatives also involve partnerships with stakeholders in the regions, specifically focusing on the Al-Hol camp file, return processes, and extremism prevention.

The GFCR’s new project places particular emphasis on studying the needs of returnees and providing psychological, social, and educational support. These efforts aim to foster community acceptance and integration of returnees, contributing to rebuilding and stabilizing affected communities.