UN-Habitat Rehabilitated Significantly Damaged Houses in Teleskuf/Nineveh

In Teleskuf, based on the guidelines developed by the Shelter Cluster, UN-Habitat engineers identified and selected for rehabilitation 27 war-damaged houses of vulnerable returnees that were categorized as having suffered “major and severe damage”. In total, 137 vulnerable returnees benefitted from the action, including 31 women and 75 children.



During the handover ceremony, Mr. Bashar Hamid Mahmud Kiki, the Head of the Provisional Council of Nineveh Governorate, said “I am very pleased that Telskuf was one of the towns selected for conducting rehabilitation work and I suggest that the UN-Habitat’s work should extend to cover more parts of Nineveh province. Mr. Bashar praised the fact that the UN-Habitat’s presence in the region is clear evidence that the region is safe and life is back to normal.



“When safety, stability and wise management are offered, life returns and everyone can live in peace and stability. – Mr. Adel Marruki Jajjo, Mayor of Tilkayif stated in his speech – Great efforts have been made by the central Government, Kurdistan Regional Government and humanitarian organizations to eliminate the aggression and destruction which was left behind by ISIL. We gather here today in Teleskuf to celebrate and express our gratitude to all those who contributed to the reconstruction and the return of the people, especially to the Government of Japan and UN-Habitat.



Mr. Natiq Qeryaquse Feranci, Representative of the Christian Affairs Office in Teleskuf, voiced his appreciation to the Peshmerga forces for providing safety and security in Teleskuf and thanked the UN-Habitat team for their role in rehabilitating the houses in such short time.



His Excellency Mr. Iwai Fumio, Ambassador of Japan to Iraq, expressed his sincere appreciation for all who contributed to this project in Teleskuf and his hope that this project will promote recovery and social stabilization there, while recalling the handover ceremony of housing units rehabilitated in Bartella under the same project which he attended on 12 March, 2018. He added that Japan is determined to support Iraq’s effort for serving displaced/returning people, refugees and host communities in Iraq.



In his opening remarks, Dr. Erfan Ali, Head of UN-Habitat Iraq, thanked the Government of Japan for its generous contribution to the Housing Rehabilitation Project emphasizing how it constitutes an important step toward the recovery of the town, the community, and the families in Teleskuf. The project strengthens UN-Habitat’s response to the humanitarian-peace-development nexus in Nineveh Governorate and Iraq. Overall, 2,377 war-damaged houses have been or are being rehabilitated since 2017, supporting the dignified and sustainable return of more than 17,000 people in Iraq. Dr Ali also highlighted how 37 beneficiaries in this town were employed by the project to partake to the rehabilitation work, contributing to rebuild their livelihoods.