After more than three years of cooperation in the field of providing medicines and medical supplies to the Kurdistan Region at a cost of more than $ 10 million, the Barzani Charity Foundation and the Norwegian organization MAIN have renewed a memorandum of understanding.
In a ceremony held on May 6, 2024 at the Rotana Hotel in Erbil, in the presence of Mr. Ibrahim Samin, Deputy President of Barzani Charity Foundation, Dr. Saman Barzanji, Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Gayer Field Director of International Activities of MAIN Norway and a number of wealthy and rich people was held. A memorandum of understanding for joint work in the field of health cooperation was signed by the Vice President of Barzani Charity Foundation and the Director of International Activities of MAIN Norway.
Mr. Karzan Nuri, member of the Executive Board of Barzani Charity Foundation, welcomed the participants and said that the Norwegian organization (MAIN) signed a contract with Barzani Charity Foundation in 2021 and during these three years about 100 tons of medicines and medical supplies were provided and more than 150,000 patients have benefited from it. He also claimed: “The Kurdistan Region and Iraq are no longer a priority for humanitarian assistance by the international community. UN agencies are reducing their aid to Kurdistan day by day, which has created a heavy task for the Kurdistan Regional Government and Barzani Charity Foundation, especially since there are 33 refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region and more than 900,000 people live there.”
Then, Dr. Saman Barzanji, Minister of Health in the Kurdistan Regional Government, delivered a speech in which he stressed that during the fight against ISIS terrorists, a large number of refugees flocked to the Kurdistan Region, which coincided with the financial crisis which is still has taken over Kurdistan. Without the assistance of the Barzani Charity Foundation, the task of the Kurdistan Regional Government would be very difficult, which even developed countries cannot afford to receive all the refugees.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Norwegian organization (MAIN) and pointed out that in a large country like the UK in all public places to collect donations for patients and the proceeds of several concerts will be allocated to serve the health sector. After congratulating the Norwegian organization (MAIN) on the renewal of the joint project of Barzani Charity Foundation, he promised to assist in terms of the works and make the works easier for the both organizations.
Then Dr. Lazgin Jamil (MAIN Project Manager in Iraq and Asia) in his speech mentioned that the health system around the world is under many challenges and continued: “We as humanitarian organizations can help the health sector. In the past three years, we have been able to deliver more than $100 million in aid such as medicines, equipment and medical supplies to Kurdistan, they are rare and high-quality drugs and we have thousands of patients with cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure who need them for a long time.”
Mr. Gayer Field (Main International Activities Manager) began his speech by welcoming the audience and said:
Today we witnessed the signing of a joint memorandum between Barzani Charity Foundation and MAIN Norway.
In just three years, we have provided about $100 million worth of medicines and health supplies, which have been received from the international community and given to the Kurdistan public health sector. Most of the medicines we have brought to Kurdistan are not available in Kurdistan and the Iraqi federal. The number and cost of these aid shows the commitment of the international community and the love and enthusiasm that the Europeans and the American people have for the Kurdish people. He also mentioned: “Tens of millions of dollars’ worth of medicines and medical supplies are ready to be delivered to the Kurdistan Ministry of Health. But the wars have made it so hard to find a way to move it here. Today is a historic day and with your help we are announcing a project that will provide a large amount of excellent medicine for the people of Kurdistan. We are bringing aid from Europe to Kurdistan and there is nothing greater in the world than saving someone’s life, so please join us in our efforts.”
In the final part of the ceremony, the Memorandum of Understanding and Contract between Barzani Charity Foundation and MAIN Norway was renewed and signed by Mr. Ibrahim Samin, Deputy President of Barzani Charity Foundation and Gayer Field (Director of International Activities of MAIN).
