Jeremy Barker, Director of RFI Middle East Action Team, interviews Mikhael Benjamin, Program Manager for CAPNI: For Humanitarian Aid in Iraq, about impacts of COVID-19 in the Middle East.

This interview is part of a series of short interviews seeking to understand the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the Middle East, with particular attention being paid to vulnerable communities such as refugees, IDPs, and religious minorities. 

Mikhael Benjamin is Program Manager for CAPNI: For Humanitarian Aid in Iraq, an Iraqi faith-based organization. He’s also a researcher and activist on minority rights issues in Iraq. 

He joined Jeremy Barker, Director, Middle East Action Team on May 14, 2020 to discuss the impact of COVID-19 in Iraq and particularly its impact on vulnerable communities. 

Related Resources:

CAPNI: For Humanitarian Aid in Iraq : https://capni-iraq.org/

Joint NGO Statement Highlights Health and Security Risks from COVID-19 Crisis for Vulnerable Iraqi Communities (Jeremy Barker, April 16, 2020, RFI Blog): https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/blog/joint-ngo-statement-highlights-health-and-security-risks-from-covid-19-crisis-for-vulnerable-iraqi-communities

Guidance Note: Protecting Vulnerable Religious Minorities in Conflict and Crisis Settings: (RFI, 2020):  https://religiousfreedominstitute.org/publication/guidance-note-protecting-vulnerable-religious-minorities