BACKGROUND

Qandil was founded in 1991. Funds from Sida were used to start a number of projects in the Kurdish-populated northern Iraq, where a line of demarcation was formed and permission granted for international assistance organisations to begin with humanitarian aid initiatives.
The demarcation line or the 'no fly zone' separated the Kurdish-controlled area in the north from the rest of Iraq between 1991 and 2003.

The first assistance initiatives included building houses for refugees and operating mobile health teams. The operation was subsequently extended to include water and sanitation projects as well as small-scale agricultural activities. Sida funded a major development project in the water sector in Erbil, Kurdistan during the period 2008 to 2010.

In 1995, Qandil entered into cooperation partnerships with the UN, ECHO, DG1 and OFDA. Increased funding led to expansion, particularly within water and sanitation and construction projects.

In February 2003, Qandil discontinued its humanitarian activities in the Kurdish region that had been funded by Sida. Instead, efforts were concentrated outside the 'green line', primarily in Mosul and Kirkuk. This was an agreement with Sida and local authorities.

Since it was set up, Qandil has invested more than USD 74 million, primarily in the northern parts of Iraq. Qandil have constructed housing for more than 45,000 people, assisted around 900,000 people through our health work, and infrastructure has been built for water and sanitation for around two million people.

The driving force behind Qandil's operation is the eradication of poverty and assisting those in most need in disadvantaged areas. Various development projects have been added to our activities in recent years, primarily within the area of water and the environment.