TBHF pledges $216,000 to support Sinjar Action Fund

Sharjah / Emirates Business

The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) signed an agreement with Nadia’s Initiative, founded by Nadia Murad, co-recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, to support the Initiative’s global advocacy efforts to rebuild Sinjar and enable the safe return of internally displaced Yazidis back to their homes.
The UAE-based global humanitarian charity has pledged a $216,000 financial grant to grow the Sinjar Action Fund (SAF), which was established by Nadia’s Initiative to advance advocacy and reconstruction efforts in the region. The funds will be mobilised by SAF until October this year.
The agreement was signed by Mariam Al Hammadi, TBHF Director, and Nadia Murad.
Yazidis continue to suffer from Daesh’s genocidal campaign. With over 3,000 Yazidi women still in captivity, 300,000 living in internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps, and the Yazidi homeland of Sinjar uninhabitable, the Yazidi community remains on the verge of collapse.

Through its financial support, TBHF seeks to positively influence some of the project outcomes like de-mining the region; rebuilding basic infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and homes; re-opening direct access roads from IDP camps to Sinjar; assisting IDPs in resettling and securing their livelihoods, among other outcomes.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF said: “Yazidis living in IDP camps want to return home, but the lack of safety and necessary infrastructure remain the biggest obstacles. Through our financial support to Nadia’s Initiative, which we consider a humanitarian duty, TBHF aims to not only help reconstruction efforts being undertaken by SAF, but to also support Nadia’s efforts in garnering global support to stop Daesh’s genocidal campaign against the innocent Yazidis.
“Our great leaders in the UAE and Sharjah have always been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts worldwide. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness, Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of TBHF, is a leading advocate of human rights and continues to stress that it is incumbent upon the global community to join efforts to stop minorities like the Yazidis from being subject to unjust persecution,” she added.
Through Nadia’s Initiative, Murad has been using her global recognition to not only secure funding for SAF, but has been actively challenging world leaders to push past status quo and assume a responsibility to act – to make “never again” a reality.
The third edition of the Investing in the Future Conference (IIFMENA), which took place on 24-25 October, hosted Nadia Murad as a keynote speaker. During the discussions, Murad shed light on the how the youth in the MENA region can overcome the challenges they face surrounded by war and conflict, sharing her own personal journey as she was held captive by Daesh for three months.
The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) is a humanitarian charity that was established in 2015 after a range of humanitarian initiatives and campaigns launched by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi. TBHF aims to provide protection for children in need and their families. Although the foundation concentrates its efforts in the Arab world, it provides support to affected areas worldwide.