Medical Care & Legal Representation for Syrian National in Iraq
Advocacy, Coordination and Relationships Enhancing Protection
In April 2023, a group of 16 Syrian nationals were arrested by border police while attempting to enter Iraq in search of a better life. During the crossing, one of the people was severely injured in a crossfire between the border police and smugglers. The group was detained for two days before being transferred to Ba'aj Jazeera Police Station, where the injured man's medical condition became critical. He was then moved to Ba'aj hospital, where he was admitted with a gunshot wound.
Unfortunately, the hospital in Ba'aj was not fully equipped to treat the patient's critical medical issues. The injured man was transferred to another hospital in Mosul but was released after eight hours and returned to Ba'aj Hospital.
Upon learning of the patient's condition from a community member, NP visited the hospital to engage with the patient and the doctors to understand the situation and jointly identify further steps. NP then contacted partner organizations in the area to facilitate an emergency evacuation to a hospital in Mosul and provide further support given his health condition. Since he was under the custody of police, a third organization was asked to monitor his condition while in detention.
NP also met with Ba'aj authorities to inquire about the violence that caused the injuries and advocated for the man and the other 15 Syrians who had been arrested to be provided with legal representation, as they would all be presented before the judge in the following days.
"I did not ask for help from anyone because of my position, but I am now asking for NP's help with this person's case because it is a humanitarian case, and I would like you to advocate this case to other organizations to find a solution," said one of the security actors working on the case.
NP successfully coordinated with different actors, and the patient was successfully referred and treated in Mosul. He also received the legal assistance NP advocated for. Once he returned to Ba’aj, the police took the injured man and his young brother to prison. NP met with the hospital director in Ba'aj to ensure that the doctors would check on the patient in the prison and successfully advocated with a partner to swiftly provide the injured man with a permanent wheelchair, which was promptly delivered within two days.
This case illustrates the importance of relationship building, advocacy in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas, and the need for collaboration between organizations to achieve positive outcomes. Despite the challenges faced in coordinating with different actors, NP was able to ensure an injured man received the medical care he needed and was treated with dignity.