Revitalizing the Nineveh Plains: USAID commercial reconstruction project finishes in Tel Keppe, 20 new shops open doors

TEL KAIF / TEL KEPPE, Nineveh Plains – After terrorist organization of Islamic State took control of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian living areas in Iraq, much of the infrastructure was damaged, except for much of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Where the Iraqi state felt short after the liberation from IS, Northern Iraq has seen international aid organizations coming in and carrying out infrastructure reconstruction projects by rebuilding health centers, water- and electricity capacity, and other public services which have contributed to a certain degree of normal life in the region.

One of these international NGOs is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which had the largest NGO share in carrying out much infrastructure and social reconstruction projects and helped restabilizing parts of the region. USAID is also active in northeastern Syria and has carried out several economic and public service development projects.

In the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian town of Tel Keppe, also Tel Kaif, USAID has worked hard to restore infrastructure, commercial- and community buildings, and housing. USAID recently opened 20 stores of various commercial use and professions. The opening of the stores has helped energize the local economy by creating jobs and restoring confidence among residents and returned IDPs. USAID ahs also arranged the return of dozens of Syriac families to their hometown of Tel Keppe after suffering 7 years of displacement.

USAID is also rehabilitating 8 industrial workshops in the Syriac town of Bartella which has undergone a major demographic change since Iran-backed People Mobilization Units have taken over the region post-IS.

العمل جاري على إعادة تأهيل ثمانية ورش صناعية في برطلة. أصحاب هذه الورش هم من أهل المنطقة ومن ضمن حدود البلدية في القاطع المخصص للحي الصناعي. سيساهم المشروع بزيادة الحركة التجارية في الناحية من حيث زيادة قدرات أصحاب الورش مما يساعد على إحياء المنطقة الصناعية. pic.twitter.com/TWwZrKUPH3

— USAID ICRI-Ta'afi / تعافي (@USAID_ICRI) July 2, 2021

The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Shlama Foundation is a local NGO and is a partner of USAID in a project to bring solar energy to the Nineveh Plains. The Shlama Foundation is also active in smaller-scale reconstruction and aid work. Last year Shlama rebuild and furnished the shops of local Syriac returnees in Tel Keppe, giving them hope for the future in their native town in their native Nineveh Plains.

For the article in Syriac see SyriacPress Syriac