Iraq faces an ongoing humanitarian emergency with 10 million people—nearly a third of the population—in need of immediate assistance. Nearly 3.5 million individuals have been forced to flee violence, leaving behind their homes, communities, and all they have ever known in search of safety. On this edition of IRAQ MATTERS, EPIC Director Erik Gustafson talks with Hala al-Sarraf, one woman who is going to extraordinary measures to help meet the needs of these vulnerable families. Listen as they discuss how Iraqi civil society groups are operating in Iraq's difficult environment, why local NGOs ought to be empowered and trusted to lead aid efforts, and the critical role that youth volunteers play in shaping Iraq's humanitarian progress.
