At this stage, the work of the organization was modest in terms of size, activities and geography. Similar to all organizations in their founding phase, it had limited relations and partnerships with donor partners.

At that stage, CAPNI’s relations were limited to those with its spiritual sponsors, the Lutheran Church in Bavaria and the Lutheran Church in Württemberg, to whom we are profoundly grateful. Without their support and commitment, CAPNI’s sustainability, continuity and growth would not have been possible.

Initially, its activities were limited to twins of poor families supported by families in Germany; a program that lasted for several years and later expanded to be a support program for university students to pursue their academic studies, get jobs and work in the public or private sectors.

Gradually, with the growing support of the two partners, Ev. Lutheran Church in Bavaria and Ev. Lutheran Church in Württemberg – Germany, and joining of other German donor partners, such as Misereor, Aid to Church in Need, Diakonie and others and the improved prospects of establishing communication ties and exchange of visits, the organization’s programs expanded to include the rehabilitation of houses, agriculture, extending drinking water and irrigation systems for returnees to villages, reconstruction of churches and schools, launching of health services and other programs with which the organization moved from the stage of relief aids to the middle stage towards development.

Geographically, the organization’s activity was confined to Duhok governorate as it was impossible to expand to cover Nineveh plain as it was then still under the control of the ex-regime which had blacklisted the organization and its employees.

This stage started with the fall of the former regime and its ensuing results in terms of collapse of the state and its institutions, security vacuum, absence of state authority and role of law.
The security vacuum provided ground for the militias affiliated to the parties to have the upper hand and exercise violence and organized terrorism against various vulnerable ethno-religious communities that disagreed with them. Christians, Yezidis and Mandeans living in the areas under the central government control were easy and soft target of this campaign which targeted religious shrines, sources of living and personal belongings of these minorities forcing them to migrate the country or taking refuge in Kurdistan Region. Dozens of churches were targeted in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Kirkuk, Ramadi and other areas. Hundreds of people were personally targeted in their lives or their livelihoods in a systematic violence and intimidation by the fundamental groups and organized criminal mafias aiming to purge Iraqi provinces and cities from the rich ethno-religious diversity. Unfortunately, the objective was achieved putting an end for the Christian presence in the provinces of Anbar, Missan and Diyala and badly shrinking that presence in Basra, Baghdad and Mosul.
Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the whole of the Nineveh plain, which was under Kurdistan security control became a sort of safe haven for displaced Christians, Yazidis and Mandeans.
On the other hand, in this stage CAPNI was able to expand its activities geographically for the first-time having access to Nineveh Plain where a large Christian and Yazidi demography exists.
Nineveh Plain had to host thousands of displaced families from the rest of Iraq. Hence, CAPNI work focused on meeting the needs of the displaced people in Nineveh plain in terms of relief, provision of non-food items, job opportunities, health services, vocational trainings, student service centers, pastoral and church programs, rehabilitation of water and electricity networks as well as other programs. This went in parallel with CAPNI identical programs in Dohuk governorate for the host community as well as displaced people.
Had not there been an increase in the support received by CAPNI and diversifying its programs and expansion in the number of partners, CAPNI would not have able to respond effectively and sufficiently to the challenges of this stage.
The positive outcomes were also reflected on the organization itself in terms of its growth in size and experience, expansion of the relations with governmental and community authorities as well as the relations network with the institutions, churches and international organizations.
We seize the opportunity to extend our profound gratitude to the partners who were generous in supporting us at this stage.

This was one of the toughest stages that Iraq have gone through in its modern history.
During summer 2014, one third of the country fell under the control of ISIS terrorist group. More than two million Iraqi were displaced within the country. Other dozens of thousands became refugees in the neighbouring countries.
An immediate result of this fall was that the Christians and Yazidis had no other choice but to escape their hometowns and regions in Mosul, Sinjar and Nineveh Plain seeking refuge in Kurdistan Region.
This is the biggest man-made disaster against the Iraqi indigenous ethno-religious minorities has witnessed. During the first week of August 2014, Duhok received about 600,000 IDP’s. For every two inhabitants, the third was an IDP.

The role of UN and international/national NGOs was badly needed and critical.
In response, CAPNI directed all its resources to meet the IDPs’ needs: starting life-saving operations and the provision of living and health requirements, and non-food items, etc.
After the IDPs situation relatively stabilized, CAPNI’s program moved to another stage that responded to IDP’s arising needs, such as schooling, child protection, health services, livelihood, etc.
For example, CAPNI was the lead agency to secure IDP pupils re-join schools.
During the first year of displacement, it operated 110 bus lines to transport 3,150 pupils daily to and from their schools.
In addition, CAPNI became a key reference for delegations and representatives of churches, institutions and various international bodies (parliamentary, media, human rights, etc.) in terms of facilitating their missions and accompany their delegations in their tasks. CAPNI’s media presence was also outstanding and was an added value to its performance both domestically and internationally.
In parallel with this expansion, CAPNI had to develop in terms of capacity building. It must be admitted that this was not an easy task. On the one hand, it was not possible to suspend the organization’s programs, but on the other, it was equally difficult to implement those programs without an organization manned by qualified staff and procedures.

We would hereby like to extend our thanks to our partners who presented financial, administrative, organizational and professional support to CAPNI to enable it making a difference in the day-to-day life of the IDPs and its performance.
We are proud of our staff who were committed to implementing the organization’s program and develop their capacities. They were working day and night ceaselessly to provide services to IDP’s.

This is the stage that followed after ISIS controlled areas were re-captured and after IDPs started to return to their original areas of residence. This is in fact the stage that is still underway and shall be ongoing for a future period.
IDPs return movement started and increased depending on the availability of living conditions and services in their original areas of residence.
Nineveh plain was among the first areas where IDPs returned to in terms of speed and size of return. This was attributed to the factors that in this area the size of destruction was relatively less than other areas such as Sinjar, and because of its proximity and geographical contact with the areas of displacement and because its security and administrative situation is relatively better than Sinjar.
However, IDPs returning faced and is still facing significant and various challenges and obstacles including material in terms of the damage inflicted on public and private properties, public services, livelihood and other challenges such as political and administrative conflicts between Iraq federal government and Kurdistan regional governments as both Nineveh Plain and Sinjar are disputed territories. The social cohesion and lack of trust among the ethno-religious communities is another factor.
In Sinjar, the security situation is a big concern and obstacle limiting the return of Yazidi IDPs.
It is true that many of these political and security challenges are beyond the capacity of humanitarian agencies to handle or contribute to solve; nevertheless, International and National NGOs are very much needed in the rehabilitation, livelihood, social cohesion, health, education and other programs.
CAPNI is among the leading humanitarian agencies that was and continues to be playing a vital role to facilitate the return of IDPs and continue responding to IDPs requirements especially for those who still do not have the opportunity to return for different reasons.
Rehabilitation of houses, business shops, schools, churches, water and electricity networks and others received priority within CAPNI’s program.  Till 2011, our programs have rehabilitated 1432 family houses, 32 schools, 180 job opportunities, 9 churches, 12 water projects, etc.
CAPNI is also contributing to co-existence and community-based peace programs in coordination with other organizations and community components and references.
The need still exists, planning continues and work is non-stop.
In parallel with these programs and efforts on the ground, planning and work continues at organization headquarter in terms of expanding staff, building their capacities and skills, providing infrastructure for that purpose, expanding and systematizing partnerships with donor and local implementing partners.