CPT Iraq Update
May 1- 20, 2009

People on team during May: Craig Kite, Chihchun Yaun, Michele Naar-Obed, Sophia
Hochstedler, Gerald Paoli.

The team began packing and saying goodbye to friends and partners in Suleimaniya
to make the move to Sheladze. However, after a series of conversations with the
people of Sheladze, the team realized it didn't have enough trusted advisors and
friends in that area. The team reflected, prayed and discerned deeply about this
and decided to stay in Suleimaniya. The team felt strongly that a premature move
to Sheladze could jeopardize the entire project.
Chihchun Yaun and Michele Naar-Obed obtained one-year residency cards and Craig
Kite obtained a 6-month residency card through the Suleimaniya Residency Office.
The Residency Office provided the cards without requiring CPT to have a local
sponsor for full and part time team members. The Minister of Interior granted
CPT permission to work anywhere within the KRG.
The team visited the internally displaced people's (IDP) camp in Zharawa and
spoke with the camp leader about the plan to remain in Suleimaniya. "My prayers
have been answered", he said with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
The team and camp representative set about making a plan to document the stories
of the 137 displaced families from 11 villages that live at the camp and submit
their stories to government authorities, the United Nations, and NGO's that
could use them to advocate for the safety and well being of the IDP's
The team met with representatives from the 11 villages to discuss the
documentation project and all were very happy and grateful for this work. "When
you look at us now, we are not the people that you see", one village leader told
CPT. "We used to have a life of dignity. We took care of our guests. We offered
our guests food and tea. Now we can barely offer you cold water", he continued.
"We want our lives of dignity back. We are very happy that you will work with us
to raise our voices to the world", he ended.
Kite put together an extensive list of NGO's that are interested in receiving
reports about the Zharawa IDP Camp. The team worked on a thorough budget
revision and evaluated cheaper transportation options. The team also looked at
cheaper housing options in Suleimaniya