Khalid’s Story

In Al-Takya Al-Kasnazaniya Camp for the displaced in Baghdad, Khalid, a shy 13 year old boy clings to hope.

He and his family lived in Anbar until violence forced them from their homes and his father was killed.

“The journey was so difficult. We were frightened and had nothing.” he says.

Reaching the relative safety of the camp, Khalid and his family were hungry and dangerously dehydrated.

Thankfully, the UNICEF and WFP-led Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) had partners operating in Al-Takya that day. Khalid’s family was immediately given an RRM kit.

These kits represent the front line of UNICEF’s humanitarian interventions in Iraq. Light enough to carry, they provide a family on the move with 12 litres of water, a bucket, adult hygiene supplies and food rations.

These life-saving supplies stabilized the situation in which Khalid and his family found themselves, and ensured that tragedy was not compounded by further tragedy.

Although his future remains uncertain, Khalid does what he can. He’s registered for school and hopes to resume his studies as soon as possible, regaining some semblance of his former life.

“I want to be a teacher,” he whispers, before drifting quietly back into the book sitting open on the floor in front of him.