IndyMedia - Vrij Media Centrum Nederland

Wanneer: 27/07/2015 - 12:47

Firefund is a Copenhagen based non-profit initiative providing secured and anonymous crowdfunding for the purpose of economic support and direct solidarity between activists and movements across the world.

Kobanê needs to rebuild! The reconstruction cannot happen without removing the remnants of the war.

Removing the rubble can help build a new foundation for a new Kobanê and restart its recovery. Access to construction machinery and equipment can not only help Kobanê to remove the debris but can also be an important tool for follow-up projects after the cleanup.

No machinery means no clean up. No clean up means no reconstruction, no rehabilitation, no recovery, no healing for the community! The longer the city remains uncleared the higher the risks of injury and of communicable disease and illnesses.

The lengthier the reconstruction processes the less likely, or the longer it will take the refugees to return to Kobanê and the villages. This issue places significant strains on Kobanê and its capacity to have essential and skilled members of society return and participate in the reconstruction process.

What we need

The donations will help essential and urgently needed construction machinery and equipment to clean up Kobanê and kick-start the rebuilding process. The removal of post-war debris is not perceived as an urgent need by many NGOs, which is why this crowd funding campaign is essential.

Unless the large-scale destruction is cleared, a number of safety hazards may continue for the community. Furthermore, the failure to remove rubble and waste contributes to the slowdown of the rebuilding process itself.

Despite the severe nature of the destruction, thousands of civilians still remain within the city, many living in the destroyed buildings. The number of returning refugees to Kobanê also creates an urgent need for international support, aid, and materials required to begin immediate reconstruction.

Where to start

The lack of reconstruction equipment reduces the capacity of Kobanê to implement its cleanup process and begin the reconstruction process in earnest. The following areas were identified as barriers:

- Construction materials.
- Construction equipment.
- Equipment to remove rubble and debris.
- Equipment for processing of rubble and debris.

Of these, the most urgent matter is the lack of appropriate equipment to remove the rubble and debris as the cleaning process is heavily machine intensive.

If the canton has the capacity to access its own machinery to engage in the cleaning process it will reduce its costs significantly. This will prevent the canton from facing an extremely expensive and costly cleaning process.

The current costs are unsustainable for a viable long term reconstruction process. The ownership of local equipment for a machine intensive reconstruction process will ensure that the canton controls the reconstruction process thereby promoting local ownership and autonomy.

The main objective of this project is therefore to allow Kobanê to purchase its own equipment and machinery and reduce its reliance on international aid and support.

Long term

To achieve the projected outcome, an increased capacity needs to be achieved.

This outcome is based on increased number of better equipment, machinery, and labour power capacity so that the rate of reconstruction is increased significantly.

This is why this crowdfunding campaign is ESSENTIAL for not only kick starting the reconstruction, cleaning and rebuilding process. Without this project all other future projects face significant delays.

If we reach the goal of this campaign a number of new projects in the area of health, education, women, environment, water, electricity, children and youth can commence.

Solidarity will rebuild Kobanê!

Website: https://www.firefund.net/