• Sayyed and his daughter Kirmal are received by a volunteer from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. One-year-old Kirmal has never seen any of her Syrian relatives, nor her home country. Like most refugees in Al-Obeidi camp, Sayyed crossed into Iraq in mid-2012.
    • Sayyed and his daughter Kirmal are received by a volunteer from the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. One-year-old Kirmal has never seen any of her Syrian relatives, nor her home country. Like most refugees in Al-Obeidi camp, Sayyed crossed into Iraq in mid-2012.
      © ICRC / P. Krzysiek / iq-01154
  • Although Sayyed has contacted his closest relatives across the border, he cannot afford to call those living in the Gulf region. He is about to make a long-awaited call to a relative in Saudi Arabia. Each family registered with UNHCR is allowed a three-minute phone call to a destination of their choice.
    • Although Sayyed has contacted his closest relatives across the border, he cannot afford to call those living in the Gulf region. He is about to make a long-awaited call to a relative in Saudi Arabia. Each family registered with UNHCR is allowed a three-minute phone call to a destination of their choice.
      © ICRC / P. Krzysiek / iq-01155
  • Young Mahmood waits for his aunt Rima, in the background, to make her first call to her parents since the family arrived in Iraq in July 2012. Rima was all teary-eyed and emotional as she heard the voices of her loved ones on the other end of the line.
  • With the support of the UNHCR, which provides the space and necessary facilities, the ICRC works to offer its telephone call service to people in refugee camps in Iraq.
  • Shamaa rejoices as she finally hears the voice of her son in Damascus, and confirms that he is safe and sound. She regularly comes with her friends and neighbours to the ICRC tent to make a three-minute phone call. She says the ICRC service keeps her hoping for a quick end to the war.
  • Not all families can reach their relatives by phone. Amal moved alone to Al-Obeidi camp from Aleppo after her husband died. She has no one to take care of her in the camp and nobody to contact in Syria. She was unable to reach her stepson in Saudi Arabia, her only surviving relative. Therefore the ICRC proposed that Amal write him a Red Cross message to be delivered to the only address she could remember.

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