Volunteers collect donations for Chamchamal flood victims during a nighttime fundraising campaign in Soran city, Erbil governorate. Photo by 964media.
Fundraising campaigns across Kurdistan Region mobilize for Chamchamal flood victims
SULAYMANIYAH – Fundraising drives have spread across cities and towns in the Kurdistan Region in recent days to support residents hit by flooding in Chamchamal district, with volunteers collecting cash, household supplies and clothing for families affected by the disaster.
In Sulaymaniyah, public figures, artists and activists launched a campaign for flood survivors. Hawre Pena, who supervises the drive, told 964media that alongside collecting supplies, a separate committee is gathering money. “So far, $3,000 and nearly 33 million dinars (about $23,400) have been collected,” he said. Artist Aso Mahmoud, one of the organizers, said, “What we are doing for this campaign, we would not do for our own homes.”
In Soran in Erbil governorate, the Soran Autonomous Administration organized a campaign collecting supplies and street donations. One widely shared scene showed a child donating 7,000 dinars (about $5) saved to buy shoes, after which volunteers bought the child shoes for 25,000 dinars (about $18). Jabar Dolani, a young volunteer in Soran, told 964media they will continue and deliver aid “with full hands” to Chamchamal, adding they collected 5 million dinars (about $3,550) in about an hour.
According to a report by the Joint Crisis Coordination Center, flood damage in Chamchamal and surrounding areas is estimated at $200 million. The center said 1,607 homes were damaged, 500 vehicles were affected, 116 shops and markets were hit, and 456 projects were damaged. It also reported two deaths and 12 injuries, loss of livestock, and five large orchards destroyed out of 25 orchards in Chamchamal.
The report said the Chamchamal water pipeline from Derband-i Bazyan and Takiya has gone out of service, cutting water supplies to the district, and parts of the Bani Maqan water lines serving Chamchamal were also disabled. Roads were washed away or damaged, including the road in front of the Roshnbiri Hall and public library and the main Kirkuk-Sulaymaniyah road.
In Koya, religious teachers organized collections and designated a mosque as a donation point. Mamosta Hashim Shireyi, one of the supervisors, told 964media, “Our place is filling up with materials and supplies, and what is here was collected only today.” He urged more cash contributions, saying, “People should bring more money because it takes up less space and the affected families can buy what they need.” He also praised a book-collection effort, saying collected items may wear out, “but the book remains.”
In Khurmatu, the final day of a journalists’ campaign drew donations from different communities. Sabah Mohammed, a Turkmen woman, told 964media she bought “three large new carpets” to donate, adding, “Today the people of Chamchamal have been affected by the floods and need to be helped,” and calling on all residents to join because “the people of Chamchamal are innocent.”
Local businesses have also joined the effort. A car wash in Sulaymaniyah has been cleaning flood-damaged vehicles from Chamchamal for free. A worker told 964media two vehicles have arrived so far, “out of service and filled with mud and sludge,” adding the cleaning takes “one to two days,” and would normally cost 150,000 dinars (about $106), but is being done “for free as help for the people of Chamchamal.”
In Arabat, organizers launched a campaign expected to continue for several days. Aso Sheikh Mohammed, head of the Pana Work Organization and supervisor of the drive, told 964media, “For two days in Arabat we have started collecting aid for the flood-affected people of Chamchamal,” including money, household needs, clothes and fuel. He said, “Fortunately, many citizens came to the campaign,” adding, “We will continue tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow we will deliver all needs to Chamchamal district and hand them to residents.”
In Said Sadiq, organizers collected over $2o,000, along with 30 cars loaded with household supplies for delivery to Chamchamal, while additional campaigns began in Sharazur and in the markets of Sharazur district and Zarayan subdistrict.
Sulaymaniyah University also designated two collection points. Dr. Khalid Ahmed, head of the College of Islamic Sciences, told 964media, “At 10 a.m. today, Saturday, 13.12.2025, we launched a campaign under the direct supervision of the president of Sulaymaniyah University and it will continue until noon on Monday, then we will send all aid to the affected people of Chamchamal.” He added, “The people of Chamchamal deserve it and need good and beautiful things to be sent to them, so as much as you can, donate your good things.”
Flooding began earlier this week after heavy rainfall in Chamchamal and other areas, leaving five people dead, including two in Chamchamal and the Shorish subdistrict, and causing extensive material damage and displacement, according to local reports.