Amar in Erbil

MAR hosted its first inaugural Iraqi Kurdistan A dinner in Erbil last week. AMAR IN ERBIL Held in the city’s luxurious Divan Hotel, the event was attended by scores of senior businesspeople, VIP and leading politicians, including Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Rowsch Shaways. Speaking at the start of the dinner, Mr Shaways thanked all the guests for attending. He praised the charity for its outstanding work in the country, adding that AMAR had helped support so many Iraqis to overcome the legacy of the “tyrant regime” of Saddam Hussein. The Deputy Prime Minister said that a prosperous Iraq needed organisations like AMAR, and it also needed the participation and co-operation of all its people and those from the outside world. Baroness Nicholson, who founded AMAR almost 23 years ago, also thanked the guests for attending the gala dinner. She praised the night’s two main sponsors, the Khudairi Group, which she described as a “fantastic global enterprise” and Numerus Group, which has companies such as TNI, Al Awsat, Al Baroness Nicholson pictured with Hadi Nezir, the President of Gharraf Oil Services, and FedEx under its UB Holding, his wife Cihan, and their daughter Sarab. substantial umbrella. The Baroness also gave a special vote of thanks to AMAR’s leading corporate sponsors, the giant telecoms business, Zain. Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Dr Rowsch Shaways, was the special guest speaker at the dinner, which took place in the Divan Hotel She went on to describe to the guests AMAR’s work in the region. The charity now ensures that every year 700,000 Iraqis are seen by a qualified doctor, and its medical staff delivered almost 100,000 vaccinations, she said. Baroness Nicholson added that the AMAR “model” – employing local people and sourcing goods locally L-R: Khudairi Group representatives Muhannaed Al-Dory, Saif Al-Imami Mr Ryan – was the “envy” of other, much Shore, Mr Munder Khudairi, Mr Abdullah Hassan with Baroness Nicholson. larger charities. “We achieve all we do with a budget of just a few million dollars every year. If we could raise more we could achieve so much more and help and support thousands more people both in Iraq and in the wider Middle East,” she continued. Other guests at the event included Hadi Nezir, the President of UB Holding and his wife Cihan, an AMAR committee member; Peter Hunt, the Director of HWH Associates; Frances Guy (pictured to the left), the United Nations’ Representative for Women in Iraq, and AMAR’s Iraq Country Director, Dr Ali Muthanna. Mrs Bahar Ali, Manager of AMAR’s Erbil Office with Ms Frances Guy, UN Women’s Representatives in Iraq. While in Erbil, Baroness Nicholson also met with the British Consulate General in Erbil, Hugh Evans. They discussed items of mutual interest, including the importance of good trade relations between the UK and the Middle East. Mrs Bahar Ali and Mr Munder Khudairi of Khudairi Group. From clockwise: Mr Diaa Sadoon, Sales Director at TNI, Baroness Nicholson, Mr Nabeel Abdullah Aadi, Commercial Director, FedEx. Mr and Mrs Kittani, MrAlan Fowlie. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Rowsch Shaways; Dr Ammar Adel Rahim, Health Department Manager of AMAR Iraq; Dr Ali Nasir Muthana, AMAR Iraq Country Manager; Mrs Bahar Ali, Manager of AMAR’s Erbil Office; AMAR Project Manager, Dr Bayan Kader Rasul. From top, clockwise: Nicholas Habib (to left of Shahways). Baroness Nicholson; Mr Jon Saunders, General Manager, Legacy Construction; Mrs Heather Saunders. Mr Peter Hunt, Director of HWH & Associates shakes hands with Dr Rowsch Shaways. Mr Diaa Sadoon and Mr Mohammed Rajab from Zain Iraq. Dr Walt Plumb, guest, and AMAR Project Manager Dr Bayan Kader Rasul. ERBIL, CITY OF CULTURE Erbil’s International Literature Festival – named Niniti after a Sumerian healing goddess to reflect a focus on women writers – was well underway when the AMAR team visited the city. Both Iraqi and non-Iraqi authors travelled to the city to give readings and discuss politics and literature. Participating writers included Kapka Kassabova, Julia Copus, Gho Reclareeb Iskander, Choman Hardi, and Rachel Holmes. Baroness Nicholson and the Director of the British Council, Jim Scarth, attended the event. Baroness Nicholson with Adalet Garmiany, Chief Executive of Local and internationally-renowned authors gathered for the ArtRole and Jim Scarth. event, which was held at the Chwar Char Hotel in Erbil. .

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